Should my proposed concrete patio be a rectangle?
Carlita Hawke
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
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Would a concrete paver patio look odd here?
Comments (50)My thoughts are exactly along catkim's lines. But I would just leave a very small opening (because it's only hard to pry out the first brick, and then you can always enlarge it). For a vine, you actually need just a very small opening into the ground. If you leave just two bricks out, let's say, you will be able to enlarge it if you like and the majority of your patio will be well-laid and leveled, plus the space for those two bricks will be pretty exact. Leave a bigger space than that, and it will be tricky to fill it in well. The thing about leaving a full bed the length of the stairs is everything from mess to weeding/making more mess (and dirt on patio = weed seeds sprouting on patio in the cracks), but also the risk of dropping a chair leg off the edge of the stone into the dirt. This patio is going to feel SMALL for the furniture you have in mind. I don't think you should shrink its effective size. Also keep in mind that your doorway is recessed and quite dark. A vine will make it feel and look more closed in, in case that matters to you. And these big perennial vines can get pretty overwhelming. I personally love clematis and would probably put one there, but I'm not sure I would put it in the ground. You could leave it in a pot, and always cut it back to the ground (or bottom two buds if a B-type) every year. And once it gets too vigorous (as many do after three or four years), you might like to put in a new one. This is very tricky to do in the ground adjacent to a patio without damaging the patio. Maybe some annual vines would be more fun. Again, way easier in a container. Plus, the container gives you another decor item to have some fun with. On the other hand, it takes up some space. So I would lay and tamp the whole patio but for two bricks. Undoing it later from there if you want a bigger bed is way easier than filling it in. You can minimize the crush layer in that area if you really feel you will want to open it up. By the way, is there a basement here? If so, you want your subgrade to tilt away from the house. Karin L...See MoreGetting contractor proposals for covered patio
Comments (9)I've decided to handle this project myself, and contract with the concrete company and porch company directly. I spoke with the local permit people, and this is OK if I submit drawings for both together. So, now I'm working on the design specs for the slab. This will be a 4" monolithic slab. I can either go with a "turned down edge" full perimeter footing (A.K.A. frost wall), or spot footings where the patio cover posts will be. The spot footings would likely be 12"x12" (or 16x16) and 24" deep. Our frost line is 16". We don't have much of a problem with frost heaving, but I'd like to overbuild it to make sure. Since this will be butting against the existing 4" porch slab which is part of the house foundation, I want to minimize the potential for vertical movement of the new slab. I have ruled out dowels into the existing slab because it's only 4". I believe that to pass inspection the full perimeter footing would need to be deeper than 16". I know the full perimeter footing would cost more due to more concrete and rebar, and labor. The slab is 9'-6" by 15'-6". Pros and cons?...See MoreAny concrete experts? Should I believe my contractor?
Comments (1)Adding concrete to concrete is a marginal effort at best. It will more than likely break up in fairly short order. Contractor made the mistake, contractor admitted his mistake, contractor fixes properly. You did not pay for a repaired or modified stair, did you? Also, didn't you ask this already?...See MoreAdvice on DIY concrete patio patio
Comments (15)Another option is to deck over the concrete, depending on the elevation of the back door. You can set 2X4's or 4X4's (PT) directly on the concrete slab and deck over it. This could easily be a DIY project and cost hundreds instead of thousands to give the patio a new life. I agree that a good pressure washing could be a simple solution as well. Look into concrete stains and paints. All of these solutions increase maintenance, expect pressure washing. Good luck and show us after pictures....See MoreCarlita Hawke
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoCarlita Hawke
2 years agoCarlita Hawke
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoCarlita Hawke
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoCarlita Hawke
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2 years agoCarlita Hawke
2 years agoCarlita Hawke
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoCarlita Hawke
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Carlita HawkeOriginal Author