How to Design Large Concrete Patios
A large concrete patio can be a wonderful addition to your back yard. Large concrete patios can be cheaper than building a deck in many cases and are definitely easier to maintain in the long term. Concrete is a versatile and easy-to-clean building material for a patio. Designing and building your own large concrete patio can end up saving you a lot of money over the cost of hiring someone to do the job for you. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Choose your desired concrete shape. Pick your desired shape and type, which can include straight corners, round corners, or a combination of both. Reference magazines, books, and websites to get inspiration for different types of concrete shapes. Visit your local home improvement store to view different styles. Be observant of your surroundings and look for design shapes and styles that you can emulate.
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Choose the color of your concrete. Pick from a variety of colors beyond the common gray/white. Review different colors of concrete at a landscaping supply or home improvement store near you. Choose either one color of a multitude of colors, depending on your design preferences. Takes notes on the types of design styles that are appealing to you.
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Pick out the texture and size of the concrete you will use for your patio. Choose from a variety of concrete textures, including swirls, zig zags, or waves, to name a few. Buy a few outdoor living magazines and study the different types of textures you see. Look at different size types as well and take notes on the types of sizes that appeal to your tastes.
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Draw your patio layout plans. Walk outside so you can visualize how large you want your patio to be. Measure the desired specifications and write them down on a piece of paper. Review all of your notes and narrow down your design preferences to a specific shape, color, texture, and size for your new concrete patio.
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Mark the borders of your patio area with a stake. Tie a string around the stake so you can get a better idea of what the patio will look like. Go to a home improvement store and purchase all the necessary materials, or hire a contractor to do it for you. If you're going to do it yourself, you will need all of the concrete required for a large patio (the people working can help you determine how much you will need), a shovel, a plate compactor (which you can rent for around $75), gravel, sand, and a border for your patio.
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