How to Make a Concrete Patio Step-by-Step
Building a concrete patio can be a challenging endeavor, but many homeowners take it on without hiring a contractor. You must dig a foundation and install wooden forms to retain the concrete. After that, it's a matter of pouring and finishing the concrete. It's a backbreaking task, but doable. Ask a good friend to help you with the digging. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Vegetation killer
- Wheelbarrow
- Steel rake
- Circular saw
- Hammer
- Double-headed nails
- Wire mesh
- Wood shims
- Mallet
- Concrete mix
- Concrete mixer
- Edging tool
- Wood trowel
- Darby and bull floats
- 2-by-4-inch plywood
- Asphalt-impregnated expansion strips
- Gravel
- Polyethylene sheets
Instructions
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1
Pound stakes into the ground with the mallet and tie string between them to mark the perimeter of your patio; position the stakes and string 3 inches outside the perimeter to make room for the forms you will construct. Install the stakes every 3 feet and so their tops are at the same height as the planned top level of the forms you'll construct.
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2
Remove and sod, rocks and vegetation with the shovel. Spray vegetation killer in the area to kill all grass and vegetation.
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3
Dig a narrow trench around the perimeter in which to place your forms, digging more deeply at the corners to create footers for the concrete.
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4
Build a form to hold the concrete with the 2-by-4s. Use the circular saw to cut the wood to the dimensions of the perimeter of the patio. Use the stakes as guides, holding the boards against them. Nail through stakes into boards with a hammer and double-headed nails.
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5
Insert asphalt-impregnated expansion strips in places where the concrete will meet a foundation or wall. These will compensate for expansion and contraction when you have temperature changes.
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6
Shovel 3 to 4 inches of gravel into the forms and level it out with the rake.
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7
Place wire-reinforcing mesh over the rocks. Put shims under the mesh first so it will be at mid-level in the slab.
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8
Mix the concrete in a concrete mixer according to the directions on the bag. Pour the concrete into the form, using the shovel to spread it out. Use a 2-by-4 board to smooth it out.
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9
Smooth the surface more with a bull and darby float. Stop when you see water coming to the surface.
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10
Edge the slab when the water dries up, using the edging tool; put the edger on the surface with the front edge raised slightly as you move it forward. Raise the backside of the edger when you pull it backward.
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11
Run the wood trowel over the surface of the patio twice to make a skid-proof surface.
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12
Cover the finished patio with polyethylene sheets to keep the surface moist and the concrete cures. Remove the sheets and forms after one week.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear rubber gloves, rubber boots, long sleeves and pants, and safety glasses when working with concrete because it can burn your skin and eyes.
References
- Photo Credit Red patio furniture image by Scott Latham from Fotolia.com
