DIY Faux Stone Floor Patios
Changing the concrete floor of your patio into a faux stone look can transform the appearance of your patio from bland to sophisticated or charming. Before you begin, plan how you want the "stone" to look. You can create a formal pattern with all "stones" a uniform size, or a more casual look with a sporadic pattern using large and small "stones." Start with gray and beige shades of paint for realistic "stone" color. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Broom
- Bucket
- Liquid dish detergent
- Bristle scrub brush
- Hose
- Old towels, if desired
- Painter's tape, 1-inch wide
- Exterior latex paint, semi-gloss (light, medium, and dark shades of gray and beige)
- 6 disposable bowls
- Bristle paintbrushes
- Sponge
- Concrete sealant, if desired
Instructions
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1
Clear off the floor of the patio by removing any furnishings. Sweep the floor to remove dirt and debris. Fill a bucket with a half gallon of warm water and a quarter cup of dish liquid. Wash over the floor with the soap solution and scrub brush. Hose down the patio to rinse away the soap. Allow the patio to air dry or wipe it down with old towels.
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2
Run painter's tape along the floor to mark off the individual "stones" as the tape will cover the "grout" between the stones. Depending how you place the tape you will form large or small "stones" in the pattern you prefer. As you work, allow the tape to bend and crease in places to make irregular widths between the "stones."
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3
Pour each color of paint into its own disposable bowl. Start at one end of the room and work in 3-by-3-foot sections at a time. Apply a base coat to each individual "stone" with a paintbrush using the same color for each stone or varying the color between your dark and medium grays and beiges.
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4
Apply varying secondary colors in any of your six paints over the base coats using a sponge before the base color dries. Pat the sponge over the individual stones to create a mottled look. Don't attempt to cover the base coat fully, but allow it to show through. Use a third layer on the stones, if desired.
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5
Continue working in 3-foot square areas moving across the room until the entire floor is complete. Leave the patio to dry thoroughly overnight. Pull up the painter's tape along the entire floor to reveal the finished look of the floor. Apply a concrete sealant over the paint to protect your paint, if desired, following the manufacturer's instructions.
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Tips & Warnings
Set your six bowls into a large baking pan to make moving them around the patio easier.
Flick a slightly loaded paintbrush over a few of the stones to splatter them in a random pattern to create irregularities in the floor pattern.
