How to Set Up a Concrete Patio
Setting up a concrete patio in your yard provides a simple outdoor space you can use for dining or relaxing on a sunny day. Concrete patios are low-maintenance and strong enough to withstand years of wear and tear. If you don't like the look of a common concrete patio, stamp a patterned design into the patio to embellish it with texture and style. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Wood posts
- String
- Shovel
- Compactor
- Gravel
- 2-by-4 wood boards
- Screws drill
- Wood stakes
- Cement mix
- Wheelbarrow or cement mixer
- Trowel
- Concrete stamp
- Plastic sheet
Instructions
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Choose a location that offers convenient access to your home and won't interfere with underground utility lines. Verify this with your utility company.
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Add 2 inches to each side of the site's width to account for the forms. Use wood posts to mark the corners of the site and wrap a string around the posts so you have straight lines to follow when digging.
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Dig out the patio site until the whole surface is level and 8 inches below the lowest-lying ground. Dig 1/4-inch deeper with every foot to build a subtle slope into the patio that will direct water away from the house.
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Run a compactor over the soil to stabilize the ground so that it won't shift beneath the foundation.
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Use a shovel to dump piles of gravel over the site and spread it with a two-by-four until the gravel is 5 inches thick. Shift stones to preserve the slope and smooth the surface. Compact the gravel until the stones are packed tight.
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Arrange two-by-fours on the interior sides of the site so the top side is 1 inch taller than the ground. Screw the boards together on the ends and insert stakes around the exterior sides of the forms to lock them in place.
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Add the cement mix and water into your wheelbarrow or cement mixer. Stir the concrete with a paddle until it has a deep gray color and stiff consistency.
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Tilt the wheelbarrow over the site and push the concrete out with a shovel. Slide a two-by-four over the surface to smooth the top and spread the mix. Remove excess concrete with the edge of the board or a trowel.
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Press patterned stamps into the wet concrete, interlocking each stamp so the lines are continuous. Gently lift the stamp straight up to use it again. If you don't want to impress a pattern on the surface, score control joints every 4 feet with a trowel.
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Roll a sheet of plastic over the concrete patio to deter foot traffic and retain moisture in the concrete. Allow the concrete to dry for one week before removing the plastic.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
