How to Install Block Concrete Patios
Concrete patio blocks are an attractive alternative to a poured concrete patio. With the strength and weather resistance of concrete, patio blocks are molded into blocks ranging in size from 6-by-6 inches to 16-by-16 inches and larger. Concrete blocks are available as plain concrete, stained with color or finished with a decorative surface to resemble bricks or cobblestone. Installing concrete blocks calls for a strong foundation of compacted aggregate to support the heavy surface. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Landscape paint
- Shovel
- Plate compactor
- Concrete edge blocks
- ¾-inch aggregate
- Rake
- Course sand
- String
- Masonry sand or stone dust
- Concrete sealant
- Spray pump or roller paint brush
Instructions
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1
Mark your patio site with landscape paint and add 6 inches to each side for the edge restraints. Call your utility companies to ensure your site is not located over underground wires or pipes.
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2
Dig up the grass and soil from the area within the painted borders with a shovel. Dig out an expanse about 10 inches deep. Typical concrete patio blocks range in thickness from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches thick. If your blocks are thicker than 2 ½ inches, dig an extra inch for every additional inch of thickness. Slope the expanse deeper 1 additional inch for every 4 feet in length from the house.
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3
Run a power plate compactor over the floor of the expanse three times to stabilize the soil.
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4
Install concrete edge blocks vertically along the interior walls of the expanse. Anchored to the base, edge blocks bound the concrete blocks in place, preventing them from rotating or sliding under traffic. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions to secure them to the ground.
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5
Fill the expanse with two 4-inch layers of ¾-inch aggregate. Rake and compact each layer to form a supportive base that will allow water to travel out from beneath the patio. If the aggregate doesn't compact into a firm surface, wet it so the rocks pack snugly together.
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6
Pour 1 inch of course sand bedding over the aggregate to fill in the gaps between the compacted surface.
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7
Set the concrete patio blocks in the sand bedding according to your pattern. Leave even spaces between the blocks and adjust the amount of sand bedding beneath any uneven blocks. Check that the blocks are aligned by running a string from the bottom of the first block across the first row. If the string doesn't skim the bottom of each block, adjust the blocks before moving on to the next row.
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8
Pack stone dust or masonry sand into the joints between each concrete block. The filled joints pad the blocks as they settle and keep debris from building up.
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9
Seal the patio with a layer of concrete sealant using a spray pump or roller paint brush.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
