Patio Building

Patios provide a firm foundation for social gatherings.

Patios are exterior places where homeowners and their guests can gather to enjoy the outdoors. These patios are more durable than wooden decks and are great for barbecues and other large gatherings. Patios are usually made out of concrete, slate or some other stone material. Some homeowners use brick.

Stone or Brick

While giving the home a natural look, stone or brick patios can be more difficult to install than other home additions because the stone materials used to make the patios come in different lengths and widths. With different sizes, homeowners will need to put in more effort to ensure that the stone patio is level, so that no one trips. You can purchase stones with different dimensions so that you can create customized patio designs. You can make bricks much more uniform, which makes installation easier.

Gravel

The bottoms of the stones must fit well within the sand base. Also, the material used to construct patios can be heavy, which makes moving the stones more challenging. Normally, installers start with 4-inch thick gravel, with 2- to 3-inch thick sand on top. The sand makes fitting the stones in place easier. Spread the gravel using a shovel and a rake. Use a plate compactor to compact the gravel. Start by using the device at the farthest point away from your home. Move over each part of the gravel three times.

Building Material Characteristics

Homeowners who want to drive over their patios must use 2-inch thick material, while patios simply meant for walking on can use thinner materials. If possible, build the patio to slope somewhat downward so that water drains away from the home. This will reduce patio maintenance. When using pavers, make sure that the patio has solid borders, or else the materials will slide apart.

Laying the Stones

Place one end of a straight board against the house and another end in the direction that the patio corner will end. Then, use measuring tape to measure all the way to the planned patio corner and mark every 8 feet with a stake so that you roughly know where your patio will go. Put the corner stones in first. Lift the stone up and add or remove sand until you get the stone leveled correctly. Continue this process as you lay more stones. Check the overall slope of the stones periodically to make sure that the patio remains level.

Grout Brushing

Brush the grout into the cracks between stones or pavers with a broom. You can use either sand or stone dust as grout. Use an ice scraper to pack the grout in place.

Concrete Patio

Concrete patios are constructed somewhat differently. You must clean up the area of dirt and debris. Then, use stakes to chart out where you will pour the concrete. Fasten form boards to the stakes with nails, connecting the different stakes with the boards. Spread gravel out evenly. When spreading out the concrete, spread it out quickly and evenly.

References

• Popular Mechanics: Build Your Own Natural Stone Patio
• This Old House: Lay an Appealing Brick Patio
• Extreme How To: Working with Concrete