|
PATIOS-PAVER-STONE-CONCRETE-STAMPED
Important part of the American household
Concrete Patios built out of concrete should be
constructed out of 4 inches of 2000 psi concrete with ½ inch
rebar placed every 24 inches on center going in both directions.
The Soil under should be well compacted.
Brick Traditional brick patios should be built
over a 4-inch concrete slab. The bricks are now set in a mortar
bed and leveled one at a time. Then all the spaces between the
bricks are filled with a grout. This is can be rather expensive
because one is building two surfaces. Interlocking brick patios
are far more economical because they are set in sand instead of
in mortar over concrete.
Flagstone is a generic term for thin flat rock
that is used for paving flat surfaces. Flagstone is named from
the location of the quarry it comes from. Arizona red is a
reddish sand stone; Pennsylvania blue is a grey blue. The cost
of the stone is proportional to the shipping distance. It is
best to pour a concrete slab and set the stone in mortar on the
slab. However, in the interest of economy the stones can be set
directly over the soil. They will move and shift over time and
will have to be readjusted from time to time.
Stamped Concrete A stamped concrete patio
should first be prepared with 4 inches of concrete with ½ inch
rebar going both ways.The "stamping' happens after the concrete
has been poured and just before it sets up. There are several
methods of stamping. The most common is to use a rubber mat like
material with the desired pattern molded into one side. The
molded pattern is placed down on the concrete leaving the
desired pattern in the concrete. The procedure is repeated over
the area to be stamped. Control joints are placed in the
concrete in the effort to have the cracks follow the joints.
This does not always happen and the cracks can appear anywhere
in the newly finished concrete. Concrete is usually colored
before it is poured. There are standard colors that can be added
to the concrete at the ready mix company as it goes into the
truck. The colors are not 100% predictable and may vary slightly
from the color chosen.
Pavestones The price of pavestones is more
affordable today than before. The techniques have improved and
the skill in laying the stones has been expanded. When one
compares similar aspects of a stamped concrete patio done
correctly costs are usually less. However when the advantages of
each are compared the paving stones far outweigh the concrete.
Designing patios is like
planning a new room. What part of the day will it be in the sun
or shade? It it going to be blocked from the wind? How will the
landscaping fit in? How easy is the access from the house? Are
steps needed? Consider the flow of foot traffic and the amount
of space needed to accommodate a patio table and chairs, gas
grill, etc. A minimum of 350-400 sq. ft. would be needed, but a
more generous size is recommended, especially if the homeowner
likes to entertain family and friends.
|
