Quick And Trouble-free Patio Makeovers

With patios increasingly becoming a natural extension of your internal living area, that old, weather worn concrete pad may need a bold makeover to meet new demands. Fortunately, carefully executed work on your patio can often be one of the most cost effective home improvement tasks you can undertake and if it's a professional looking transformation, can add substantially to the value of your home.

A number of options are possible for remodeling or transforming existing concrete surfaces, depending on the state of the concrete, such as whether it is severely cracked or not , the amount of money you wish to spend , the amount of disruption you can tolerate and material preference . For example, if the concrete is in excellent condition , then the concrete surface can simply be stained, resurfaced with a textured coating or a stenciled tile pattern applied. These options are generally not particularly disruptive and are typically applied by specialized contractors rather than being a do-it-yourself product .

If the concrete surface is basically sound , perhaps with only hairline cracks, then resurfacing with ceramic, stone tiles or flagstones is an option that could be considered. Ceramic tiles are available in a kaleidoscope of colours, styles and sizes. Textured finishes are generally applied to exterior tiles to provide a degree of slip resistance under wet conditions. Check to ensure the tiles are suitable for your local conditions as tiles with high water absorption characteristics may exhibit freeze-thaw cracking in freezing conditions. Be aware that any existing cracks in the concrete which extend through the total concrete thickness are likely to open further and eventually can cause any tiles laid above to crack.

Natural stone products such as sandstone, limestone, slate or granite are could also be considered but if using such tiles it's a good idea to make sure they are sealed against moisture or to prevent staining.

Another option is to use new or reclaimed bricks or clay pavers although the extra height that bricks or pavers will add needs to be considered . But bricks or pavers have the advantage that they are normally very easy to lay and do not necessarily need any grout to be used .

But perhaps one of the simplest, most cost effective and attractive options is to install interlocking deck tiles. These tiles can tolerate a degree of cracking of the concrete and will not experience problems if cracks in the concrete pad are likely to expand. These do-it-yourself decking tiles are typically available as 12" x 12" squares and are quickly and easily installed by just clicking the modules into place. The tiles have special tabs built onto the sides of the plastic mesh base which keeps them firmly in place and avoids the need for any particular surface preparation, adhesives or other fixings . The plastic base permits water to pass freely under the tiles and keep the wood clear of the sub-surface. A typical patio area can be fully laid in just a few hours and is ready to use immediately.

Deck tiles are available in various designs, so it is possible to create borders, feature panels etc. to suit your individual preference. And they are now available not only in different species of wood but also in slate, sandstone, granite, porcelain , PVC, rubber and composite wood. In many cases you are able to combine interlocking tiles of different materials. So for example you could have a central patio area paved in slate or sandstone tiles , surrounded by wood tiles.

To complete the makeover, you could purchase a few large pots or planters, a few well established plants and maybe a favorite piece of sculpture ensuring that your formerly drab patio will become a place you can be truly proud of.

By: malkay

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For more information about using interlocking deck tiles for resurfacing patios, you can see more details about the types of types currently available including a deck tile comparison here.