People are more and more interested in extending their home’s space to include the outdoors. Indeed, patios are becoming popular places to cook, entertain friends, or simply relax. Many people, however, don’t want to spend an exorbitant amount of money to construct their outdoor living space.
Concrete patios have become popular choices because of their look and cost. Especially nowadays, there is a large selection of concrete styles from which to choose; there are innovative stamping, texture, and coloring techniques that can create beautiful concrete designs that have nothing in common with the plain, dull concrete patios of the past. You can actually create the look of a real stone, slate, or cobblestone patio by using decorative concrete; this is more economical than using the real materials and it enhances the beauty and economical value of your home.
Indeed, concrete is a versatile material, being able to be shaped, molded, and designed according to a variety of styles and designs. The manipulation of concrete can be as simple as smoothing it lightly or brushing it heavily, placing pebbles on its surface, swirling it, scoring it, staining it, painting it, patterning it, or molding it so that it assumes the aspect of some other material. Many of these processes can actually be used in combination to create a stunning looking patio; indeed, color can be included in the concrete mix, while other design processes can be applied after pouring concrete patios. There are numerous concrete patio ideas to be considered.
Besides its design qualities, concrete is a popular choice for outdoor spaces because of its durability. Indeed, a concrete patio can endure quite a bit of environmental wear and tear and still come out shining. Some companies add fiber and steel to the concrete mix to make it even stronger.
One of the most popular options for your concrete patio is the use of concrete patio stamping, or patterning. This is concrete that has been made to look like brick, flagstone, stone, tile, or wood. There is a wide selection of designs, patterns and colors available for stamped concrete patios; so much so that you can most likely find a design that will match with architectural or design elements already present around your home or backyard.
Another way to create a beautiful patio is to use exposed-aggregate concrete. To create the exposed aggregate effect, the concrete must be laid down and the outer skin or cover of cement paste is removed; in this way, the coarse aggregate laying beneath is exposed. This aggregate can be quite decorative and functional as well, as it is durable and skid resistant. Nowadays, many homeowners are choosing to pair exposed aggregate concrete with other design techniques.
Concrete patio staining is actually another option to enhance and provide some decorative flair to your patio. Concrete staining products on the market react directly with the minerals in the concrete mixture and produce mottled, varied and attractive color effects; you can even combine colors and application techniques. An acid stain for a concrete patio is usually a mix of water, hydrochloric acid and acid-soluble metallic salts; the stain becomes a permanent part of the concrete and is not subject to fading, peeling, or chipping. These concrete stains are translucent and the final color will depend on the color and conditions of the concrete to which is applied the acid stain. The concrete patio sections, furthermore, will “accept” the stain to a different extent and so color variations will naturally be created. Modern stains offer a wider selection of colors than traditional acid stains.
If you already have a concrete patio that you wish to spice up, then you could enhance it by the process of engraving, or cutting patterns and designs into it. After staining the concrete to give it color, you carve out a pattern; n this way, the carving lines are actually uncolored, making them look like grout lines. A sealer is applied and you now have a beautifully decorated patio that looks like new. Engraving is permanent and so the designs won’t wear away.
Another option for finishing your concrete patio is to use concrete patio pavers, or paving stones, which interlock together to form a patterned surface that essentially lays on top of the concrete slab that was poured for the patio. The obvious benefit of pavers is that they can be removed and re-installed; they come in a variety of textures and colors.
Once you’ve chosen your design, and made sure that work of leveling the concrete patio was done properly, it’s time to complement your patio with concrete patio furniture. Add a lounge chair, tables, or a bench. Concrete patio furniture can be simple or ornate, but you should choose pieces that will accentuate your patio’s style.
