Do you have a boring backyard? Do you wish you had a patio you could relax on? A concrete patio can make a backyard or front yard more exciting, entertaining, and give you a place to hang out with family and friends. Building a concrete patio is easier than you’d ever think and even something you can do yourself. Here’s some steps to building a concrete patio.
Before you begin building a concrete patio, you want to consult a contractor. While this is something you can do, you may not understand the scope, especially for a bigger patio, and consulting a contractor can give you the best understanding of whether you can do it yourself or not.
You’ll also want to survey the land you want to build the patio on. Not all ground, especially dirt, can be settled with concrete. If you can’t answer this question yourself, you may want to consult a contractor for the project.
If you’re ready to do it yourself, you’re going to want to measure the area of the patio. Mark it off with stakes, then use at least a 1” wide piece of wood to help block in the area. This will help contain the concrete in the area of the patio without spilling over and ruining the surrounding area.
Once you’ve set the area, you’ll want to mix the concrete and pour it evenly in the area. You don’t want to go above the wood you’ve placed, making sure it’s distributed properly. You can use a trowel to make sure it’s even. Make sure to mark the area off so that nobody steps through the concrete while it sets. Depending on the type of concrete, it can take anywhere from 24 hours to five days to set completely. During that time, don’t step on it and try and tarp it off in bad weather to keep it dry and free of issues.
Once set, you’ll have a beautiful concrete patio to use as you see fit with your family, friends, and for all sorts of occasions.
