How to Plan for Building a Patio

7 Covered Patio Ideas During the planning stage, make sure you review and abide by local construction standards and regulations. Plan your patio's size in square foot accounting for the shape and function in detail, before starting any renovation. Don't forget to include any extra elements, like outdoor kitchens or fire pits. Do you want to give your backyard a little more style and usefulness? Creating an outdoor space with a patio is a great way to enjoy spending time with family and friends or entertaining guests. You can buy handrails systems that fit a few steep grades. These require a ⅜ drill bit and give you that extra support. It’s worth the extra $200 or so for those slippery days or anyone needing that extra support. The standard size for a patio is roughly 16 by 16 feet. But if you want room for entertaining, I recommend increasing that to at least 25 feet wide or larger.

How to Build A Concrete Paver Patio Step-by-Step

By aligning the edge of the end stones with this string, you'll ensure that your installation starts square. Once you’ve designed your paver patio, mark the area using stakes and string or a garden hose to outline the shape. Be sure to consider any slope for water drainage, as you don’t want water pooling on your new patio.

Flatten and Level the Area

One and a half tons of gravel there cost me just $160 – a fraction of the price had I bought it at a hardware store or nursery! Had I known that I could buy gravel for so cheap, I would have finished out my backyard ages ago. Concrete slabs are the most economical choice for a solid ground patio floor, costing around $3 to $8 per square foot on average. Gravel is a little less, about $1 to $4 per square foot, but you’ll need to refill it from time to time, which can add up over time. When you return to the first stake, tie it off and cut the string from the spool. Make sure when you put the stakes into the ground, that they are at least a foot down. You’ll also want to make sure you get rid of any tree roots that are impeding into the space you have planned for your patio. A 16 x16 paver is actually 15 ¾” x 15 ¾” and just over 1 ½” thick (not 16 x16).

They come in a variety of shapes, colors, and textures, allowing you to customize your patio.Your goal is to get the stones and brick even on the top.Concrete pavers are a simple, affordable option for any DIY patio.But inspecting your patio once a year- especially after freezing temperatures- is a wise choice.The crushed stone should be level and consistent in depth.

Above ground, pools are great for entertaining and a stunning addition. Minimalist pools are in-, and an above-ground pool is cheaper and more feasible for a patio. Above ground, pools should be professionally installed and look best when surrounded by landscaping and an area for lounging. Since my patio was oriented against a fence, we dumped the gravel close to the fence, working our way back to the front of the patio. Lay about three-fourths of the gravel, then stop to work on the edging.

Tools and equipment

I could carry only one at a time, so this made the project more time consuming. You will need to leave at least a small gap between your concrete pavers to allow for expansion and contraction, but you have the option to go wider. With concrete https://www.training.ca/%EF%BB%BFtraining-categories/clear-view-builders paving stones are a minimum of 1½” thick and can be laid with large or narrow gaps. Water will float to the surface during this process. Wait for the water to disappear before finishing the patio. Finally, saw the stakes so they are flush with the top edges of the form. This is called "screeding" and will be necessary when you level the concrete. Now, determine the highest corner you want for your patio and raise the top of the form to that level. Once they’re secure, measure each stake from the ground up to 4”. Are you wondering how to clean them when the time comes? Here’s how I cleaned the concrete pavers without using a pressure washer.