A patio is a great addition to residential properties. Patios can enhance the appearance of the home as well as increase its overall value. Patios can be created using different materials, including bricks, stones, and wood. The most commonly installed patios are made of concrete. Concrete patios offer more durability and resistance than other kinds of patios. They are also very flexible in terms of appearance. You can create your own texture for the concrete surface using different colors and patterns.
After installing a concrete patio in your property, you should consider resurfacing it to improve its appearance. Raw concrete surfaces are rough and normally plain gray in color. Resurfacing concrete patios involves adding an overlay on the existing concrete. Once the overlay is applied, the surface is now possible to be stamped, stencilled, and engraved. You can freely change its appearance that would match the exterior design of your property.
Do you already have a plain gray concrete patio that’s in good condition but not very exciting to look at? You don’t need to rip it out and start over to upgrade its appearance. Resurfacing with a cement-based overlay or microtopping is a great option for adding a decorative touch to an existing concrete patio while covering up minor flaws and discoloration. After the overlay is applied to the existing concrete, it can then be stamped, stained, stenciled or engraved to add color or simulate the look of brick, stone, tile or slate. Before beginning a concrete patio resurfacing project, be sure to consult a professional to determine if your patio can be resurfaced successfully. If the concrete slab is settling or is badly cracked, resurfacing may not be a viable option. You can read the full article at its main source.
Concrete stamps make it possible for contractors to imprint custom patterns on concrete patios. There are several stamped patterns to choose from. By pressing the stamp on wet cement, it produces a texture that imitates the look of bricks, wood, tiles, and some natural stones. Stamped concrete offers many advantages when utilized in patios. Stamped concrete is cost-effective and low maintenance. It is also durable and long lasting which is very ideal for structures that are constantly exposed to different weather conditions.
Why are stamped concrete patios often superior to bricks or pavers? Natural surfaces like brick and cobble form a surface with many interlocking pieces. This type of surface is highly susceptible to changes in the underlying structure caused by frost heave. In a climate like Colorado Springs, that can be a major concern. It takes a lot of maintenance to keep a natural surface patio looking its best. To view the full article, read from its main source.
In order to acquire proper installation of patios in your property, you should hire a reliable contractor. There should be an experienced concrete patio contractor in your local area but if you are not familiar with one, you can start your search online. A concrete patio should be an affordable option for homeowners who want to add an outdoor living space for their home. Thus, the cost of concrete patio installation should not be expensive.
Many different decorative options: Concrete patios are a serious value – at a relatively low cost, you can choose a wide variety of decorative options to make your patio stand out including stamped, engraved, stenciled, or textured to look and feel more like much more expensive brick or stone pavers, but at a fraction of the cost. Your patio can also be designed in many shapes and colors. Visit https://www.ableconcretemn.com/concrete-patio-company/ to view the full article.
If your home does not have an outdoor living space yet, you should consider installing a concrete patio. An outdoor living space under the shade of concrete patios is great for gatherings with friends, family, and neighbors. It is the perfect place to grill, gather, and relax. Many homeowners choose to install concrete patios in their property for the same reason. Aside from the additional space it offers, adding concrete patios also increases your home’s selling price.
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| Do Concrete Patios Crack? | Concrete is good for warm climate landscapes that do not experience the extreme freeze-thaw of the northern states, which is the cause of uncontrollable cracking. Chris Major of Blue Ridge Landscaping in Holland, Michigan says, “Concrete is great and cheaper at the start, but it cracks.” Trust a Michigan landscaper to be forthright about the problem that does and always has afflicted concrete patios. The radical pressures of freeze-thaw make this a problem in the north, but other factors can lead to cracking too.Virginia marl is a unique soil condition that afflicts projects by Adam Heath at Mid Atlantic Enterprise. “Marl makes our soils unstable, causing big problems with paving. This is a mushy organic soil composed of silt and sediment that is very expansive. You literally can’t build on it. We have to excavate all our patio spaces to remove all the marl then backfill it with specific crushed stone to obtain the solid compaction we need.”
Similar problems are experienced by Matt Schmuke of Arcadia Design Group. “In Colorado you’re guaranteed that a slab will crack. Plasticity of the clay soil is the problem. With pavers we have an infinite number of joints so you’ll never see a crack.” Read more: https://www.landscapingnetwork.com/patios/concrete.html. |
| Concrete Sealer Pros and Cons |  There are two ways to use sealers on your concrete patio. One is as a standalone sealer over bare concrete. The other is to use the sealer on top of a concrete stain or paint, says Kerri Schlenker, Rust-Oleum brand manager for high performance coatings. “A stain isn’t going to offer protection, only color, so the sealer over it would protect the color and the concrete in general, ” she says.Sealers that are film-forming (meaning they leave a sheen on the surface) come in two types — solvent-based and water-based. According to ChemMasters, a manufacturer of concrete coatings, solvent-based sealers are high gloss and darken concrete, while water-based sealers are low gloss with minimal darkening and/or color change.
If you’d like stain protection from food, fire/water features or flower pots and planters, choose a film-forming sealer. However, one drawback is because these sealers form a film, they may create a slippery surface on the concrete. Consider them for stamped concrete and broom-finished concrete patios. And to prevent the sealer from yellowing your concrete due to excessive UV exposure, look for a film-forming sealer with UV stable resin. A second class of sealer is known as a penetrating sealer, or a water-repellent sealer. This type seeps into the concrete surface and is best for smooth concrete and broom-finished concrete. Penetrating sealers will offer freeze/thaw protection and, of course, prevent water absorption, but do not offer stain protection. Penetrating sealers give a matte finish to concrete and do not add slippage to the surface. Both film-forming and water-based sealers come in acrylic and epoxy varieties. Generally, epoxy sealers are applied to extremely high-traffic areas and to prevent chemical spills because they offer excellent protection. Acrylic sealers are often used to block water penetration for residential applications and decorative concrete. Keep in mind that applying any solvent-based sealer will require chemical clean-up, while water-based are easier to clean with soap and water. Choosing which type can be a tradeoff between long-term maintenance and ease of application. Schlenker says that the “easiest product to use and apply is water- or latex-based, but an oil-based or solvent-based [product] will last longer over time, requiring less maintenance.” |