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need Patio Ideas

3649 Views 36 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  henrycolter2, 
A
We are building a home and adding a patio... we are/were looking at stained and stamped concrete, but it's running about $14 a sq/ft for the size we're looking for i.e. 100sq/ft.

Any suggestions for anything else? I looked at flagstone stuff, but they seem to say if you want to put a table on it, go ahead and do it "wet", so the price is basically the same because you pour a concrete base and lay the stones in it.

Wondering if anyone has any great ideas? I'm not a landscaper by any means, but I want something that is durable, looks good, and will be able to handle a patio table and chairs without leaning or "teetering" all the time.

If you have an idea, please post up a picture, or post a picture of your patio. I asked my wife if she would mind a concrete patio, and then acid staining it after, but she wasn't really feeling that.

Thanks!
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A
lots of lookers...

Landscape guy quoted me at 12sq/ft for some stone layout... not even flagstone. He said something about putting an elastic like finish between the stones so that weeds/grass couldn't grow through the cracks. he also Tried to tell me how concrete would crack and look bad.
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akfodysvn said:
lots of lookers...

Landscape guy quoted me at 12sq/ft for some stone layout... not even flagstone. He said something about putting an elastic like finish between the stones so that weeds/grass couldn't grow through the cracks. he also Tried to tell me how concrete would crack and look bad.
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If you insist on concrete, how about an exposed aggregate? When the pour it, they use a little different mix, then brush off the top layer of cement. Looks great, it's cheap, and really durable. If you want, you can even spray on a clear sealer to darken it and protect it.
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49522
I would go with stamped concrete. There are lots of designs and colors to choose (or mix) from, and once its in you can keep it up yourself w/ an annual powerwash and reseal.

The landscape guy didn't lie to you - concrete will almost 100% guaranteed crack - but if it is saw cut, chances are it will crack inside of the cuts and shouldnt be visible. Most stamped patios are at least 6 iches (i'm not 100% on the requirements here) where you're average driveway is only 4. Since its thicker, and you won't be driving 4,000 pound vehicles on your patio, it shouldn't crack in the middle of sections like some driveways do.
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For $14 a ft. they can kiss my ass...
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A
I'm still a little torn on the subject

What about when they pour my driveway, I have them pour the patio and stamp it w/ my stamp I want. I then go back and acid stain it or something of that sort on my own? Does anyone think that would be a good idea at all, or just a wast of time? This would make the concrete pretty cheap in itself.

I'm really not sure what an aggregate is... I guess I'll have to look this up!
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49522
If you can pour your patio at the same time as your driveway, you should get a better rate. A ten by ten pad is a half day job and not a whole lot of concrete, so adding it on when they do the driveway would be preferable for most crews. 10x10 at 6 inches is 2 yards of concrete - most companies (at least in CLE) have a 4 yard minimum load charge. If you do decide just to pour a patio, you may get a better price per sqft by going a little larger.

If you pour it with your driveway, they may be able to fit enough for the patio on the same truck - otherwise they will need a small balance load. If there is enough left over from the balance of driveway truck(s), they could add color to the mix at the end of the load.

IMO staining is only for borders and accent designs - I don't believe that non-colored concrete w/ a stain would look as good as colored concrete. Your primary color should be mixed directly in the concrete w/ accent release color(s) dusted on top while stamping.

For example, the light brown in this picture would be the result of the mix in the truck and the colored release powder(s), and the dark brown would be because of the same mix, release, and adding a stain.
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clevelandkid said:
If you can pour your patio at the same time as your driveway, you should get a better rate. A ten by ten pad is a half day job and not a whole lot of concrete, so adding it on when they do the driveway would be preferable for most crews. 10x10 at 6 inches is 2 yards of concrete - most companies (at least in CLE) have a 4 yard minimum load charge. If you do decide just to pour a patio, you may get a better price per sqft by going a little larger.

If you pour it with your driveway, they may be able to fit enough for the patio on the same truck - otherwise they will need a small balance load. If there is enough left over from the balance of driveway truck(s), they could add color to the mix at the end of the load.

IMO staining is only for borders and accent designs - I don't believe that non-colored concrete w/ a stain would look as good as colored concrete. Your primary color should be mixed directly in the concrete w/ accent release color(s) dusted on top while stamping.

For example, the light brown in this picture would be the result of the mix in the truck and the colored release powder(s), and the dark brown would be because of the same mix, release, and adding a stain.
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Thanks for the info. I think 3 yards is the smallest you can get here, I know I was looking at right around 2 yards. They keep trying to have me make it bigger, but I just don't have enough yard. I like my grass too much.

I've seen stains that look very close to the same as colored concrete, but it is different. I just don't know how acid stained concrete would hold up.

Here's a couple examples of what I was talking about, I would chose a similar color but would be on a slate stamp:

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49522
If you want to keep the patio small, I would recommend doing it with your driveway, or trying to find a place for another 2 yards - do you have a front or side service walk on your house? We did several jobs that did these two areas at the same time as a patio and they kept a normal uncolored driveway. Whatever you decide, I definitely think decorative concrete is way better than real stone or any other patio options...
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No sidewalk on my side of the street.

I'm going to see if he'll pour it when he pours our neighbors driveway, taht way they don't fuck it up when they are grading the yard for our sod.

When you say decorative concrete, do you mean w/ the color integrated w/ the concrete? I'm a little confused w/ that. Before you were telling me you didn't think the acid stain would look very good, but I though acid stained concrete is decorative concrete... as you can see I'm trying to learn, but I appreciate your answers! I think the guy who is doing our driveway just really doesn't want to do it... so that's why he says $14/ft

My builder seems to think that finished concrete just won't look good... I don't know why. He keeps insisting it will crack and look bad. I don't agree w/ him, maybe he's just trying to have his landscape guy make some extra dough.
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Stained and stamped concrete are good for patios. They are strong, durable, look good, and will be able to handle a patio table and chairs effortlessly. They also wont cost much.
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