Patio Makeovers

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With patios increasingly becoming a natural extension of your internal living area , that old, drab concrete pad may need a bold makeover to meet new demands . Fortunately, carefully excuted work on your patio can often be one of the most cost effective home improvement tasks you can undertake and very often can add many dollars to the value of your home.

A number of options are possible for remodeling or transforming existing concrete surfaces , depending on the condition of the concrete, such as whether it is severely cracked or not , the amount of money you wish to spend , the level of disruption you can tolerate and material preference . For example, if the concrete is in excellent condition , then the concrete surface could be simply be stained, given a textured coating or a stenciled tile pattern applied. These options are generally not particularly disruptive and are typically applied by specialized contractors .

If the concrete surface is basically sound , maybe with only hairline cracks, then laying down ceramic or stone tiles is an option that could be considered. Ceramic tiles are available in a kaleidoscope of colours, styles, surface textures and sizes. Textured finishes are often applied to exterior tiles to reduce the danger of slipping under wet conditions. You need however to check the tiles are suitable for your local conditions as tiles with high water absorption characteristics may crack in freezing conditions. Be aware that any existing cracks in the concrete which extend through the entire pad are likely to become more pronounced and eventually can lead to cracking in any tiles laid above.

Natural stone products such as sandstone, limestone, slate or granite are could also be considered but may need to be sealed against moisture or to prevent staining.

Another option is to use new or reclaimed bricks or clay pavers although the extra height can be problem in some situations, especially with outward opening doors . But bricks or pavers have the advantage that they are normally very easy to lay and it's not normally necessary to fill in the gaps between the bricks .

But perhaps one of the simplest, most cost effective and attractive options is to lay down interlocking deck tiles. Such tiles also have the advantage that they can generally tolerate a degree of cracking of the concrete and will not cause problems if cracks in the concrete pad are likely to expand. These DIY decking tiles are typically available as 12" x 12" modules and are easily installed by just clicking the modules into place . The tiles have special tabs built onto the sides of the plastic base which keeps them firmly in place and avoids the need for any special surface preparation, adhesives or other fixing devices such as nails or screws . The plastic base permits water to flow away freely under the tiles and keep the wood clear of the concrete base . A typical patio area can be fully laid in just an hour or so and is ready to use immediately.

Most manufacturers produce deck tiles in several different designs, so it is possible to create borders, centerpieces, feature areas etc. to suit your individual preference. And they are now available not only in different species of wood but also in slate, sandstone, granite, ceramic , plastic and composite wood. With some tiles you can combine interlocking tiles of different materials. So for example you could have a central patio area paved in slate or sandstone tiles , surrounded by wood tiles.

To complete the makeover , you could purchase a few large pots or planters, a few well established plants and maybe a decorative item or two ensuring that your formerly drab patio will become a place you can again enjoy and be truly proud of.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

For more information about using interlocking deck tiles for resurfacing patios, you can see more details about the various types currently available including a deck tile comparison here.

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