Patios refer to the surfaces, such as courtyards, adjacent to a property that’s often made of gravel, bricks, or concrete. There are a lot of things that encourage homeowners to construct patios. These aspects include but are not limited to relaxation, aesthetics, and extra living space.
If you wish to add value and beauty to your home through patios, then concrete slab patios might be the best option to go for. Its adaptability, durability, and cost-efficiency are among the many reasons why it’s popular these days. Moreover, several great construction companies offer the best services when it comes to home improvements. Guy Blank Concrete, for example, is popular for its works on concrete patio in Sarasota. So, whether you want to avail a service or know how to pour concrete patios, then here’s what you need to know.
Set up the patio area
Before anything else, obtain the necessary permits from your local authorities. Then, proceed in identifying the area where you want to create the patio. Ensure to determine the size and other measurements to estimate the materials and labor for the task. Use stakes and strings to mark the ground. Once you have the set-up ready, proceed in clearing it first by getting rid of the weeds, roots, etc., using your gardening tools for a faster workflow.
Determine the depth
After removing the vegetation, proceed in choosing the type of patio that you want to have. Would a ground-level suit your home’s motif, or would the raised patio be more appropriate? Once you come up with a decision, start excavating the ground at around 10 cm deep if you prefer the latter and 20.3 cm for the former. You may start from the sides to the inner area of the ground. Then, tamp the soil for an even surface.
Start working on the base
The base serves as the foundation of the patio. Therefore, it must be added and compacted properly. You may use either gravel or crushed rocks to fill the excavated land. To fully even out the base, utilize a rake and a plate compactor. Estimate the thickness of the base so you can decide whether to add or remove a layer of it to match your desired patio style.
Create the concrete form
If you availed a construction service so that your patios are professionally and well made, then there’s no need to do this. But, if you haven’t, then start making the concrete form. It is the tool that can help you customize the design of your slab. The inner dimensions must mirror the final ones to ensure an even form of the concrete. Thus, thorough measuring is essential.
Affix the concrete mold
Once you’re done making the temporary concrete form, then proceed to set it up. Make use of wood stakes and strings to keep the mold in place. The former must be inserted in spaces, often in 2×4 measurements, of the frame and use nails to fully attach and strengthen the mold. See to it that the spaces within every mold, stake and guide strings are equal. After the concrete form is firmly fixed, remove the stake and strings so you can go and pour the concrete. The stakes must only be shortly visible when the concrete is poured.
Pour the concrete
Use your preferred material to coat the frame and interior surface so the concrete won’t stick once, just like how you spray oil on the baking pan before the actual baking process. Decide whether to mix the concrete by hand or through a mixer. However, the latter is more preferred due to convenience. Afterward, transport and pour the newly mixed concrete into the mold. Ensure to evenly spread it out until the top is filled, when you finished pouring and installing. In that case, you may proceed in removing the excess materials, resolving the blemishes, adding a slip-resistance feature, and waiting for it to fully cure.
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