There is a nationwide trend towards creating outdoor living spaces. This is because people are looking for ways to make their home more livable, better use what they have and increase curb appeal. These outdoor living spaces usually feature space for entertaining friends and family while grilling, dining, eating and relaxing. Some people think of it as adding a family room without the roof.

For many, the building technique of choice when creating these spaces is using concrete pavers. These interlocking stones-called concrete pavers- are strong, durable and have grown in popularity worldwide. They are often used in walkways, patios, plazas and historic restoration projects.

Pavers are manufactured in a variety of shapes, textures and colors and can be easily removed and reinstalled. A patio is one kind of home-improvement project where pavers are increasingly being used. These patios are known for their durability and can create a new sense of space in a yard, particularly when extended to meet an existing deck. Not only are these spaces being used as an outdoor entertainment area, but people are adding barbeque pits, hot tubs and so much more.

There are a number of reasons why pavers have become popular in projects such as these:

1: Their uniform size and quality allow them to fit tightly together for a strong, interlocking surface.

2: Paver joints allow for a small amount of movement without cracking. That means they won’t crack like asphalt or poured-in-place concrete.

3: Their design makes them easy to install and repair

4: They can be installed by either a professional or a skilled do-it-yourselfer.

5: They’re available in a wide variety of shapes, colors and textures.

So how do you install them?

1. Start by planning what you want to do on paper.

2. Then lay it out where you want it to go.

3. Now you need to remove the sod and top soil about 5-8” depending on your area.
Tip: Use the sections of sod you have removed to make repairs to your lawn elsewhere as this is good sod you are removing.

4. Now install the base material landscape fabric and then stone dust or sand and pack it well.

5. It needs to be filled and most importantly packed until it is the thickness of the pavers below where you want the top of the patio to be.

6. It also needs to be leveled so with a straight 2×4 level off the surface so that it is smooth and straight. Make sure you repack the surface. You may want a slight slope on the patio away from the house so you have a little run off.

7. You may want to install an edge around the perimeter of the patio. If it has straight edges you could do this with a pressure treated 2×4. Or concrete. If the edge is curved use an edging sold with the pavers or a cement edging. If you are using cement do it after all the pavers are laid.

8. Now it is time to install the pavers. Take your time and make sure they are level to each other. You don’t want to trip on an edge. You can do this by using a rubber mallet or by pacing a box of wood on the Paver and taping it with a hammer. Do the very edges last as you may have to do some cutting to get them straight depending on the style of Paver you are using. This can be done with a skill saw and a carbrundium blade.
Be Safe when working with the stone and especially when cutting by wearing hearing protection, goggles and a dust mask, also wearing leather work gloves is recommended when you handle the stone and the base material. Both can easily cut your skin.

9. With the Pavers laid all you need to do is fill the joints between the Pavers with a little of the stone dust or sand. This will make them tight and keep them from rocking.

If you would like a little more detail on how to install check out my blog post on How to Install a Stone Walkway. I know it has some differences but most of the installation instructions are similar. By the way the article is in two posts.
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Now you have a new Patio to enjoy all summer and for many years to come. It’s a great outdoor living space for entertaining friends and family and a place for grilling, dining, eating and relaxing. Don’t forget some new outdoor furniture to relax on the make the project complete.

home exterior | 5 Comments »

We all love giving our homes a fresh new look almost any time of year, but I bet this time of year you’re thinking about the outside of your home. Sometimes we’re so busy decorating and/or redecorating the inside, we forget to do the same for the outside.

So here are a few quick and easy outdoor decorating tips that will help spruce up the curb appeal of your home:

1. Paint: Probably one of the most popular and easiest ways is by doing some painting. You can paint the entire house and trim, or simply touch up the trim, either way will make a huge impact on how your home looks to the passing public. Though more and more homes have a paint free exterior with vinyl or aluminum siding there are still things that may need painting, like shutters or porch pillars or maybe the whole porch and don’t forget the exterior doors. Whatever it is on your house a new coat of paint will freshen your place up or give it a whole new look.

2. Porch or Patio: If you have a porch, patio or deck, simply putting
new patio furniture out can make a wonderful difference in the presentation of your home. Alternatively, you can simply buy new cushions or covers for your existing patio furniture. Another quick patio spruce up could be as simple as putting out a few potted flowering plants, a sculpture or statue. A small water fountain can add some soothing sound into these outdoor living spaces.

3. Flowers & Shrubs: Another popular way to spruce up a yard quickly is to add some plant life. By adding some annuals for instant color or perennials or shrubs that will come back year after year you can give your outdoor living space new life or transform it altogether. Annuals are great for adding dashes of color quickly, because you can usually buy them this time of year in bloom. To get continuous color and greenery, plant some perennials too. Then once the annuals are starting to die out, you’ll have something to replace them. You’ll also have the added joy of seeing the perennials sprout again for several years to come. Shrubs usually just add greenery but there are some which bloom in the spring or the fall. Shrubs add structure and height which is needed to give balance in the overall scheme.

4. Sidewalks & Walkways: Having just a straight concrete walkway to your front door can be spruced up by putting a bit of garden bed edging along each side. This can be made to distract from the straightness of the walkway. Incorporating the flowers and shrubs in these beds as stated in point 3. You could also add some small solar walkway lights on each side. If you don’t already have a walkway and want to create one, I think the nicest walkways are made to curve or wind a bit instead of leading straight there and those made of stone. Having walkways outside your home add a cozy, homey and inviting feel to the overall outdoor presentation..

5. Yard sculpture or ornaments: Putting a little something extra in your yard defines you and your tastes. It gives your home a more unique personality that stands out from your neighbors. This can be done by adding a special outdoor pole lantern light, or a unique bolder to your front yard. Maybe it’s adding a special piece of sculpture in the corner of a flower bed that gives you the look your after. It could be as simple as adding a wheelbarrow or some other household item on its side filled with flowers. It could mean adding some small bird houses to your yard which will have the added benefit of some new feathered neighbors moving in.

There are many other outdoor decorating ideas that I am sure you can think of that will make your house and yard fresh, new, and interesting this summer. Perhaps the hardest thing for some is get off the couch and get out there and do it. The rewards though are fantastic, sprucing up the exterior of your home, giving it new curb appeal and giving you a place to enjoy some fresh air. What could be better?

home exterior | 3 Comments »