Questions tagged [patio]
For questions generally relating to outdoor ground-level flooring areas such as patios.
366
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What is the proper way to protect house from raised patio installation?
I'm in the middle of a project where we removed a rotting deck (termites) and are in the process of installing a raised patio with pavers. The fill the contractor is using for the paver foundation is ...
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1
answer
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Can I stain my recently-installed Hollandstone brick pavers (patio)
We just had a hollandstone brick paver patio installed. One problem: wife had sent the contractor the wrong paver color.
Patio is a “River” hollandstone from unilock (mostly tans with some blue/gray). ...
14
votes
8
answers
12k
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Are loose-stacked bricks a suitable base for concrete steps?
We have a contractor building a set of concrete steps outside of our house (will be leading to a new French door whenever we get the door). They are using a bunch of left over bricks as filler they ...
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0
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Installing sliding patio door, under covered patio, tight fit recommendations?
I am getting ready to replace a window and install a patio door to the outside which has a covered patio. However, the top of the window, roughly where the top of the patio door will fit, will be very ...
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Options for hanging string lights on patio?
I'm wanting to hang string lights to cover my 20x20 patio but struggling with the best option.
I had been planning to use two 8' 4x4 posts secured to 26" half whiskey barrels by retrofit post ...
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1
answer
35
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How do I slope a retaining wall for a raised patio?
I am planning a raised paver patio for my back door. The patio will be 8' x 12' and will need to be 2' off the ground. My understanding is that a patio should have a 1/8" slope away from the ...
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3
votes
2
answers
146
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How can I prevent mold and rot in a ground-level deck?
We bought a townhouse a few years ago and they had just put this wooden patio in. It was just unfinished wood and I was lazy, then we had a baby, and never got around to sealing it.
We have finally ...
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Can I remove this door sill?
I have Amtico flooring booked in to replace the existing vinyl and I’m wondering if this sill can be removed to create more space or is it part of the structure/ support for the patio doors? Sorry for ...
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0
votes
1
answer
38
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Installing outdoor ceiling fan on stucco, no electric box
I’m wanting to install an outdoor ceiling fan on my back patio, the covered area is stucco and there currently isn’t an electrical box. Don’t know where studs are either. Is this an easy DIY or should ...
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1
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How do I properly rebuild this retaining wall?
Retaining Wall breakdown progress
I wanted to replace the posts on my porch but the retaining wall was getting dangerously close to them so I had to address it first.
I started taking it down and I ...
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Tying Into Existing Gas Line Near Patio
I have a natural gas line entering the back of house for indoor fireplace one foot from my patio. I would like to buy a natural gas grill for the patio. Of course I would hire the work done, but first ...
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2
answers
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Raised paver patio - does it need to be replaced?
hoping for some help here. Can’t tell if salesman are trying to hose for me for cash.
This patio was built 3 years ago, right before I bought my house. Prior inspector (not mine) said there may need ...
0
votes
1
answer
83
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How to Prevent Lizards from Entering Screened-In Patio with Thin-Bolted Aluminum Door?
I'm seeking advice on effectively blocking lizards from entering my screened-in patio. I don't want to kill the lizards, I just want them to stop getting into the screened-in patio and getting stuck, ...
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vote
2
answers
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How wet a hole (with rain) is too wet to put concrete anchors in? [closed]
A few weeks ago I drilled 1/4" holes in my patio slab to mount some ~6' tall 4x4s with post brackets and wedge anchors (for a catio - ideally able to bear the weight of jumping cats). But I didn'...
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answers
31
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Outdoor Wood Refresh
We bought a new home in April and I'm looking to refresh and update some wood beams for our patio and possibly some wood walls on the shed to clean up the look a little bit.
I'm wondering if using ...
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vote
0
answers
236
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Lean to free standing patio cover
I am building a 12'x 20' free standing lean to off the back of the house. I am planning on using 4"x4" posts with a 4"x6" beam across the back and front, with a 4"x6" ...
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0
votes
1
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128
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patching crack in flagstone patio
My flagstone patio is developing cracks at the joints. I would like to know how to patch/seal them to avoid water from sipping excessively into the ground. I understand patching is not a water proof ...
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2
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145
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How To Remove Rug Stain/Discoloration on Concrete Patio
Seeing if anyone can help me to get rid of this stain/discoloration left behind from an outdoor rug. We had this patio laid last summer and we chose to have it tinted a slightly darker grey than ...
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3
votes
4
answers
1k
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Should a paver patio slope in the direction of yard grade? [closed]
I recently went with a contractor to get pavers installed. They are working on the patio and this is a photo of the installation that I took today. The contractor said that since my yard is higher on ...
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2
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81
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Any way to salvage this Wayfair gazebo roof? [closed]
A few years ago I picked up a gazebo from Wayfair. Hail has not been kind to the roof. The roof is made from these thick sheets of mostly hollow plastic that's similar in cross-section to cardboard.
...
2
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1
answer
164
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Is this gap under my patio sidelights okay?
As part of a larger remodel, my contractor installed new sidelights by our kitchen patio doors. But the outdoor side of the threshold on which the sidelights sit seems to be cracked and not filled. Is ...
3
votes
2
answers
389
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What is the North American term for sand used in making mortar for laying a sandstone patio?
I've been watching Brits prepare and lay patio stone on Youtube, and have been reading blogs by Brits. They recommend using "sharp sand" to make the mortar for laying sandstone rectangles. ...
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How to seal gazebo post bases already installed?
First time homeowner as of this week. During our inspection, inspector raised concerns over the rot occurring at the base of the posts on the gazebo located on our back porch. He recommended sealing ...
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151
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Can I use a full whiskey barrel for sun shade sail with rocks instead of concrete?
I have a 20 x 10 sun shade. 3 sides will anchor to the house. The other corner I was hoping to anchor from a 8' 6" post put in a fully intact whiskey barrel. Just cut the top and place the post ...
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0
answers
14
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Best way to repoint a patio with strong mortar?
In our previous home, we had a patio laid in two sections. The first time, the workmen carefully filled the gaps with pre-mixed mortar. The second time, a different workman brushed dry mortar into the ...
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2
answers
140
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How do I stop wire rope from losing tension?
I have recently set up wire rope to support my installation of retractable sail shades.
My setup is as follows:
I connected 2 ropes in parallel that run from the back of my house to fence posts. ...
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1
vote
1
answer
56
views
Best solution for cutting out mortar bedding?
I have been putting down porcelain tiles and I noticed one was slighly loose so I manageed to lift it up so that I can put new mortar down, slurry on the tile and place it back down.
Question is what ...
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1
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1
answer
352
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How can I locate a rim joist in a two-story brick house?
Second floor Rim board location
I need to know how to spot it to install the ledger using BVLZ from Simpson Strong-Tie. My house, second story, floor rim board is behind the brick wall I was told, ...
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1
vote
0
answers
50
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Looking to reconfigure my existing patio to a load bearing patio cover
I have a 3” slab of concrete. I have a header board running nearly 20 feet across my house and no posts under it. (The roof slopes from about 9 feet down to its posts at the 3” slab ends at just about ...
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2
votes
1
answer
216
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Documenting footers in concrete slab for future patio cover
I intend to pour a concrete patio slab on the back of my house. I might, possibly, want to add a patio cover over it in the future. So I'm planning to add footers in the slab for potential future ...
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0
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0
answers
517
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Can a double beam of 2x12 handle a span of 16 feet for a patio roof?
I want to build a patio cover. The total area for the roof is 20ft x12ft ( regular roof shingles to match the house) . I want to use only 2 post( 6'x6') per side , at 16 feet between centers with 2 ...
0
votes
1
answer
50
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concrete patio, grading, geotextile [closed]
I am about to make a concrete slab patio along the wall of my house facing the backyard (38' long house wall, 10' wide concrete slab).
To ensure proper water drainage (now, water may stay next to the ...
0
votes
1
answer
81
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How to waterproof foam and pipes coming up through concrete ground
I have a bundle of foam and pipes coming up through the concrete ground in my backyard for my HVAC equipment. There is no conduit and the pipes and foam is all in ground contact and the concrete was ...
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How to remove stuck patio umbrella stand
I have a patio umbrella that fits into a metal tube that is part of a patio end table. The umbrella pole, when it was inserted, was an extremely tight fit, there was no wiggle room once it was ...
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2
votes
2
answers
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How to re-route this downspout between the back doors if adding a tile patio?
I am trying to help a friend design a patio off the back of their house. They want Saltillo tile to match their front porch, over a concrete pad with shared steps coming off the two back doors. How ...
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1
vote
0
answers
386
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How to build a raised paver patio against the house
We recently put in a retaining wall and raised paver patio/walk around one side of the house, wrapping to the back. I'd like to have a higher level patio so that you can walk (or push a wheelchair, ...
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0
votes
1
answer
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Prep work for Paver Patio
We have excavated for a paver patio and walkway at our home. It’s a fairly large area and we missed getting the base laid and compacted before the weather turned cold. We now have a large dirt area ...
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vote
1
answer
113
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Pergola post wobble
I'm busy putting up a pergola. Today I've added 2 of the four posts and they feel quite wobbly..
Will this change once I started putting the structure together?
Will knee bracing assist greatly with ...
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5
votes
2
answers
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Can I connect my new French drain to an existing rodding eye in my garden?
I want to put a French drain at my patio and I am wondering how to connect the French drain in order for the water flow to go away.
Where and how should I finish the French drain?
At the moment my ...
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votes
0
answers
23
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Brick install on covered porch
The stone covered exterior wall of my new custom home, approaches the entry way to the front door as attached columns under roof (that is, the exterior wall juts into the entryway about 12" under ...
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0
votes
1
answer
41
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What is the best way to cut into my patio ceiling stucco with mesh rib lath?
I am replacing my existing light fixtures for my patio and need to enlarge the original hole to fit the new light. I believe my ceiling material is stucco with steel mesh rib lath.
What can I use that ...
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2
votes
1
answer
261
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Should I add sand or more crushed limestone crush to raise paver gravel base 1/4"?
I am building a 14' by 20' concrete paver patio. I have used a 17" retaining wall to raise the left side to be level with the right side. I have mechanically compacted approx. 8" of 3/4&...
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1
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Can I put patio style wooden planks on this roofing material on my patio?
My second floor patio is covered with this material. It looks like asphalt roofing material, but I am not sure. Can someone please help me identify it? Also, can I put wooden patio style planks over ...
- 113
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0
answers
803
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Footings Under Existing Concrete Slab Patio
I have an existing, unreinforced concrete slab patio in my back yard. It is 15'x22' in dimensions and the long edge runs parallel to the back of the house, separated from it by about 3'. I'm looking ...
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9
votes
3
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Should my contractor have installed a new concrete patio on top of sod and an existing patio?
Contractor added concrete patio around the back of my house, but its already cracking after less than 6 months.
I believe that there should be cuts and expansion seams throughout the slab to allow for ...
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1
vote
0
answers
691
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Covered patio junction box requirements
I'm in Florida and completing a covered patio project that extends my current roof over the patio. The ceiling height is 9'. I'm looking to extend the existing outdoor circuit that is GFCI protected ...
0
votes
1
answer
124
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Is a floating mortar bed an acceptable way to install natural cleft flagstone on a concrete slab that has a long crack?
I like the features of a floating mortar bed.
Thick-bed installations are based on the traditional method of packing
a mortar bed over a surface before installing the tile. The tile is
adhered to the ...
- 1,142
2
votes
1
answer
117
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Why can flagstone be set in sand atop compacted gravel but not in sand atop a concrete slab?
I've been contemplating a DIY patio re-do vs having a hardscaping pro do it.
I've used a demolition hammer to remove mortared brick from a concrete slab, leaving a rough surface in which the aggregate ...
- 1,142
0
votes
1
answer
201
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Patio roof posts are deforming
A few weeks ago, I replaced my rotten patio roof posts with pressure treated 4x4s.
Now, they are starting to deform. One bent in a U-shape, the other one is bending like an accordion under the weight.
...
- 511
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votes
0
answers
108
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Are these platform footings secure or should they be anchored into the concrete tube below?
I recently installed a paver patio. Before installing the patio I poured two 12 inch concrete form tubes below where the footings were planned to be. So the pavers are sitting directly on top of the ...
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