Questions tagged [patio]
For questions generally relating to outdoor ground-level flooring areas such as patios.
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How to widen deck past beam
I want to extend my deck 12x16 to 12x18. What is the easiest way to widen the deck by 2 feet from a structural standpoint? How do I go wider than the beam?
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2answers
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Should I leave a gap between clay bricks when laying a patio?
I have acquired many reclaimed solid clay bricks and plan to use them as a patio. I will likely lay them in a herringbone pattern. The edges will be side-by-side held in place with plastic edging. ...
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1answer
46 views
Clay and Gravel Liquefaction for Paver Installation
I have recently started digging and laying the base for a patio with pavers. Its roughly 300 sqft and the soil is made of clay. I dug around 7" deep to have 4" gravel layer, 1" sand an 2" for the ...
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How to resurface concrete patio
Our yard had a small mounded flower garden that had gone to weeds. We discovered that there was actually an old patio sitting underneath it. Someone had just dumped a lot of gravel and soil on top ...
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1answer
26 views
Deck blocks on patio stones
I am planning to build the 16x18ft floating deck in the back of my townhouse. The back patio is paved with 12x24' patio stones and I am trying to figure out if I should remove patio stones and lay the ...
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Repairing Brick Patio
We've moved into a home with this brick patio that has sunken over time. The 6x6's have weathered and warped as well. I'd like to make use of the existing good bricks and essentially restore the same ...
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0answers
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Filling a Pond to replace with Patio! Advice?
I have a really ugly pond in my garden that was created by the previous owner. I want to remove the pond and instead extend my patio so I can have a dining area where it is.
The pond is a concrete ...
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1answer
22 views
Paving - Indian Sandstone patio - jointing
I want to mix white cement and silver sand to get the right colour jointing to replace existing mortar. I can't find silver sand locally, can I use an alternative sand?
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2answers
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Can I keep my propane tank valve open?
I just bought a new Portable Fireplace and it can contain the propane tank inside it. I also bought some firestones to put in the fire area. The only problem with this is that if I want to turn on/off ...
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1answer
45 views
What is the right way to extend a furnace intake pipe under a brick patio?
Our gas furnace intake (one of them, there are other intakes inside the house) currently comes out the side of the house but under a brick patio. It seems that the previous owner of the house extended ...
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2answers
46 views
Dealing with an outdoor grill with a bad gas line
I had my backyard done about 6 years ago. I put in lawn and a large patio of pavers. I also had an island built that has a built-in grill and sink, and storage underneath. The island was built of ...
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2answers
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How to achieve a 1% gradient
Currently preparing an area in our garden to lay a paved patio area and pergola (the latter being provided by a professional).
My wife and I need to build a supporting wall around the sides and at ...
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3answers
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Joints between paving stones - A breeding ground for weeds. Sustainable control?
I'm looking for a solution to control weed growth on a patio out of paving stone. The weeds are growing the the joints between the stones as can be seen in the picture.
Two methods have been proposed:...
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1answer
50 views
protecting a wood deck from rot next to a stone patio
I have a wood porch/deck built on top of a cement slab. At some point a previous HO layed a stone patio right next to this porch at the same level. The stone of the patio is abutting the wood framing ...
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1answer
57 views
How to build a concrete patio
I am trying to build (extend maybe a better word) the back patio like this
where the red box is where I want to add a new slab of cement. Like shown in the picture, the dimension is 18ft by 5ft-5in. ...
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2answers
45 views
How to achieve a straight line when not flush to required wall?
Currently preparing an area in our garden to lay a paved patio area and pergola (the latter being provided by a professional).
My wife and I need to build a supporting wall around the sides and at ...
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0answers
36 views
What is the proper anatomy of a mulched sitting area in which nothing will grow?
I have done mulched gardens before and am familiar with the steps involved in that. Now I have a slightly different project. I want to dig out an area of my yard that will have a bench and two ...
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1answer
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How to handle large bluestone slabs
I'm looking for tips on how to handle large bluestone slabs. Each is 24" square, 1.5" thick, and weighs 80 lbs. They are geo-cut with thermal surface treatment.
Presently I have 100 of these slabs ...
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2answers
249 views
How to cut bluestone slabs
I'm installing a dry-laid patio covered with 24" square, 1.5" thick, geo-cut thermal bluestone slabs. These are the cuts I will need to make:
22 slabs will need a straight cut across the entire 24" ...
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2answers
475 views
Gap under patio slab
I have a home that is 2 years old. I found the ground settling under the concrete slab for my paver patio in one corner. About 2-3 inches gap that goes deep in. It hasn’t sunk or cracked. It’...
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1answer
46 views
How to level concrete surface?
I have a concrete patio thats been tiled over. Part of the patio is lower than the rest so it collects water. How do I level it off? I guess pull up the tiles and add another layer of cement to the ...
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0answers
238 views
Polymeric sand loosens when slightly wet, is that normal, and what's the best way to cover it?
I laid polymeric sand on a patio (made of paver blocks), and it looked great. I followed the instructions, and it didn't rain within about a week of my laying it. It ended up perfect, and it's hard ...
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1answer
77 views
Leave Polymeric Sand Until Tomorrow?
I was told I only needed 2 bags of polymeric sand for my project. It's turning out I need more. I used the two bags and my project is not complete, I haven't shaken it down yet, and I can't buy more ...
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307 views
Shade Sail post on brick/cinder block rooftop surface.
I am trying to install 4x4 wood posts to hold up a rectangular shade sail on my rooftop. The posts will be free-standing with nothing attached besides the sail.
Ideally, I would be able to attach ...
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0answers
114 views
6x6 “Landscaping” post for patio cover support?
I am building a patio cover and I need some 6x6 posts to support it. I went to a local lumber yard and asked for some 6x6 treated posts. He had some "landscaping" 6x6 posts and said those should work ...
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29 views
Shade sail/fabric covering with sealed/flush edges?
I know the typical shade sail shape is bowed on the edges because of tension, etc. but is it possible to get a completely square shade sail? And also to have that shade sail be completely sealed/...
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1answer
621 views
How high can I pour cement against my house
How high can I pour cement patio against my brick house? I want to go as high as I can without causing other problems.
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1answer
45 views
Recommended paint for outdoor cement patio
In my back garden, I have a small cement pad. It used to have a shed on it, but the previous owner took it with them when they left. I've decided to turn it into a sort of patio, which is working well....
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2answers
78 views
Trying to replace the adjuster screw on a screen door — low-profile threaded screw insert and bolt (identification needed)
On my sliding patio screen door there is an height adjuster held in place by flat-profile screw inserts. I'd like to obtain more of these threaded bolts and inserts, but I have a nomenclature issue ...
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1answer
66 views
Create new patio door in basement by cutting concrete
My basement has about 2.5 ft of concrete along the wall. The reason is that the outside is a slope/hill and that 2.5" depth is just dirt. I like to install a patio door to my backyard 60x80 which is a ...
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0answers
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Ideas for improving old concrete patio on the river?
My parent's place in NH has this 30+ year old concrete 12x26 patio jutting out into the water. There has been some settling. Off the end of the patio the water is about 10 feet deep.
So I'd like some ...
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1answer
119 views
Alternative to wood furring strips?
Just bought a house with a pool. The pool decking is comprised of large, square concrete pads that are separated by wood furring strips. The prior owner has used pressure-treated 1x2s atop a small ...
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Is paver sand too wet to use?
I had to dig up part of my patio to move electrical conduit. So I removed it all and re-compacted the stone - amazingly it is not as 'level' as it was before I started... Only dug up about 20 sq ft of ...
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1answer
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How thick to pour slab over existing brick patio
I have an old brick patio, cracked in some places. I want to pour concrete over it and stamp the concrete with a texture. What is the thinnest I can go? 1 inch? 2 inch? I have 5000 square feet and ...
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1answer
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Can cement backer board be used to support bluestone or slate outdoor raised patio?
We are designing a multi-level stone patio. To exit the kitchen directly onto the stone patio, the highest part of that patio would be 12 inches above the foundation. The next level would be flush ...
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3answers
389 views
Stamped concrete possibly put solvent sealer over water based sealer. What to do now?
Long story short, I had a stamped concrete patio poured 2yrs ago this May. The contractor stamped it too late so some areas had some crumbling. It looked fine for the first year, but over the first ...
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1answer
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Can I use mortar to level out a patio made of cinder blocks?
We recently ripped out our deck because it was rotted and laid a level of cinder blocks 10ft x 32in for a small patio, basically just a step for coming out the back door. I was just wondering if I ...
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2answers
980 views
Prevent puddling on patios
I am considering building a masonry patio and am concerned about puddling.
Is it standard practice to build patios on a grade to prevent puddling? If so, what is the typical grade? How is the grade ...
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Building Concrete patio against the house with sunken family room for proper drainage
Just acquired this house with challenging problems.
When the house was built, the builder didn't care for grading the lot appropriately. One of the rooms in the back of the house is below grade and ...
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1answer
110 views
Making a temporary walkway
I recently had a sewer line replaced, and part of the walkway to the house was dug up. I'll be getting a new walkway put in sometime in the summer, but until I do, and especially when the spring ...
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0answers
114 views
How can I run wire rope around the corner of my railing with a turnbuckle?
I have a rooftop that looks like the following. I'll be using turnbuckles to connect each tube to the wire rope.
The issue is: what do I do with the corner tubes? If I use the turnbuckles for the ...
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2answers
178 views
Install wire rope to several steel tubes?
We have 13 1.5" round steel tubes that go around a small area in our backyard Each tube has a small hole that crosses the tube. I'm including the basic design:
I would like to use wire rope (or steel ...
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309 views
Slate tile on outdoor path - how to fix loose tiles
I have a slate walkway that is a concrete base with slate tiles laid on top. The tiles are about 10 ins by 20 ins and 1/4 to half inch thick. There's a section of about four tiles that comes loose ...
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1answer
2k views
What is proper ratio of sand to portland cement to use for repairing a 30 yr old stone wall
I have a 30 year old stone 12" high stone wall that needs to be patched up.
There are small voids where stone has fallen out.
My question is what is the ratio of portland cement to sand used to ...
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1answer
311 views
Should my fan have been installed off center?
We recently had a Duralum freestanding patio cover installed. There's electrical running through the structure, and a light/52 inch fan coming down from the ceiling.
The fan was installed 11 inches ...
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2answers
115 views
Void Under Stamped Concrete Patio Allowing Voles in to House
I have a stamped concrete patio where the step to the bumpout on my house and slab were poured in one piece. They didn't pour concrete under the bumpout, just up against it, leaving a hollow area ...
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2answers
2k views
Cement board as paver base?
I'm planning a DIY patio paver project. The site is down a steep hillside only accessible via steps, where bringing in large amounts of base rock would be back breaking work.
I found this product ...
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2answers
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Structural (cored) bricks for a patio?
I have the opportunity to purchase some pallets of structural bricks, the cored ones with three holes in them. I want to use them to build a patio but I live in Ohio where the winters can get harsh. ...
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29 views
Area Under Exterior Wooden Deck
I have an external wooden deck, and the area underneath it always has moisture which makes it an unusable area.
I'm assuming the moisture is because it is shaded almost all the time from the house ...
