Have you ever thought of using different concrete patio designs to spruce up your old patio or use concrete when building a new patio or deck? Concrete can actually add to the ambiance of your home and garden. It comes in a wide range of colors, such as warm earthy tones, variegated shadings, and almost any shade of gray you want. It can look like brick or wood and add to the appeal of the patio where you like to relax and spend a lazy summer evening.
There are certain factors that you should take into considering with your patio design. It can be attached to any part of the house, but it can also be freestanding – no more than a concrete slab that you decorate as your outdoor living room for the summer. An important factor in the design in the position of the patio is its relation to the sun and the direction from which the prevailing winds blow. You want to place the patio where you will get the most sun and the most shelter from the wind.
When you start building the patio, the distance from the top of the concrete floor to the top of the door should not be more than eight feet. A patio should also slope away from the house at the rate of 1/8 inch for every running foot. You can design openings in the floor of the patio to place a grill or a fire pit or even places where you can plant flowers.
A patio does not have to rectangular shaped or square. They can take any shape you wish to have. When you design the patio, you need to calculate how much cement it will take, so that you have enough to mix when it comes time to pour the cement. If you run out and have to wait to get more cement, it is possible to see a join where the new cement joins onto that which is partially or fully set.
For lots of information on patio design and other decks and patios related topics, visit Patios and Decks at http://patiosanddecks.77sites.com/
Concrete Patio Designs
