Patios made of concrete have 2 drawbacks. Many of these concrete slabs eventually develop cracks and look broken. After the cracks are patched the repairs are easily visible resulting in the slab looking even worse than before. The alternatives are regular patching sessions or breaking up the concrete and hauling it away. However, another alternative solution would be to cover the concrete patio with wood decking using sleepers that are supports which replace conventional joists.
There are advantages to creating this type of deck. In the first place it's not necessary to remove the concrete slab which is hard work and can add to the expense of a project. Concrete is extremely heavy and removal costs are generally based upon weight. Secondly, the slab can easily serve as the foundation for the new deck. It will not matter if the surface is cracked or pitted because it will not be seen once the new wood surface is in place.
Finally, the decking boards are more flexible than the concrete. This makes them more comfortable to walk on and provides a measure of resilience that can easily absorb some seasonal heaving associated with concrete. With concrete splitting can occur with even the slightest movement. Once a crack opens water is free to enter, freeze and expand in winter. This makes the split even wider which of course allows more water in and the deterioration continues in an ever increasing cycle.
The basic idea of decking a patio or slab is to install wooden nailers on the concrete followed by a finished deck surface fastened to the nailers. Pressure treated wood is the best material choice for the sleepers or nailers. A special nail gun can be rented from a tool rental outlet or a home improvement store to drive a hardened nail through the wood and into the concrete. Exercise care and caution in the use of this tool and wear the proper safety gear while following the tool manual instructions closely.
Once the deck design has been planned lay the 2x4 boards out on the concrete slab on 16 inch centers. Include the perimeter boards. It is wise to lay out the sleepers perpendicularly to the house wall which will allow water to drain away from the home. Use harned nails (sometimes called cut nails) or masonry nails to fasten the sleepers to the concrete. Standard common nails should not be used because they will bend rather penetrate the concrete.
Attach the nailers making sure that the spacing of the boards is consistent. With 2x4 sleepers rather than 1x4s it is much easier to level out irregularities in the slab. Thinner boards will bend up over the rises while dipping a bit into the low spots. The 2x4 boards will bridge most of the gaps easily. If there are larger depressions in the slab nail the sleepers at the high spots and insert pressure treated shims in order to keep the 2x4s levels as they ride over the low spots.
The next step is to install the surface decking. Since the decking boards do not sit directly on the concrete slab air has the opportunity to circulate around the wood. This means that pressure treated wood does not have to be used as decking material. Other alternative material choices such as redwood, cedar, composite or vinyl decking can be installed. If pressure treated wood is selected it's a simple matter of coating the wood with a semitransparent stain and sealer to eliminate the green tinge.
In installing the decking boards either galvanized nails or treated deck screws can be used. Screws are by far the better choice offering greater holding power. Use a screw length that will reach through the decking board and most of the way into the sleeper but not into the concrete. Trim the end edges of the decking and add a facing board to hide the end board cuts. Apply at least a finish coat of sealer once the wood is dry. A stain and sealer application is another finish alternative that will work to protect this new outdoor living space.
The choice to deck a patio or slab is a practical one that involves less work and expense than removing the patio altogether. In the end a low level deck built over the old concrete slab will provide an outdoor space that will last for years and require a minimum amount of maintenance.
These are my best upfront, Practical Suggestions:
Here are seven suggestions to guarantee that your investment into a deck or a patio is done properly:
1. Look at your local real estate market to ensure you're making improvements that home buyers want and will pay for (even if you don't plan on selling your house any time soon).
2. A reserve of 10 to 20 percent of your budget should cover unexpected costs or changes... this is developing a practical budget (this makes sure you don't hit unexpected costs later on!)
3. it is very important to make sure you have good references on the professional that you hire. because you only want to work with a competent professional who has the time, the tools and experience to handle the complex installation problems that might arise with Decks and patios (even though they're fairly straightforward projects)
4. Be sure to check building codes to learn about specific standards, restrictions and regulations and factor that into Developing a working timeline that allows plenty of leeway to finish the project. In most municipalities, you need a building permit before you begin.
5. keep in mind the architectural style of your home when choosing the shape, style and materials. Try to keep your selection limited to no more than two building materials which actually gives you more flexibility in the construction process and in the final stages.
6. Even using just a single material will give you a very good look if combined with the appropriate outdoor furniture and landscaping. Don't use too many different materials because it can lead to the area being too complex and result in a poorly executed construction.
7. Patios and decks have become popular spaces for barbecuing, relaxing, entertaining, and for children's play. Patios and decks are practical and valuable additions, as they typically recoup most of their original construction cost.
Those are some upfront, practical suggestions you can use no matter what type of deck or patio (or even home improvement project) you want to build.
Both Richard Vande Sompel & Craig Osborne are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Richard Vande Sompel has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Landscaping and Home Improvement. Richard Vande Sompel is a professional deck builder of 35 years and over 850 decks built and is the author of "How to Plan, Design and Build a Deck from Start to Finish". To Discover More About. Richard Vande Sompel's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.
Craig Osborne has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement. expert author Craig Osborne is a who runs covenant home improvements, the best. Craig Osborne's top article generates over 720 views. to your Favourites.