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Combine one material with a less expensive one, such as stone with gravel or large concrete pavers with grass
joints to create interesting effects and cut costs.
Color outside the lines; think of new uses for old materials. Crushed concrete -- fragments of concrete from old
sidewalks -- laid out as pavers with soil joints makes a free-for-the hauling surface.
Split hollow concrete blocks in half, using a masonry chisel and hammer, to make two rectangular concrete
pavers from each block. Lay the split pavers broken side down in a 2-inch cushion of sand. Fill joints with sand
or mortar.
Construction Tips
Make sure your patio materials will tolerate freezing and thawing, as well as snow shoveling, if you live in a
region where the soil freezes.
Call your city offices and check building codes for requirements in your area.
Make sure the site slopes away from the house at least 1/4 inch per foot and has adequate drainage to dry
quickly.
Outline the area with stakes and string before construction. Adjust measurements to suit the materials.
Leave any large areas or complicated configurations to contractors.
Continued: Resurface a Concrete Patio >>
Stamped Concrete & Decorative Concrete Information:>>