How to Build an Easy DIY Patio to Upgrade Your Backyard

How to lay a patio: a step-by-step guide to building a patio During the planning stage, make sure you review and abide by local construction standards and regulations. Plan your patio's size in square foot accounting for the shape and function in detail, before starting any renovation. Don't forget to include any extra elements, like outdoor kitchens or fire pits. Do you want to give your backyard a little more style and usefulness? Creating an outdoor space with a patio is a great way to enjoy spending time with family and friends or entertaining guests. Choosing recycled materials can help you save money as well, such as used bricks or concrete. If you are using the same pavers I used, these are just over 1½” thick. If your paver dust/sand compacts to almost nothing, you will want to make your last mark 1½” above the base layer mark just made. So that your concrete paver patio drains away from your house, you’ll need to account for the slope of the space. For a natural, rustic look, crushed stone makes an attractive, budget-friendly patio surface. This versatile material can also provide the base if you add pavers later. Materials For Making Your Concrete Paver Patio Use the square nose shovel to scoop the paver dust and spread it onto the base layer. Do this in a sifting type of motion to get it even. Set them just in the base layer enough that they don’t roll, but not so much that they are recessed. You can add a little paver dust to help lodge them into place. Measure from the ground, up the stake to 4” and mark this. This will be your level line and also the top of your compacted base layer. Make a Patio Out of Bricks Contact Us Clear View Builders Email: info@clearviewbuildersinc.com Phone: +19164205862 4913 Rio Linda Blvd Sacramento, California, United States 95838 To level the gravel, spread a third and final layer of gravel, 1-1/2 in. Pull out the pipes and fill the trenches with gravel, using a trowel to level it with the surrounding gravel. This patio costs about as much as a premium-quality wood deck. As you add more stones, always make the edges meet flush and check the overall slope frequently, especially as you work farther from the house. Creating a beautiful DIY patio for your home means more than just setting out a few chairs and hoping for the best. But it doesn't mean spending a ton of money or time. You can easily DIY a patio by making a unique surface, creating one-of-a-kind furnishings, or going all-out on decor. Here are 36 DIY patio ideas to help you make an outdoor space like no other. A standard deck or patio umbrella, or market umbrella, can offer a much-needed reprieve from the sun.It’s also likely that one side of each paver will sink and your patio will be really wonky.Begin site preparation by removing the sod in the patio area.Before beginning the project, gather all the required supplies and equipment. Above ground, pools are great for entertaining and a stunning addition. Minimalist pools are in-, and an above-ground pool is cheaper and more feasible for a patio. Above ground, pools should be professionally installed and look best when surrounded by landscaping and an area for lounging. Since my patio was oriented against a fence, we dumped the gravel close to the fence, working our way back to the front of the patio. Lay about three-fourths of the gravel, then stop to work on the edging. We built forms, ordered ready-mix concrete and poured the entire patio at once. If that’s too daunting, you can build one or two small form sections and pour them individually at a more leisurely pace. If you choose that route, consider buying a portable mixer and selling it when you’re done. You can grout the joints with either sand--which we used--or stone dust that's available from your stone dealer. Spread the material you choose over the patio and use a push broom to fill the joints. Water will float to the surface during this process. Wait for the water to disappear before finishing Helpful hints the patio. Finally, saw the stakes so they are flush with the top edges of the form. This is called "screeding" and will be necessary when you level the concrete. Now, determine the highest corner you want for your patio and raise the top of the form to that level. After installation comes the fun part—it’s time to decorate and furnish your new patio. Order pavers in different sizes and shapes, so you have to make fewer cuts and can fill the entire space. Within your design, consider a spot for a backyard fire pit or other specialty space, such as an outdoor kitchen. Using wood stakes and string, map out the edges of your patio, accounting for 1 inch of slope for every 4 feet. If you have an 8-by-8-foot patio, you'll want a gradual 2-inch slope going in both directions away from your house. Respect local building codes to ensure that patio materials are safe from water-related problems and to comply with drainage laws.