Easy Decking

A patio can be one of the most useful exterior areas of your home if covered with an attractive surface material. Unfortunately these spaces are all too often covered with bland concrete which, as well as looking rather dull and dreary, may have developed cracks or become stained. Restoring such areas may seem like a daunting task. If the concrete is badly cracked and the surface uneven, generally there is no satisfactory alternative but to rip the lot up and re-lay it.

However if the surface only has hairline cracks and you can be certain that reinforcing mesh was installed when the concrete was laid, it is probable that existing cracks will not open up further (unless your concrete pad is suffering from root damage due to nearby trees). In this case there are a number of alternatives that could be considered to enhance the appearance, including ceramic tiles, terracotta tiles, clay pavers, slate, natural stone pavers etc.

Perhaps one of the best and simplest options however is to use modular deck tiles. These are simply placed over the surface of the patio or porch and require no adhesives, nails, screws or special surface preparation.

Not only are these tiles quite forgiving of small cracks and slight unevenness of the surface, but they can be laid both quickly and easily by anyone without any special skills or tools being required. And as they are not permanently fixed to the concrete base, they can be taken up, moved or added to at will. If you decide to move house you can simply take the tiles with you and lay them in your new location.

  source: home-dzine.co.za