Concrete patio or entertainment area

Concrete patios or cement-based patios provide the perfect sanctuary for outdoor living spaces, more often than not because they are connected to the house and blend the interior with the exterior living areas. And concrete patios are gaining in popularity as an essential element in today's homes.

 

With more decorative options than ever before, concrete patios are attracting homeowners who want an outdoor surface that offers the ultimate in design versatility. Concrete patios also have the edge when it comes to durability and low maintenance.

In addition to serving as a gathering zone for lounging and entertaining, concrete patios allow homeowners to seamlessly blend interior and exterior living spaces. They are the perfect decorative flooring surface for outdoor kitchens and living rooms, complete with cosy seating areas, fireplaces and water features.

What's more, this outdoor floor offers unlimited design options. When enhanced by stains and integral colours, concrete patios can be colour coordinated to match a home's exterior or landscape. They can also be stamped or engraved in patterns that mimic other popular paving materials, such as brick, flagstone, slate and tile.

As an investment, concrete patios typically cost less than patios made of brick or natural stone because they are less labour-intensive to install. The lower price tag combined with the wide array of patterns and colours available make concrete an economical choice for most budgets. Plus, concrete is easily formed into any shape to accommodate space restrictions.

Upgrading your garden with a decorative concrete patio is also an investment that will provide many years of enjoyment while improving the look of your landscape.

Concrete is easy to maintain and can stand up to the harshest of weather conditions.

Unlike paving stones, you won't have joints between units where grass and weeds can sprout. And unlike wood, concrete won't warp, rot or require periodic staining.

The look of a natural stone patio can be created using stamped concrete. Many manufacturers have made stamps that perfectly imitate slate, flagstone, brick, cobblestone, and more. Also, there is a wide variety of options when it comes to colouring concrete, making it easy to match the colour of just about any type of stone.

Because of its versatility, nearly all stone patios can be recreated using concrete. A slate patio is one of the more popular patterns, along with recreating the look of flagstone patios.

Building your own natural stone patio can be a difficult and costly task, but with concrete the job is easy and affordable. Laying a stone patio involves laying each individual piece, but with concrete, it is simply poured and then stamped in sections. Not only is installation simpler and more affordable, but stamped concrete patios and walkways are more durable than actual stone, there is no need to worry about loose or cracked pieces.

The patio has become so essential to our garden and here are 10 reasons why concrete is the perfect patio material.

  • Staining and sealing a wood deck every year can be a lot of work!
  • Concrete can be stamped, engraved, stenciled or textured to resemble pricier stone or brick pavers—and often at a fraction of the cost.
  • With the uses of stains and other colouring methods, you can achieve just about any hue imaginable, whether you want to match the stone facade of your house or blend in with the natural landscape.
  • Concrete is easily formed into any shape to accommodate space restrictions.
  • Unlike paving stones, you won't have sand-filled joints between units where grass and weeds can sprout.
  • Concrete is durable and can stand up to a range of weather conditions found across the country.
  • Thanks to the design versatility of concrete, your patio will never look just like your neighbor's.
  • The aesthetic appeal and durability of decorative concrete will boost the resale value of your home.
  • Your concrete patio won't be vulnerable to termite infestation, wood rot or splintering.
  • Concrete is environmentally friendly. Installing a concrete patio rather than a wood deck saves timber and eliminates the need for regular maintenance with solvent-based wood stains and sealers.

via concrete network