Beware Of A Sinking Patio
Creating a wood deck patio over concrete
Most of the time, you dont have to worry about a concrete patio being in terrible shape prior to installing a new surface. However, installing composite decking over a concrete patio may not be a good idea if your concrete is still settling. When a concrete foundation begins to sink, it can take 5+ years to stop. And if you decide to build a new surface on your patio during that time, then the new surface will continue to sink along with its foundation. Pros And Cons Of DecksPros: You could build your own deck if you are a little bit handy and have the right tools, but a DIY job does require time and patience to get right. Cons: You need to have or borrow the right tools. If your deck requires any complicated grading or level of the ground or anything similar, you may want to hire a professional deck contractor or builder to ensure the deck is stable and safe for you, your family, and your guests. How Tall Should My Deck BeAdding a deck over an existing concrete patio will add height. Depending on the step down from your back door to your concrete patio, this additional height could be problematic. However, you do have options if space is limited. If you are using a composite tile that can be laid directly onto the concrete, the deck will only add an inch or so to the height of the patio. You will likely be adding retaining pieces, called fascia, at the edges of the patio to hide the sides of the tiles and hold them in place. The tiles themselves are designed to allow for water run-off, so this option may be more feasible if your patio is close in height to your back door. On the other hand, if you have a considerable step down from the back door, a raised deck might be a big improvement! Rather than that short drop to get out to the grill while youre carrying a big plate of ribs, your new deck could be level with the back door. It will be a straight transition from the house to the deck, making it a lot less likely that you drop dinner before you can cook it. If you have stairs down from the back door to the patio, you can add height to the stairs themselves to compensate for the added height of the deck. This is especially easy if you are using the composite tiles that lay flush on the concrete. Don’t Miss: Build Hip Roof As With Any Project Knowledge Of The Product And Preparation Is KeyWhether youre preparing to take on your own DIY outdoor project, or collaborate with a professional builder, its important to understand the best practices for installing Fiberon Decking material. Thats why we encourage customers, as well as contracted builders, to educate themselves on our materials best installation practices. In this post well highlight important recommendations and requirements that should not be overlooked to ensure the best, finished look of your new deck. Will It Work On Your PatioEven if your patio is in terrible shape, you can deck over it. Cracks, craters and seasonal movement along cracks are no problem. But beware of these three situations:
Read NextRead Also: How To Stabilize Patio Umbrella Best Results When Adding RailingsRailings aren’t typically required for ground-level decks, but are sometimes added for aesthetic reasons or to allow places to put shelving for plants, entertaining, etc. There are two ways to install the posts for railings. The first, and most sturdy, is to set rot-proof posts into concrete around the perimeter of the deck. Or you can use surface fasteners to attach the posts directly to the deck. When using surface fasteners to secure railing to a composite deck, joist location may affect the ease, price and method of the installation of the railing system. Leaving the required 1.5 spacing for surface fastening at the end of the board and 1 from the side of the board, requires two joists for every end-to-end seam. Board seams with double joisting can affect post placement for your railing system. You may also want to install additional sleepers beneath the decking to give the post supports more strength. Planning is key, since once the decking is installed there is no easy way to go back!! Thoroughly reading all installation instructions first will make for more successful projects. Failure to do so may result in a more difficult installation and may void the warranty. Keeping It Simple: More Ways To Improve A PatioIf you’re a beginning DIYer, don’t let all the details on our deck scare you away. Your project can be a whole lot easier if you choose a simple decking design. The simpler you can make your deck plan, the faster and cheaper it will be to build. Whether your patio is in bad shape or just bland, there are many ways to revive it. But before you weigh the options shown below, there’s one thing to consider The crack factor: Cracks in your patio drastically limit your options. That’s because cracks tend to move. Some grow wider over time, while others shrink and widen as the soil freezes and thaws. Some become uneven as one side of the crack sinks. Any movement happens so slowly that it’s hard to detect. But if you knowor even thinkthat you have moving cracks, you have to choose a patio upgrade that can float over moving cracks without becoming damaged. Don’t Miss: How To Hang Lights On Aluminum Patio How Do You Attach Wood To ConcreteWith wood decking, you have to really account for water seepage. If you have water pooling underneath the boards, it could soak into the wood and cause considerable damage. Damp wood can attract insects, cause dry rot and otherwise damage your deck. For a wood deck, it is important to build a framework of sleepers and attach them to the concrete with plastic anchors and concrete bolts. You can use angled brackets to hold the vertical sleeper planks in place. What Other Options Do I Have For Covering My Patio
How to build deck over concrete patio DIY
Building a deck is a very attractive option for covering your old concrete patio, but there are several other options you could try.
Recommended Reading: How To Restore Cast Aluminum Patio Furniture Attaching The Deck Frame To A BuildingThis step is only necessary if you are fitting your deck to a building. Otherwise you can move onto fitting your joists. Many decking structures are fixed to buildings and act as an extension of the home out into the garden. Should you need to attach your deck to the wall of a house, it is very important to understand exactly where the decking frame will meet the wall. First, hold your ledger board up against the adjoining wall, ensuring that there are no obstacles such as wires which will get in your way. Holes should be drilled in the centre of the board one hole for every 16 inches. Once you have begun building your decking frame, you should understand the height of your structure and where it needs to fix to your outside wall. After determining the right level, you can then offer the ledger boards up against the wall and use a pencil to mark through the holes. This should mark the spots where you should drill holes of at least 7cm in depth, to allow your screws to anchor the frame sufficiently to the wall. Anchor bolts should then be hammered into the holes, before lag screws are used to fix the ledger board firmly to the wall. Be careful to use galvanised screws to prevent rust. They should be screwed into the anchor bolts, with washers used between the ledger board and the screw heads to tighten the screws. Be careful not to tighten too much or you may risk crushing the wooden ledger board. How To Build A Concrete PatioCreate a prominent outdoor space with a strong and stylish concrete patio. The base of rigid patios can be constructed with mortared brick, mortared flagstone, tile, or concrete pad. Concrete provides a solid base beneath these materials. It also prevents them from cracking as the ground shifts from temperatures changes. In most areas, a concrete patio begins with 4 inches of compacted stone. The difference is the depth you dig before you pour. If you install a concrete patio, dig out a space 8 inches deep 4 inches for the some, another 4 inches for the concrete, and another 2 inches to allow for mortar and brick.
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