| Author | Content |
marie_kap
Williamstown, NJ
(Zone 6b)
July 23, 2009
08:07 AM Post #6854388
| I would like to redo this patio. Stones is what I would like, but am thing that just laying new pavers would be easier. I would have to redo the steps, which I hate, and do up the sides. It is about 10 inches above the flower beds and the steps go down to a sloped pad that went to the old garage. We do not use that garage since we turned it into another room.
I was also thought maybe to just paint it. It gets shade so it mildews on the outer edge as you can see and that area is ruff with stones showing. The over hang from the house keeps the space next to the house dry and it is still smooth. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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bugme
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 7b)
July 24, 2009
07:24 AM Post #6858483
| Your plantings look so pretty and lush around the patio! Myself, I would opt for just painting it but, then I'm into quick & easy these days (age...LOL). You'll get some really good ideas from others on here though. There are forms you can buy to make stepping stones with that you could use to make it look more interesting by using different shades of paint inside each one...would sort of give you the look of individual stones set in. |
marie_kap
Williamstown, NJ
(Zone 6b)
July 24, 2009
07:37 AM Post #6858509
| Thats just it, I am at the age I want easy too, 52 and feeling it. Someone told me about a top coat I can get from Homedepot that is a cement refinisher. I might look into that. Yes the flowers look good but the patio make's it look bad. |
DesertPirate
Fallbrook, CA
(Zone 10b)
July 24, 2009
10:25 AM Post #6859066
| If you want the look of stone with the ease of pavers, you might look into slate. the biggest problem with stone over concrete is inconsistency in thickness of stone creating a trip hazard. The slate tiles are consistent in thickness and give you that stone look you may be looking for. You can get them in sizes up to 18 inches square and if you don't like the grid look of "tile", simple break them with a four pound hammer and place them much the way you would with any other flagstone. It'll give you a mosaic look and you won't have the 'trip' hazard of an uneven surface.
(edited to add)
If you decide to use broken slate, BE SURE to wear eye protection when you break it. The small pieces of slate scatter mightily when broken and you really don't want slate shards in your eyes.
This message was edited Jul 24, 2009 7:28 AM |
bugme
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 7b)
July 24, 2009
11:16 AM Post #6859274
| If you do opt for painting it, consider using a product (or an addition) that will give a non-slip finish. DH just stained our huge deck and is finishing the steps with the addition to the stain so we, or anyone, won't slip on wet steps. |
pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)
July 24, 2009
11:26 AM Post #6859318
| We had our steps resurfaced back in April. If you use pavers you'd change the height from the patio to the first step and it could be a hazard. As it is I'm not thrilled that the bottom step is about two inches from the bricks but I'm not about to have it done over. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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marie_kap
Williamstown, NJ
(Zone 6b)
July 24, 2009
11:19 PM Post #6862080
| My step to my front door I want replaced since it is only about 14 inches deep. I want to be able to step onto a flat form that is at least 36 inches deep and wide. I wont have that problem with the stone not meeting even anything. I would like to have new steps made coming out from the patio where the old cut out step down is , the one you can see. |
CherokeeGreg
Fresno, CA
(Zone 9a)
August 17, 2009
05:15 PM Post #6957941
| My brother just redid my front porch he capped it and stamped it. It turned out really good. I did have it painted before and was unhappy with it nothing but problems.
Greg 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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marie_kap
Williamstown, NJ
(Zone 6b)
August 17, 2009
10:21 PM Post #6959142
| I am still up in the air as to what I want to do. I would like it redone but then I have thought about just having a deck with a railing put over top. Oh my ,what shall I do...? |
henryr10
Cincinnati, OH
(Zone 6b)
August 18, 2009
09:59 AM Post #6960411
| If you want to try an easy fix try staining the concrete.
I'd opt for resurfacing myself but then I've never been a big fan of plain concrete pads.
There are tons of options most no harder than laying tile.
In fact tile is a good option.
Watch which surfaces you chose though.
You want one suitable for outdoors or bathrooms.
Polished stone is very slippery.
But then so is decking so...
Ric
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pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)
August 18, 2009
10:38 AM Post #6960546
| I agree with Henry. |
marie_kap
Williamstown, NJ
(Zone 6b)
August 19, 2009
07:39 AM Post #6963938
| I think it being slippery is my big concern. We do get ice on there in the winter sometimes. We have to put down salt and then shovel it so I dont slip and do some real damage to my self. |
Twincol
Fresno, CA
(Zone 9b)
August 19, 2009
10:48 PM Post #6967034
| Greg, what product and/or materials did your brother use? That is a very attractive surface, to my eyes.
Linda
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freedee
Princeton Junction, NJ
September 23, 2009
08:34 PM Post #7097587
| Marie,
did you do something about your cement patio? I would recomend a product called Skimstone by a company called Rudd. I am a faux finisher and I have been trained by Rudd to apply Skimstone. I have two bathrooms in my home that have Skimstone finishes, and I am currently doing some outdoor work with it. I really like the product. You could do it yourself, or I could apply it for you. I live in central NJ. If you would like to observe while I do mine, you are welcome to come by. I don't do any concrete work at all, so you would have to find someone else to change the first step.
You really should see the Rudd site to see the possibilities. If you are thinking of doing Skimstone, don't paint it. That make it much harder. The floor has to be unsealed. |
marie_kap
Williamstown, NJ
(Zone 6b)
September 24, 2009
07:38 AM Post #7098809
| No Freedee, I have not done anything yet. I did speak to a guy that does refinishing and he told me that it runs about $6. per foot. Does that sound right? Money of course is a factor right now. I need to make sure I have the funds with out breaking the bank. I will check out this Rudd site. I have never heard of it. |
marie_kap
Williamstown, NJ
(Zone 6b)
September 24, 2009
08:15 AM Post #7098886
| Freedee, I dont think this product will do what I need. This no longer a smooth surface. It is very ruff on the out outer edge. flacky and stones showing through.If I had it resurfaced first then that will work. I do like the way it looks.
Thanks marie |
freedee
Princeton Junction, NJ
September 29, 2009
10:12 PM Post #7118427
| If money is an issue, your best bet would be a mosaic of broken tile. You can find people on Craig's list who are getting rid of tile all the time. I once had a lot of almost half of 12x12's of the same tile. I listed them on Craig's list. I was prepared to through them out, though it would have been a shame. A woman came by and offered me $100. I was very pleased! If they would have been whole tiles, that many square feet would have cost $800.
Keep in mind, you have to make sure you like the color. If the color is wrong, then it's wrong. Don't talk yourself into a tile because it's available, if the color doesn't make you happy. You can see lot's of other examples of broken tile maosaics on line, for inspiration.
I have grout and mastic (the adhesive) in my basement that I really should get rid of. If you want it, you can come and pick it up.
Broken tile mosaic is a casual, whimsical look. You should only do that if it works with the style of your home and garden. |
CoreHHI
Bluffton, SC
(Zone 9a)
November 06, 2009
12:29 AM Post #7246484
| Painted concrete is always slippery even if you put sand in the paint or whatever, I would not do that. Personally I would resurface the concrete then cut lines into and stain it to look like stone. End result, it would look like you laid stone but it would be cheaper and less slippery.
just my two cents. |
MsKatt
Mid-Michigan, MI
(Zone 5b)
November 07, 2009
08:20 AM Post #7249798
| That skimstone stuff looks pretty cool. :) I sent the link to my husband (I'm at work), we've been looking for something to do with our concrete front porch. It looks so hard, cold and uninviting!
I would like to make a "rug" area where I put my wicker furniture. Thanks for the idea, freedee. |
bonjon
Raleigh, NC
November 08, 2009
03:25 AM Post #7252407
| no matter what you do, don't you need to clean that concrete first? some sort of concrete cleaner/acid? that mildew will come back through anything else you put over it.
could someone post the skimstone link? I've never heard of it, and I have an entire pool patio to redo! (talk about mildew, we've got it BAD) |
MsKatt
Mid-Michigan, MI
(Zone 5b)
November 08, 2009
08:27 AM Post #7252564
| http://www.skimstone.com/
I read that you can't use it where it's going to be exposed to chlorine. We don't use chlorine in our pool and I think the skimstone would really look nice on a cement patio that we plan on putting in the backyard. |
bonjon
Raleigh, NC
November 08, 2009
10:37 AM Post #7252799
| oh darn. well, another idea will come along. |
yardqueen1948
Emory, TX
(Zone 8a)
November 09, 2009
12:13 AM Post #7254932
| The stain that CoreHHI mentioned is what came to my mind. My daughter recently told me that some people have pulled up their carpet and stained the cement and it looked like stone. I am interested in finding out more about that myself. Not for inside my house, but for another building my husband just built, and our patio also |
CoreHHI
Bluffton, SC
(Zone 9a)
November 09, 2009
09:04 AM Post #7255471
| My neighbor wanted to do that in his living room but what stopped him was the concrete had to many imperfections. If you have to patch holes, cracks the stain will come out uneven. He ended up tiling. The stain is cheap any easy to do. One down side is it comes in a limited amount of colors. |
FrillyLily
Lebanon, MO
November 17, 2009
11:44 PM Post #7284985
| whatever you do, I would suggest power washing it thoroughly first using a cleaner made for cement.
You might even use a bleach solution on it to kill the mildew. If it the surface is not TOTALLY clean, any paint or other products you use on it, will not adhere well.
If money is an option, you might be pleasantly surprised what a little power washer and some cleaner can do. Then coat it with some cement water seal, like Thompsons or similar. I think it is about $15 for a gallon. Buy yourself a nice outdoor door mat and a large planter or cement decor, and be done with it.
I would sure start with that, if you don't want to spend alot on it.
By trimming some of the plants around the area of course you could cut down on the algae and mildrew growth.
Other thing is, even if you add a nonslip additive to a paint, it will still be extremely slick in icy weather. The additive is really for slick shoes, or rain ect. It won't make a difference in serious snow or ice. Use cat liter or shovel it off.
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pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)
November 18, 2009
07:03 AM Post #7285644
| Mildew can be washed away but unless the conditions that cause it are changed (hard to do when it comes to shade from a house) it will remain an ongoing problem.
I totally agree about the slipping being very dangerous for humans as well as pets. |
marie_kap
Williamstown, NJ
(Zone 6b)
November 18, 2009
08:19 AM Post #7285719
| That patio would mildew even before those plants grew to that height. It is the way the sun hits the patio. We have powered washed it before and it comes back. That is why I was concidering a paint or covering of some kind that would be the color of the dark mold, so that when it does get that black moldy look, you wont be able to tell it. |
pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)
November 18, 2009
09:22 AM Post #7285799
| Good idea. It would be less noticeable. We have it on our terrace and I just use bleach to remove it. |
FrillyLily
Lebanon, MO
November 18, 2009
09:27 AM Post #7285809
| well yes it certainly comes back, just like dirt always does!
You will have to power wash it a couple times a year to keep it looking nice. Probably spring and fall.
Paint would be ok, but as you said it will still mold, and have to be cleaned often to keep it looking nice.
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henryr10
Cincinnati, OH
(Zone 6b)
November 18, 2009
10:54 AM Post #7286045
| I'm not pushing this stuff but here's a link you might want to check out.
Never used it...found it on a search.
http://www.seal-once.com/htmls/faq.html
Ric |
CoreHHI
Bluffton, SC
(Zone 9a)
November 18, 2009
01:31 PM Post #7286590
| If you use paint that has zinc or copper mixed in it won't mold but again I don't like the pant idea. Not sure if you can do that to stain. We use zinc strips on the roof to kill off mold etc. The rain runing over it and down the roof is enough to kill fungus that will grow on the shingles. |
marie_kap
Williamstown, NJ
(Zone 6b)
November 18, 2009
06:07 PM Post #7287389
| Hey I could use those zinc strips here.My garage that is on the east side gets moss real bad. Where do you get them? |
CoreHHI
Bluffton, SC
(Zone 9a)
November 18, 2009
06:34 PM Post #7287479
| Ask at a real building supply place, not a HD or Lowes. Don't think they would carry something like that but all it is, is unbent flashing. I'm sure it won't be hard to find. |
