While you should try to remove stains if possible, as long as your concrete is not sealed, you can stain it and make it look good as new. Surecrete makes a water soluble stain that is easy and safe to apply. https://www.surecretedesign.com/product/water-based-concrete-stain/ Just make sure to cover areas (such as house foundation or driveway) that you don't want stained.
Hi Anita - These are two articles that show how we took our small and sad deck and turned it into a gorgeous entertainment space complete with a pergola. Hope they help with some inspiration! Hugs, Holly
A couple years ago we cleared out some ivy in the backyard & increased outdoor living space. We put in flagstones to add a cool texture to to area. Unfortunately, we ...
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Cement or wood patio? What are the dimensions? Is it covered? Do you have a budget?
We are starting from scratch. There is a wood deck but we want to add a few t or paved patio
A patio is an outdoor paved area usually adjoining a house. If your patio needs cleaning have it pressure washed. This will remove dirt and algae which are the usual causes of stains. Be aware that brick may not hold up as well to pressure washing as concrete does, in which case it may be better to use a long handled scrub brush. https://rainonatinroof.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/scrub-sidewalk-no-water.jpg Cleaning can make a huge difference in how an area looks. Consider permanently removing from your patio area anything that is not useful and/or beautiful. This is a good time to de-clutter your patio. Larger pots and planters make more of an impact than lots of smaller pots. If you have a collection of plants that you wish to keep, buy or build a plant stand to hold them. Any collection looks better when displayed together. http://annagr.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/outdoor-plant-shelf-patio-plant-stands-plant-stand-plant-plant-ideas-tags-plant-stand-wooden-outdoor-plant-stands-plans-outdoor-plant-stands-for-multiple-plants-australia-outdoor-plant-stands-uk-only.jpg
While you should try to remove stains if possible, as long as your concrete is not sealed, you can stain it and make it look good as new. Surecrete makes a water soluble stain that is easy and safe to apply. https://www.surecretedesign.com/product/water-based-concrete-stain/ Just make sure to cover areas (such as house foundation or driveway) that you don't want stained.
If you need a larger patio area, you cold lay concrete tiles or bricks around the edge of the existing patio. They need to be at the same level as the patio, but can be set atop a gravel and sand base. https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5c/57/c1/5c57c1123fabc1614bef0214be440f47.jpg If laying tiles and brick is too much for you, but you still need more space, consider adding a low free-standing deck next to your patio or elsewhere in your yard. https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6e/7c/f4/6e7cf45fcc3524f4b8b937de4fd15ee8--garden-decking-ideas-small-backyard-landscaping.jpg
Hi Anita - These are two articles that show how we took our small and sad deck and turned it into a gorgeous entertainment space complete with a pergola. Hope they help with some inspiration! Hugs, Holly
https://pinkfortitude.com/built-in-bench/
https://pinkfortitude.com/veranda-transformation/