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What are the Best Tips for Building a do-It-Yourself Patio?

By Keith Koons
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,654
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Creating the ultimate outdoor escape using the do-it-yourself approach may be frustrating or intimidating at first for a beginner patio designer. Despite any lack of experience, building a covered wooden porch, a paver patio, or a gazebo in the backyard is much easier than many people think. By following the simple steps that are accompanied with many do-it-yourself patio kits, an inviting, soothing, or even enchanting outdoor living space can be accomplished by almost anyone. There are also plenty of projects for experienced do-it-yourself patio builders that can save a tremendous amount of money.

The novice handyman can purchase a kit comprised of all of the parts and the directions that are required for the do-it-yourself patio construction to ensure proper building and installation each step of the way. These kits can be found at most home improvement stores and are created for people who want to save money by doing the project themselves. There are a large variety of packaged kits available for projects, including screened in porches, gazebos, brick patio surfaces, and a do-it-yourself deck.

A paver patio is a popular choice for the do-it-yourself patio pavers, as it creates an elegant appeal and requires little to no maintenance. In order to avoid pitfalls when building a paver patio, a level surface combined with proper drainage capabilities are a must. If the paver patio is constructed without possible drainage problems in mind, any precipitation could drain toward the foundation and eventually lead to serious issues. The dirt under the layer of brick should be graded slightly in order to easily circumvent this problem. When adding the stones, keeping the layers level is of utmost importance; any inaccuracies will be amplified as more stones are added.

Another trick of the trade for do-it-yourself enclosed patio builders is aluminum-framed enclosures. These screened enclosures are the perfect solution to avoid the summer bugs and other pests and can be easily constructed with some extruded porch screen bar and just a few tools. Unlike heavy wood that requires maintenance and frequent painting, the extruded porch screen bar is lightweight and strong. The screen bar is also quite easy to roll the screen cloth around, making it a simple do-it-yourself patio project.

Becoming a do-it-yourself backyard designer is not as difficult as it may seem. There are millions of different avenues that can be taken to make the project emerge successfully and last forever. Simple tips and tricks of the trade, including the use of kits and understanding how to construct the project correctly, can assist anyone who wants to attempt to create that backyard escape.

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Discussion Comments
By Talentryto — On May 20, 2014

@raynbow- I think that the best way to prevent weeds from growing between the stones of your stepping stone patio is to take a three-step approach.

First, clear the area where you will be placing your stepping stones from grass and weeds. Your next step should be to spray weed killer throughout the area once the grass and weeds have been removed to keep new plants from sprouting.

Finally, before putting the stones of your patio into place, cover the ground with some type of sheet plastic. Tarps or heaving trash bags will do the trick.

If you follow these tips, you should be able to keep this easy-to-build patio free of weeds and grass, which will also keep it looking great season after season.

By Raynbow — On May 19, 2014

I would like to build an inexpensive patio using square stepping stones. I have a friend who has this type of patio, and it was cheap and easy to build. However, my friend's patio has weeds and grass growing between the stones. Does anyone have tips for preventing any type of plants from sprouting around the stepping stones with this type of do it yourself patio?

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