Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Patios & Walkways

257 Pages·2010·144.75 MB·English

Money-saving Do-it-yourself Projects
for Improving Outdoor Living Space
(j
o.tive PUbls"ing
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
www.crea tivepub.com
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Digital edition: 978-1-61673-333-9
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The complete guide to patios & walkways: money-saving
do-it-yourself projects for improving outdoor living space. Page Layout Artists: Hespenheide Design
p. cm . Shop Help: Charles Boldt
Includes index. Author: Philip Schmidt
At heaf of title: Black and Decker. Copy Editor: Betsey Matheson
Summary: "A comprehensive guide to plan, build, maintain, repair, Proofreader' Jane Hilken
and accessorize great outdoor living spaces"--Provided Illustrator: Trevor Burks
by publisher.
ISBN-13: 978-1-58923-481-9 (soft cover) Cover Photo by Beth Singer © 2009
ISBN-10: 1-58923-481-2 (soft cover)
1. Patios--Amateurs' manuals. 2. Garden walks--Amateurs'
manuals. I. Black & Decker Corporation (Towson, Md.) II. Title.
TH4970.C6472010
690' .893--dc22
2009038316
The Complete Guide to Patios & walkways
Created by: The Editors of Creative Publishing international, Inc. in cooperation with Black & Decker. Black & Decker® is a trademark of The
Black & Decker Corporation and is used under license.
NOTICE TO READERS
For safety, use caution, care, and good judgment when following the procedures described in this book. The Publisher
and Black & Decker cannot assume responsibility for any damage to property or injury to persons as a result of misuse
of the information provided.
The techniques shown in this book are general techniques for various applications. In some instances, additional
techniques not shown in this book may be required. Always follow manufacturers' instructions included with products,
since deviating from the directions may void warranties. The projects in this book vary widely as to skill levels required:
some may not be appropriate for all do-it-yourselfers, and some may require professional help.
Consult your local Building Department for information on building permits, codes and other laws as they apply to
your project.
Contents
The Complete Guide to
Patios & Walkways
Introduction . ................... . ....... 5
PATIO & WALKWAY BASICS . ... . ....... .. .. 7
Design Themes for Patios . .. ... . . . .... ..... . .. . . . .. .. . . 8
Material Selection . . .. ... ....... ... ... . . . . .. . ...... . . 16
Practical Considerations . .. ...... . . .... .... ........... 26
Patio & Walkway Plans . . . . . .. . . ... .... ..... . .. . . . .. .. . 32
PATIO PROJECTS . ....................... 39
Layout & Surface Preparation . .... . ...... . .. . ...... . . .. 40
Drainage Swales . .. .. .... .. ... .... . . .. .... .. . ....... . 46
Dry Wells ............. . . .. ...... . ............. .. ... . 49
Retaining Walls . . .. ... ... . .. .. ........ . .... . ..... . .. . 51
Cobblestone Paver Patio .. . ...... . .... .. . . .. .. . . ..... . 57
Circular Paver Patio . . .... . ...... ... . .. .... ..... ... .. . 64
Mortared Paver Patio .. ...... .. ........ . .... . ..... . .. . 70
Sandset Flagstone Patio ..... .. .... .... . . . ..... . . .. ... 75
Mortared Flagstone Patio . .. ...... .. .. . ..... . ....... . . 84
Concrete Slab Patio .... . . .. . . . . ...... ....... . . ..... . . 89
Acid-Stained Concrete Patio . .... ... . . .. .... .. . . .. .... . 96
Seeded Concrete & Wood Patio .......... .... ..... . .... 100
Tiled Concrete Slab .... . . .. . . . . ...... ....... . . ... . . . 106
Loose Materials Patio .. ... .. .... ... . . .. .... .. . . .. .... 114
Loose-fill Patio with Fire Pit ... .... .. . . . .. . . . . .. . . .... . 116
Wood Tile Patio ... . .... . . .. ... . ...... ....... . . ... . . . 120
RubberTile Patio ......... ...... . . ..... . . . .......... 122
Patio Edging . ... . .... .......... .. . ... . . . ...... .. ... 124
Sandset Brick Patio ... . . .. . ..... . . .... .... .......... 132
WALKWAYS & STEPS ................... 139
Designing & Laying Out walkways & Steps . .... .......... 140
Sandset Brick walkway ... .. ..... . .... .. . . .. .. . . ..... 144
Poured Concrete Walkway . .. . . . ........ . .... . ..... . .. 150
Decorative Concrete Path . .. ... . .. . ............. .. ... 156
Mortared Brick Over a Concrete Path . . . .. .... .. . . .. .... 160
Flagstone Walkway .... . . .. . . . .. .. . . ... . ......... . . . 164
Simple Gravel Path ... . ... .. ...... . .... . . . ..... . ..... 167
Pebbled Stepping Stone Path . .... ... ... . . . . .. . .... . . . 173
Timber Garden Steps ... . . .. . . . ......... . ......... . . . 177
Flagstone Garden Steps . . . . .. . . .. ..... ..... . . .... . ... 187
Boardwalk . . . . .. . . .. ... ....... ... ... . . . . .. . .... . . . 192
PATIO ROOMS & AMENITIES . ............ 195
Under-Deck Patio ........ .. ........... . . . ........... 196
Patio Enclosure . .. .. . .. .. ...... . .. . ... . . . .. . .. .. ... 206
Patio Arbor & Trellis ..... .... ................ . . .. .... 220
Screened Patio Room . . .......... . .... .. . . .. .. . . ..... 228
Outdoor Kitchen . .. .. .... .. ..... . .. . ... . . . .. . .. .. ... 236
Low-voltage Patio & Landscape Lighting . .. . .... . ........ 244
Resources . ........................... 250
Photography Credits . .................. 251
Index ......................... . ..... 253
I
Introduction
well-apPointed patio is the perfect example of enhanced outdoor living space. Designed around your lifestyle
Aand favorite leisure activities, a patio can be comfortable, spacious, and even versatile, just like any well-
used indoor gathering place. But what makes a patio so special are the things you can't get under your roof: pure
sunlight, open air, an atmosphere that changes hourly and with the seasons- in short, a direct connection to the
outdoors. It is this unique combination of comfort and the natural world that gives patios the power to lure us out
of the house and away from our indoor routines.
As an "outdoor room," designing and decorating a new patio is not so different from planning any other living
space. The design rule "function comes first" certainly applies. Assessing how everyone in the household will use
the new patio is the primary consideration that influences every other decision, from planning the size, shape,
and layout to choosing paving materials and adding special features and amenities.
One of the great things about building a new patio or walkway is the number of options you have to choose
from. Few other building projects offer so many choices of materials, configurations, and even locations-unlike
a deck or balcony, a patio doesn't have to be tied to the house or confined to the back yard; it can welcome
guests at the front door or host an intimate gathering around a fire pit in a far corner of your lot. With all of this
flexibility, a patio can complement your home's architecture as much as it shapes your landscape, and that's what
makes creating a patio from scratch such a rewarding project.
If a patio is a stage from which you can enjoy the outdoors, walkways and paths are the ties that bring it
all together, linking the house, patio, garden, lawn, driveway, and any other points in between. Pathways unify
various landscape elements in both functional and perceptual ways: they define spaces, direct traffic, and make
it easy to travel from one place to the next. They also draw a line between separate, sometimes distant, spaces-
joining them visually and inviting us to venture on to the next destination. Thinking about patios and walkways
together is a smart choice, as both can transform an outdoor home. It's not surprising, then, that a new patio
project often leads to new walkways as well.
Whether you're dreaming of a new patio, a new walkway, or both, this book will take you through the process
from start to finish-from gathering ideas and choosing materials to preparing the site and laying the surface.
After surfacing, you can set out some furniture and enjoy the fruits of your labor or you can gather more tools and
start right in on another project, such as installing landscape lights or building an outdoor kitchen. Either way,
as soon as you begin to enjoy your new patio, you'll quickly understand why so many do-it-yourselfers see their
patios as works in progress- it's fun to keep thinking up new and creative ways to make your favorite outdoor
spaces even better.
• 5
Patio & Walkway
Basics
o install a new patio or walkway, first get started by
Tworking through the basic steps of planning your
project. The section in this chapter on design themes
can help you think conceptually about the character
and emotional quality of your new outdoor room.
Consider, also, all of the ways you hope to use the
new space and decide how the layout and other design
elements will best accommodate those activities.
Next comes the choice of paving material. Whether
it's classic clay brick, naturally rough-hewn flagstone,
simple and sleek concrete, or any of the other great
options you'll learn about here, the surface material you
choose will be the defining feature of your patio or path.
In addition to the appearance and performance
qualities of the different paving options, make sure to
think about the logistics of installation. Flip ahead to
the step-by-step projects in this book and review the
materials to get an idea of the work involved and to
gauge which applications best suit your design, budget,
and time frame. Other practical matters to consider-
including zoning restrictions and natural conditions on
your property, such as drainage and seasonal weather-
are addressed in this chapter as well.
\t\Then it's time to pull it all together, you'll find
it helpful to draft a site plan. The patio and walkway
plans on pages 33 to 37 offer inspiration and tips for
thinking globally about your patio or walkway in the
context of your outdoor home.
In this chapter:
• Design Themes for Patios
• Material Selection
• Practical Considerations
• Patio & Walkway Plans
• 7
IDesign Themes for Patios
f you were planning new living spaces for your indoor decide at the last minute to eat outside without much
Ihome, you would probably start by listing the main fuss. Choose lighting that is bright enough for eating
uses of each room-cooking meals, throwing parties, comfortably but can easily be lowered for after-dinner
relaxing with the family, sitting down for a chat with conversation. Locating the patio just off your indoor
the neighbors, etc. Keeping these desired uses in kitchen makes the space convenient enough to be
mind, you then decide how each space should look used as a second dining room. On the other hand,
and feel. What is the essential character, or theme, of an outdoor kitchen brings the cooking right into the
the space? Should it be formal and intimate, or should space, so the cook is never stuck inside during those
. .
it have an open feel, with casual furnishings setting precIOUS summer evemngs.
the tone for each activity? The same thought process Entertaining on a patio involves a special combina-
applies to designing a new patio (which is, in essence, tion of indoor comforts and outdoor pleasures, where
an outdoor living space). The following discussion of the open atmosphere invites guests to lounge under
patio design themes can help get you started. the stars or take a stroll through the garden. A well-
designed entertainment space should be roomy yet
comfortable. Overheads and walls promote a feeling
I Entertaining & Dining
of intimacy, while a wide wal1..rway or broad steps can
If a patio is perfect for one thing, it's alfresco meals. encourage guests to wander off the patio and into the
Whether enjoying a meal with the family or throwing yard. Furniture and more permanent features, such as a
a casual weekend barbeque or late-night hors d'oeuvre fireplace, bar, or large dining table, can define the room's
party, food just tastes better outdoors. A patio intended layout and set the stage for specific activities. Lighting is
for everyday meals should be casual and convenient. critical for setting the mood and should be adjustable for
Having a table and chairs set up at all times lets you tailoring your patio space to different settings.
A simple dining setup with easy access
to the kitchen is ideal for everything from
morning coffee to romantic dinners to
late-afternoon cocktai ls.
8 • COMPLETE GUlDE TO PATIOS & WALKWAYS
Aside from the obvious focal point created by an outdoor fireplace or other similar large structure, an open patio can be
entirely defined by its furniture and can be completely rearranged to suit the occasion.
The shelter of plants and overheads
can be an especially welcome feature for
dining and entertaining areas, blocking the
glare and heat of direct sunlight.
Patio (7 Walkway Basics • 9