Often tucked away behind our homes, concrete slab patios can get pretty ugly over time. Especially after years of cracking, dirt build-up and bad weather conditions. Fortunately, a backyard patio pick-me-up is an easy restoration project for even the most novice DIYer to accomplish.
The key to success is to research your options, properly prepare the surface, and finally to have some fun.
Backyard Patio Restoration in 4 Days
“I did research online and was impressed with the reviews I saw on Daich products,” says Tina O’Mara, a resident of Bensalem, Pennsylvania. “We had a million little cracks in our patio, so I ordered both Rock Patch™ and two of the SpreadStone™ Decorative Concrete Resurfacer Kits to give our old patio a new look.”
Tina and her husband Tim began their patio restoration project by pressure washing the concrete surface. After letting it dry completely, Tim used Rock Patch to fill and level the cracks. After that they followed the SpreadStone kit’s instructions, adding the primer, base coat and then the Summit Grey accent coat from the kit. They used the grout tape in the middle section of the patio to block off different sized rectangles.
“This area turned out looking like stamped concrete,” says O’Mara. “It’s just beautiful. Our patio looks brand new. I simply can’t say enough good things about this product. We were able to do the transformation in four days, and that’s even with a rain delay!
“We were floored! This process takes a little time, but it’s easy to do. And, it’s so worth the money. It’s an excellent value for the dollars!”
Creating a Flagstone Patio
Lisa Young also decided she wanted to resurface her ugly patio with SpreadStone, but in a flagstone pattern.
“I wanted to achieve different colorations, so I bought several individual containers to ‘mix and match’ my own color combinations,” says Young, a resident of Boulder Creek, Calif. “By using the bone primer and dolphin, ivory and cool grey, I was able to get the variety of realistic colors I wanted.”
For her project, Young started with assistance from her husband for the pressure washing — then did the remainder of the project herself.
“After laying on the primer, I used painter’s tape to create the grout lines,” says Young. “First I rolled on, then troweled on, the SpreadStone. I wanted the texture of a flagstone finish.”
Relying on YouTube online tutorials, Young says the project was exceptionally easy. “The hardest part was actually laying the flagstone-shaped lines with the painter’s tape,” relates Young. “I was just impatient to get to the fun part!
“I used the roller for the first layer of SpreadStone, alternating colors. I then used a plastic trowel to add layers and texture. Finally, once that was dry I used a satin acrylic sealer. The result is stunning. It matches a similar flagstone in our backyard.”
The pre-mixed, factory-tinted SpreadStone coating system locks onto concrete to create a surface with a stunning decorative appeal and outstanding performance. Every kit (available in two sizes, to cover either 100- or 400-square-feet of space) contains primer, base coat, accent coat, clear sealer, stone texture roller and quarter-inch grout line stencil tape. Individual quart-, gallon- and 3-gallon containers of the textured coating are available in 11 different colors.
“The cost versus value is incredible for the kit,” says Young. “To be able to transform the patio in a weekend for such a low cost, especially when compared to other options, is so worth it. I’d totally rate this as a ‘steal of a deal!”
Sun Mosaic Patterned Patio Restoration
In New Mexico, first-time DIYers Chad Wade and Kenlyn Huett were also determined to say farewell to their ugly concrete slab backyard patio. What they lacked in skills, they make up for with passion and determination.
Wade wanted to create a sun mosaic so Kenlyn could enjoy her coffee on a striking patio setting. He started by designing the patio mural using Microsoft™ Paint. He looked up patio images for inspiration and drew random lines. The sun is based off a video game series meme the couple enjoys.
Next he researched products to bring the drawing to life. He stumbled onto Daich Coatings and contacted the decorative and surface renewal company.
“I selected SpreadRock® because it has the look, the color and texture I wanted for the patio,” says Wade. “The reviews and walkthroughs showed it was something I could do myself. When I spoke with Paul Bordin at the company, he sent me samples. He worked with me on the project and helped me select the colors and order the correct volume of product I needed.”
A granite stone coating, SpreadRock has a bonding technology that ensures solid adhesion, superior flexibility and dependable durability for both interior and exterior projects. The coating can be spread on with either a squeegee or trowel application on both horizontal and vertical surfaces.
With the blank concrete canvas before him, Wade selected rich colors of Anvil, Sandstone, Mocha and Ice Gray in SpreadRock to create the sun mosaic.
Patience and Prep Lead to Backyard Patio Perfection
Wade took three days off from work and got down to work. He began by prepping the 10’ x 25’ surface. First he washed it, using a Concrete Cleaner & Etcher, then let it dry. Next he applied a Textured Primer in Charcoal. Then he taped down the design with Stenciling Tape. Finally, he was ready to add SpreadRock.
“I thought I’d knock it out myself mostly with a spray gun,” says Wade. “A few quick tests showed me the sprayer wasn’t going to work for the fine detail I needed. Same with rollers. Kenlyn had taken time off too and we just kept trying. Eventually we settled on small trowels and putty knives for the detail work. Once the project was completely dry we made sure it would last by using Hi-Build Ultra Multi-Purpose Satin Sealer.
“We wasted a lot of time with false starts and weather delays. And, we learned that DIY projects like this are a lot more labor intensive than they appear up front.”
In the end it took six days to complete the backyard patio project. But it was worth it. The patio design has generated praise from friends and family, many who can’t believe they did it themselves.
“The patio looks so good that people think it’s manufactured tile!” says Wade. “I would absolutely recommend SpreadRock and Daich Coatings. We now have a jaw-dropping artistic sun mosaic patio that we created ourselves!”
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