After being cooped up inside your home for over a year, you and your family are probably more than ready to get together outside to eat, have fun and just enjoy the warmer weather. Whether it’s with family or friends, as you start to spend more time playing and relaxing in your yard, you may also notice that your outdoor space doesn’t look as good as it could. Why not take the opportunity to upgrade the look of your old, worn, cracked or weather-damaged concrete patio or walkways?
If you’re looking for a solution to give these areas new life, it’s easier — and more affordable — than you think, and the new look can be achieved as a simple one-day DIY project. However, if you don’t have the time or inclination to do it yourself, you could easily hire a contractor to take care of it for you.
Improving the look and feel of your entire patio space starts from the ground up. Setting the stage for a more elegant, attractive outdoor environment can be as simple as using thin pavers (30mm) to transform your patio’s surface, and you can do it right on top of the existing concrete patio, walkway or pool deck — with no demolition required.
For example, Milano pavers from Pavestone are specifically designed to install over existing concrete surfaces. They feature modular square and rectangular shapes with a distinctive textured surface that evokes the timeless appeal of weathered cut flagstone. These pavers install easily and quickly, creating the aesthetic of historical old-world pavements to add a sense of beauty to your outdoor space.
These pavers are also versatile. The Milano system consists of three sizes (small, medium and large), so you can purchase just one size or multiple sizes, depending on the look and pattern you want to achieve. You can use a single size to achieve a stacked, running or herringbone pattern — or you can install them as a 3-piece system to create a variety of patterns. The pavers are lightweight and only 1-3/16” high, making them simple to install, but also exclusively meant for use for foot traffic and not suitable for driveways or other areas designed for heavy objects or vehicles.
How to install pavers
Creating a beautiful new outdoor space with 30mm overlay pavers requires four easy steps:
- Spread a thin, leveling layer of paver sand over the existing concrete slab.
- Place the pavers in your desired pattern using a rubber mallet to tap them level.
- Bond the perimeter course of pavers to the existing concrete with construction adhesive.
- Spread patio paver sand, then use a broom to spread the sand into the paver joints.
What you’ll need to install pavers
Want to DIY your new patio, walkway or pool deck? It’s a straightforward process to install new pavers to overlay an existing concrete surface.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Pavers
- Pavestone’s Patio Paver Sand
- Rake or screed
- Rubber mallet (to tap pavers into place if needed)
- Concrete saw or table saw with diamond blade
- Safety glasses, gloves and dust mask
- Right angle ruler
- Carpenter’s pencil
- Quikrete Advanced Polymer Construction Adhesive
- Push broom
- Polymeric sand (optional)
You can then watch this easy-to-follow instructional video that demonstrates all of the necessary steps for paver installation.
Achieving a stunning new look for your yard will not only enhance your own experience as you grill outdoors, hang out with your family or lounge by the pool, but making this upgrade will also improve the curb appeal of your home, potentially boosting its value.
To learn more about Milano pavers and other ideas for improving the exterior of your home, visit www.pavestone.com.
