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Of all the materials you can use to build a patio, concrete stands out as one of the very best. It is easy to maintain and clean, resistant to environmental conditions, you can make it yourself, and best of it all, it is cheaper in the long run than other materials. The versatility of concrete means your patio can be in any shape or form you like. If you’re thinking of building one yourself, we look at the things you should consider and the steps involved.

When to Build 

One of the first things to consider when building a concrete patio is whether you are making at the right time. The best time is definitely during the warm and dry season when there is no rain or snow to ruin the process. However, the dry season is not without its problem. The weather that is too hot may prevent the concrete from curing, which is why you have to shade the concrete and maybe even mist it with water so that the curing is not premature.

Regulations and Codes

You must also consider the building codes and regulations of your area before constructing a patio. Most areas usually require homeowners to seek approval for a significant construction like a patio. Building codes may also include specifications and restrictions as to how the patio should be built, the design, type of material, quality of material, etc. You should ensure you make inquiries about all these details before you start building. Another important thing you should do here is call 811, the National Call Before You Dig number before you start.

Tools

All the equipment you will need for any concrete construction is required here as well. These include measuring tape, line level, hammer, Darby, trowel, concrete groover, steel rake, shovel, wood saw, plate compactor, wood float, concrete edger, etc. 

Steps to Building Your Patio

Map Out the Area And Excavate: The first step is to map out the area you will use for the patio. You can do this with stakes and strings to mark the site. Once you have done this, you have to clear out the area. Clearing out usually involves removing all vegetation and then digging the soil, usually up to 8 inches’ depth. At this point, you should tamp the soil before pouring gravel and leveling it.

Install The Form:  The concrete form is wooden or metal form, where you will pour the concrete. Ensure that all the measurements for building it are accurate. Upon installation, secure it to the ground with wood stakes.

Pour and Screed the Concrete: Pouring the concrete into the form is quite simple, but you also have to be careful and make sure that every millimeter of the form is filled. Once this is done, it is time to screed the concrete and level. This is a crucial stage, and you must ensure you are meticulous throughout. It is also at this stage that you should edge the concrete.

Finish The Concrete: This is the stage where you smoothen the concrete and properly texturize it so that it will be easy to walk on and slip-resistant. Once you have finished the concrete, you should let it cure for about two weeks, after which you can remove all the forms, and your patio is ready.

Conclusion

It is essential that you use the right concrete for your patio if you want it to last. If your building code has specifications on material, you only have to comply. Click here for more information on concrete patios!

Working in construction has a lot of benefits. It is an industry where there is always demand, so you have job security, excellent opportunities for growth in your career, higher than average salaries, among many others. In fact, despite the economic downturn witnessed globally, this industry continues to grow, and the Bureau of Labor has projected a 10% rise in employment within the industry in the next ten years. With the low barrier to entry into the industry, you can consider a career in construction. Here, we examine the most lucrative contractor jobs in the industry.

Electrician:

Electrical jobs are one of the highest paying jobs that do not require a college degree. It allows you to be your own boss and handle an essential part of every construction process. An electrician’s job includes installation, maintenance, and repairs of all electrical appliances and systems within buildings. The average salary is between $50,000 and $60,000, and those in the top percentile earn as much as above $90,000. 

Plumber:

This is one of the most in-demand jobs with a 14% growth projection in ten years, according to the Bureau of Labor. Every building needs good plumbing, and the plumber handles everything that has to do with laying pipes and installing the overall plumbing system for the transportation of liquid or gas with a building. Maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs are part of a plumber’s work—no wonder the average salary is over $53,000.

Carpenter:

No matter how advanced the technology and building materials used for construction should become, wood will always be necessary. Carpenters are the ones who handle everything that has to do with using wood, making this job one of the most versatile in the construction industry. They handle everything from building and installing cabinets, constructing roofs, creating footings for building, etc. Given the versatility of the work, it is no surprise that there are specialty fields in carpentry. The average salary is around $46,590, but the specialty could go a long way in determining the actual salary.

Equipment Operator:

Construction, especially commercial ones, usually require the use of heavy equipment that need specially trained and skilled operators. Machines such as backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, cranes, steam rollers, etc. are what these operators drive, and the average salary for someone doing this kind of job is $46,990. The construction site and the nature of the heavy equipment are other factors that determine the salary of the operators.

Mason:

Concrete is the most used building material, making masons the most essential workers in the construction industry. Masons work with concrete, stones, and bricks, with different specialties existing within the profession. When it comes to constructing anything from a sidewalk to a skyscraper, Masons are involved. The average salary for masons is $44,810 with brick masons.

Glazer:

Glazier jobs are mostly seen in commercial construction and involve installing and fitting glass doors and windows. It is a very skilled trade essential in the construction process. It is a profitable trade with The average salary of a glazier being $43,550.

Concrete has emerged as one of the major building materials today due to its many qualities. In fact, it is the most used material in the world after water. This shows the prevalence of its use. However, developments in construction have made it impossible to rely on the strength of concrete alone, especially with taller and longer buildings being built in urban areas to maximize space. In order for concrete to cope with the increased weight and pressure, it has to carry or bear, other materials and chemicals have been combined. Here, we look into the steps of how enforced structures for concrete are created.

Design:

This is the first stage, and it determines the success of all the other stages and how the building would look. The designer considers many things at this stage. These include the type of concrete to be used, strength, weight, stability, and effect on the structural design.

Build the Form:

The next step is to build a form based on the design. While some use wood, the best material for building a form for an enforced concrete structure is metal. The form is where the concrete will be poured.  Metal is a better material to make it firmer and compact the concrete.

Add Rebar or Steel Reinforcements:

Steel rods and bars of various thicknesses are bent into shapes and joined together before being placed in the form. The steel reinforcements are added because concrete alone cannot withstand the tension of the enforced structure. While it is a material that performs well under compression, it will most likely buckle or crack if used alone under stress. It can withstand winds, vibrations, etc. With the addition of steel reinforcements and sometimes wire meshes, its overall strength is increased, and it becomes capable of resisting tensile forces. The two materials – steel and concrete – bond and act together as one structural element.

Pouring and Curing the Concrete:

Once all the reinforcements have been attached properly within the form, the next step is to pour concrete into the form. This concrete is specially mixed, based on what the structural engineer believes is right for the enforced structure, and it is usually pumped directly from the truck into the form except where it is prepared on-site. Once the concrete has cured, the rebar of each part of the enforced structure is tied together in what engineers call moment connections. By doing this, the structure becomes capable of carrying or withstanding any load that might act on it during its lifespan. Such load could be dead loads, live loads, dynamic loads, wind loads, and earthquake loads.

Finishing:

An enforced concrete structure can be finished in a series of ways, depending on the structure’s requirement and purpose. Aluminum panels, ceramic facades, glass, stone sheets, etc. are a few of the finishes that can be used for the construction.

You already know concrete is a fantastic material for your construction. Maybe you’ve even used it in one part of your house or another. But do you know you can use it for more fun purposes than that? Take a look at the fantastic things you can do with concrete.

Vase: yes, you can use concrete for building a flower vase, and if you’re worried about the chemicals in the concrete affecting the plants, you can insert a test tube between the concrete. It’s unique, original, and brilliant.

Stool: you can build a concrete stool with as little as $5. Just find the right structure for your stool seat and a dowel for the legs. You can have the stool in any shape you want and can make multiple from just one bag of concrete.

Lamp holder: you can create a fantastic and solid lamp holder with concrete. Use wood to make a framework for the holder and pour concrete into it. Once solidified, remove the wood and get whichever type of lamp you want to fix into it. It can come in all shapes and sizes.

Cake stand: mold a concrete cake stand from concrete using any of your regular kitchen pans or pot. It is very functional, and you can do it with leftover concrete after a house project.

Bowl: have you ever considered how a concrete bowl would look. Why not give it a try. It is one of the many things you can make from one bag of concrete, and it is very functional around the house. And speaking of bowls, you can also create fire bowls.

Bracelet: yes, you read that right. People actually use concrete to make jewelry too. You can mold the bracelet in a bangle shape, and after it dries, paint it in the colors you prefer. It can be a great accessory for you, and it’s equally a good gift. Don’t worry; it’s quite light.

Monogram shapes and letters: make different letters, numbers, and shapes out of concretes. You can use cardboard to mold the shape and pour concrete into it. These concrete monograms can be used for house numbers and other stuff.

Clock: nothing tells the time like a concrete clock. Mold in any shape and use the parts of your broken clocks to create something new and fabulous.

Concrete Desktop: In the same way you can have a concrete countertop and use it for your stool seat. You can make a desktop and attach it to the base of a standard desk with wooden or metal legs.

Hand planter: this is something unique for your garden. You can buy or make them yourself. If you chose the latter, just fill the inside of plastic gloves with concrete and remove the glove once it dries. There you have a hand planter for your plants and succulents.

For more inspiration visit https://www.lafayette-concrete.com.