Imagine it is summertime. It’s not hard to, right? The birds are chirping, the sun is out, and Calgary is finally seeing the end of cold, snowy days. Imagine a cold drink in your hand, a bowl of fruit and good book at your side, and those shorts you’ve had buried under jackets and scarves all winter long. You can smell ribs on the barbecue, and George Strait is playing on the radio. Where are you? Outside on the patio! You don’t have a functioning patio? Well, here’s how you can make one.
Step One: Measure the area you want to cover and buy enough supplies to cover the space. We recommend using pegs to map it out beforehand so you get a good idea of how much space it will take up.
Step Two: Your patio should be elevated off the ground, or else the wood will shift and warp into an uneven disaster during the winter. Make sure that it is level with a door, or that there are steps that will be level with the door. You don’t want to be barricaded inside. A popular mode for elevating patios is using cement blocks, or cement settings for corner posts.
Step Three: Start building! Make sure you level everything and make precise measurements while you cut. It is also important to sand any rough features and sharp corners for safety reasons. Some fun additions you can add are benches, plant holders , banisters, etc.!
Step Four: Add a weather-proof finish to whatever stain or paint you coat the newly built patio with. It is very easy for patios to scratch, flake, crack, and become discoloured. Not only will a weather-proof finish help to prevent these issues, but it will keep the wood from rotting faster.
Step Five: Decorate! One of the hottest trends this summer is stringing twinkling lights around your patio for late night activities. Buy some comfy patio furniture, set up your barbecue, perhaps even consider purchasing a little faux-flame fireplace for the centre of the patio. There is so much you can do and lots of resources available for any type of budget.
What is the last step? Enjoy your patio! Not only are they fantastic for when you want to lounge outside, but they also add a lot of value to your property. Simple landscaping, which includes a nice patio, goes a long way when it comes to making your property more aesthetically pleasing and functional.
It’s going to be a great summer!
Posted by Ken Richter on
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