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A Dozen Tips for Producing Low Allergy Gardens
A Dozen Tips for Producing Low-Allergy Gardens Ó Thomas Leo Ogren What we plant often has a direct effect on our own health and the health of those near us. A pollen-producing male tree in our own yard will easily expose us to ten times more...
Choosing Fireplace Mantel Shelves
Stone and wood shelves are the preferred choices of material for fireplace mantel shelves. Stone and wood shelves are quite popular these days and both have quite a history with its association to fireplaces.
Wooden mantels, for instance,...
How to choose the foundation for your log cabin
How to choose the foundation for your log cabin Full foundation sounds easier to build than a slab. The only catch is that you'll probably have to do a lot more digging. This is especially true if you live in the northern part of our country. A...
Selecting the Right Water Feature for your Garden
Selecting the Right Water Feature for Your Garden
When contemplating a water feature for your garden it is important to reflect on the style of your landscaping and draw from this to select the right style of water feature to suit the...
The Finishing Steps to Building Your Log Cabin: Roofing, Siding
The Finishing Steps to Building Your Log Cabin: Roofing, Siding and Interior After the rafters are in place, you will be ready to put on the roof boards. These boards can be 5/8-inch by 6- or 8-inch tongue-and-groove boards. There are some...
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Building a Concrete Patio
A concrete patio can be an attractive part of the landscape, provided it is properly decorated after it is placed. It is also a convenient landscape element, as the patio is usually square and is easy to mow around. Additionally, it is an excellent place to enjoy outdoor cooking and entertaining. Concrete is durable and it can withstand a great deal of wear and tear. Building a concrete patio is something that you can do on your own in about three days. With a little investment of time, you can save money by installing your patio yourself, rather than paying someone else to do it.
The first thing to do, of course, is plan your patio. You need to figure out how big you want the patio, and mark off the area. Additionally, you need to make sure you have all of the necessary tools. 50 square feet is a fairly common size patio, and for that (at about six inches thick) you need 25 bags of pre-mixed concrete. Make sure that you get the pre-mixed for best results and easiest construction. You will also need to make sure you have concrete tools and an automatic concrete mixer. If you do not wish to purchase these tools, it is possible to rent them from a home improvement or hardware store.
Next, you need to excavate the area with a garden shovel. The best thing to do is excavate six inches deep. This is so that you have a two-inch layer of gravel beneath four inches of concrete. This is
especially important in the north, where the freezing and thawing cycle can cause drainage problems. The gravel allows for adequate drainage, and that prevents cracking due to frozen water trapped beneath the patio.
After you have excavated your patio area, you need to build a form to hold the gravel and concrete. This form is usually made from wood. It acts as a frame of sorts to keep the gravel and concrete in place, instead of spreading beyond the confines of your patio. The form can be constructed from wood or strong plastic or rubber, and should be sunk into the ground lining the entire border of the patio area. If you want the patio flush with the ground, the top of the form should be level with the surrounding lawn. After that is done, put in the gravel. Make sure you tamp it down firmly to avoid shifting later on. Two-inch high flat pieces of rock should be installed as well, on top of the gravel, to act as supports for rebar reinforcing (the rebar will be built in the middle of the four inch slab of concrete
About The Author
Janeth Duque of Geeks On Steroids. Janeth is well-known in the world of web design and search engine optimization.
Web Site: Geeks on Steroids
View their website at: http://www.geeksonsteroids.com
janeth@geeksonsteroids.com
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