DIY Article - How to Cast Your Own Custom Patio Blocks in Concrete

Summary: If you are one of the 1000's of home owners who are planning to build a patio this year, you can do something a bit different from the old familiar brick or plain concrete patio and have a functional conversation piece during the months you use it and beyond. It is easily assembled from custom cast modular blocks and the texture is achieved by pressing a layer of course aggregate into the concrete while it is still wet.

First off, check with your local laws to see if you need a permit to add a patio and if there are any restrictions involved. Once you know what you are allowed to do, you can prepare the foundation to lay your blocks. There are many ways to prepare a patio foundation which are beyond the scope of this article, but basically, make sure that the site is level and properly prepared before laying your completed blocks.

Before you begin the actual work of casting the blocks, draw out your patio plan on a sheet of graph paper. Be sure it is complete with the sizes and shapes of the blocks you would like use, as well as the placement of the blocks to create the design. If you are also measuring with your graph paper, subtract 1/2 inch for the joint between each module for the mortar. You are not limited to rectangles and squares, but can use any shape that you feel you can build a form, or mold, for. But with just 3 different dimensions of rectangular blocks, there are hundreds of possibile ways to arrange them. For simplicity, this article will assume the blocks are rectangles.


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http://www.diystuff.com/Concrete/How_to_Cast_Your_Own_Custom_Patio_Blocks_in_Concrete.shtml


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