An old concrete patio can be the most boring part of an exciting backyard. You don\u2019t have to live with that plain concrete patio, though. A little creativity and a liberal helping of elbow grease, and you can breathe new life into that old patio.<\/span><\/p>\n Cover an old concrete patio with a wood or composite deck to bring a warm, organic look to the backyard. Build the new deck with wood or composite decking and attach the deck directly to the concrete patio.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n There are several considerations regarding the kind of deck you build over your concrete patio, as well as a few other options for patio covering. Keep reading to pick up some tips and ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Building a deck from scratch can be a difficult and costly project, but if you\u2019re covering an existing concrete patio, it\u2019s a lot easier. You can check out the different outdoor decking material<\/a> and choose what the best fit is for you. You\u2019ll need some tools and supplies and it can\u2019t hurt to be handy \u2013 but you can do this.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> The warm and natural feel of a deck can be accomplished with either wood or composite decking<\/a>. When you\u2019re putting a deck over an old concrete patio, your first decision will be which material you want to use.<\/span><\/p>\n Wood decking is the more traditional approach to building a deck, but it is fading in popularity. While it does look nice, it is prone to fading, rotting and drying over time. It does have the distinct advantage of being considerably more affordable than composite decking, however.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the many benefits of composite decking<\/a> is that it is built from a combination of wood fibers and PVC plastic. These are molded planks or tiles, not natural wood, and so they are not as prone to warping, swelling, drying or splitting like wood decking. They last longer than wood and require considerably less maintenance<\/b>. If your project budget allows for it, composite decking is the superior choice.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> An existing concrete patio will make your deck installation much easier and faster, and you can install your deck directly onto the concrete<\/strong>.<\/p>\n You will want to account for water drainage and material expansion\/contraction, so it is best to place boards called \u2018sleepers\u2019 underneath the deck. It is also a good idea to add small spacers between the sleepers and the concrete patio.<\/p>\n With wood decking, you have to really account for water seepage. If you have water pooling underneath the boards, it could soak into the wood and cause considerable damage. Damp wood can attract insects, cause dry rot and otherwise damage your deck.<\/span><\/p>\n For a wood deck, it is important to build a framework of sleepers and attach them to the concrete with plastic anchors and concrete bolts<\/b>. You can use angled brackets to hold the vertical sleeper planks in place.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> Adding a deck over an existing concrete patio will add height. Depending on the step down from your back door to your concrete patio, this additional height could be problematic. However, you do have options if space is limited.<\/span><\/p>\n If you are using a composite tile that can be laid directly onto the concrete, the deck will only add an inch or so to the height of the patio<\/span><\/b>. You will likely be adding retaining pieces, called fascia, at the edges of the patio to hide the sides of the tiles and hold them in place. The tiles themselves are designed to allow for water run-off, so this option may be more feasible if your patio is close in height to your back door.<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, if you have a considerable step down from the back door, a raised deck might be a big improvement! Rather than that short drop to get out to the grill while you\u2019re carrying a big plate of ribs, your new deck could be level with the back door. It will be a straight transition from the house to the deck, making it a lot less likely that you drop dinner before you can cook it.<\/span><\/p>\n If you have stairs down from the back door to the patio, you can add height to the stairs themselves to compensate for the added height of the deck.<\/span><\/b> This is especially easy if you are using the composite tiles that lay flush on the concrete.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Building a deck is a very attractive option for covering your old concrete patio, but there are several other options you could try.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re just looking to give the old patio a refresh and make it look new again, resurfacing is an uncomplicated option. You can buy the needed supplies easily and knock out the job in a weekend.<\/p>\n The first step will be to clean the patio. Use a pressure washer to remove stains, dirt and debris. A little tip \u2013 just this step alone can take years off the look of your old concrete patio. Removing those old mildew stains and spilled sodas is like a facelift for your patio.<\/p>\n Before you resurface the whole patio, spend a little time patching the cracks and pits. We recommend Sakrete Flo-Coat Concrete Resurfacer<\/a>. For this stage, mix it to a consistency that lets you apply it easily with a trowel. Let the repairs dry completely before the next step.<\/p>\n Once your repairs are dry, completely saturate your concrete patio with water, then remove any standing water. Work in manageable sections, as the resurfacer will set up very quickly, and make sure to separate the gaps between workspaces to maintain the spaces between slabs. Mix the resurfacer one work section at a time and apply with a long-handled trowel, then go over it with a push broom or squeegee to get that flat finish.<\/p>\n And if you are not sure of how you want to resurface or if you want to put new concrete over old concrete<\/a>, you can look at that article to come up with your decision. If you decide to resurface your old patio, check out this video from Quikrete<\/a> for a step-by-step guide.<\/p>\n<\/div> If you just want to add a little flavor to your outdoor space, adding some color to your patio might be just the thing. There are plenty of options here, from a simple coat to diagrams and scoring. Here are just a few ideas.<\/p>\n Decide on a pattern, then use a chalk line to \u2018draw\u2019 the diagram onto the concrete.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t love the idea of cutting grooves into your old concrete patio, you can still get those cool color sections by taping off sections. You can simply use painter\u2019s tape and apply your color sections one block at a time.<\/strong> Taping instead of scoring adds considerable flexibility for designing shapes \u2013 you may not even have to stick to straight lines!<\/p>\n The difference between paint and stain essentially comes down to where the color goes. Paint sits on top of the concrete and provides a layer of color. Paint will allow you the greatest flexibility for vibrant color. If you\u2019re an artist, you can even create a mural directly onto your patio.<\/p>\n Pavers are probably the most time-intensive and costly method for covering an old concrete patio. <\/strong>For this solution, you will need to build a border of bricks around the outside of the patio.<\/p>\n Your options here are limited only by your imagination. You could even turn that concrete slab into an outdoor kitchen! (Here are some must haves for your outdoor kitchen<\/a>!) Though for your first project, you may want to stick to smaller, individual paver bricks and save the fancy stuff for when you\u2019re a seasoned pro.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> A deck is a great way to cover your old concrete patio, and we outlined a few other options as well. Once you decide on one of these options, you\u2019ll want to do a little more in-depth reading. Here are a few other resources for you to reference.<\/p>\n Building a Deck Over Your Concrete Patio<\/a><\/p>\n Stain Your Patio to Look Like Tile<\/a><\/p>\n Spray-Paint a Pattern on Your Concrete Patio<\/a><\/p>\n Guide to Covering Your Patio with Pavers<\/a><\/p>\n (If you decide to hire someone to do if for you, you’ll definitely want to check out this article on concrete patio contractors<\/a>!)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>How Do I Put Decking Over Concrete?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Should I Use Wood or Composite Decking?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Wood Decking<\/span><\/h4>\n
Composite Decking<\/span><\/h4>\n
Can You Install Composite Decking Directly onto Concrete?<\/h3>\n
\n
How Do You Attach Wood to Concrete?<\/span><\/h3>\n
How Tall Should My Deck Be?<\/span><\/h3>\n
What Other Options Do I Have for Covering My Patio?<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
Resurface Your Concrete Patio<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n
Paint or Stain Your Concrete Patio<\/h3>\n
Score Lines to Add Depth<\/h4>\n
\n
Tape Off Sections for A Tapestry Effect<\/h4>\n
Paint or Stain?<\/h4>\n
\n
Build Up Your Patio with Pavers<\/h3>\n
\n
Additional Resources<\/h2>\n