wife wants a new patio

[OWC Jamie]

space-time wrote:
[quote=billb]
...
gotta be fairly flat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNqmNpYMCCs

edit: one funny thing about that video, when they are done cleaning the area up in preparation for the tiles it looks pretty nice. I would have stopped there. LOL

Actually I like what they show in that video. If my patio looked like that, yes, I would not cover it, but like I said, mine is cracked, and I have a mixture of concrete and small bricks.

I think I will make it flat first, then replace the small bricks with some large tiles, and then cover it like in that video.
Bricks ( or concrete pavers ) need a good base to make it thru the seasons without shifting or frost heaving. I've cheated and it didn't take many Winters to show that I did.
Dunno how you stop weeds from coming up thru those wood and plastic tiles. Maybe put down commercial weed block ?

[STL]

" . . . do you REALLY want to have the HOA scrutinize what you're doing? "
Well, yes. Maybe not scrutinize but you do want their approval of what you're going to do. If you do something against their approval they can make you start over, which I wouldn't want to risk.
Our HOA has an architectural committee that reviews major changes to homes, especially footprint. Usually their input is almost a rubber stamp but not always.
Best of luck will be obtained by not avoiding the HOA, rather working with them.

[davemchine]

I hired a guy to put slate over our concrete patio and he failed to level or seal the concrete. The result was broken pieces and water came up from below and did some damage. So if you go that route make sure it is done right.

[Acer]

Moving in a couple years....I'd lean toward cosmetic (those plastic tiles or billb's carpet) rather than lifelong (concrete.) This assumes that the plastic tile product will look good to you and be reasonably durable. Make it look good to you for the short term and the next buyer. That 2-4 year window sounds a little short to get your money back out for concrete or professionally-laid pavers. Patio work is one of the lower ROIs for resale.

[jdc]

Yeah, depending on how much use it gets, a couple of 8 X 10 outdoor rugs will only set you back a couple hundred bucks -- use all summer then pickup, rollup and use next year.

[3d]

Alternative idea: Floating deck on concrete pier blocks?

[NewtonMP2100]

....you sure she doesn't mean Patty O'Furniture from Ireland.....???

[max]

I would go with the wood deck tiles, the spaced wood lets the deck breathe.
It makes no sense to spend that much money for the cold concrete....

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/deck-t...036173915/

[rgG]

I put those composite tiles over my wood deck a few years ago. They worked great and were easy to install. I think I posted a thread about it. I found ones that were 12x24 on eBay. Since they were a discontinued size I got a great deal. Let me see if I can find the thread.

Edit: here is the thread, with pics.
http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1...sg-1866557

[jh]

If you really want to do it cheap.