Outdoor floors
There is much to consider when you are looking at a backyard fixup. What you have in mind for entertaining, playing and relaxing is central to your decorating plan.
Equally important is the lay of your land and the yearround climate. Do you like the feel of grass underfoot? Are you a gardener? What are the options for covering the ground.
An outdoor floor makes sense for patios. Will that be wood, gravel, paving stones? While you are pondering, check out the new looks in concrete — not like the plain gray concrete slabs you see on sidewalks or driveways that line the streets, but decorative concrete.
Decorative concrete, also known as stamped, textured or imprinted concrete is designed to replicate costlier paving products including flagstone, slate, tile and brick.
Shapes, textures and colours are stamped, stenciled or rubbed into the freshly poured concrete to produce the desired effect. You plan the overall design and shape with a specialized contractor guaranteeing a custom finish that suits your home.
I discovered an impressive website, www.concretenetwork.com, that showcases the work of concrete specialists across North America.
The site’s extensive photo gallery features the look of cobblestone, herringbone pattern with new bricks, European fan and Ashlar patterns, random fieldstone, slate, and even faux wood. (The faux wood combines the look of multiple wood grains in 6-inch planks.)
Along with the custom design options you can introduce concrete accent pieces. A bear, a racing horse, butterflies or a school of fish are set in to create more interest and a focal point for your patio, garden or water feature.
One of the projects from the site shown here is by Salzano Custom Concrete. Their customer wanted a large backyard patio with the look of slate. The patio is built in tiers to accommodate the sloping backyard. All the accent and highlight colours were custom mixed.
Concrete is easily formed into any shape allowing for designs, curves, and steps. It can be laid vertically as well as horizontally to form low garden walls, fireplaces, columns and decorative bases for timber.
An outdoor kitchen island combines the look of old textured brick with smooth brick trim that reflects the warm tones of the slate patio, all decorative concrete.
Concrete is as durable as it is versatile. Contractors in northern climates take special steps to ensure the concrete will stand up to a range of weather conditions. High strength concrete prevents cracking and erosion.
With a decorative concrete installation, maintenance is easy. Unlike paving stones there are no spaces for grass and weeds to sprout through. As the ground settles you won’t have uneven or wobbly stones to trip you up. The surface remains smooth.
Your contractor will educate you on care and maintenance, depending on your project, the traffic it withstands and how it is finished and sealed. It is customary to simply sweep away debris and dirt, and clean with a mild soap and water.
And finally, while checking out decorative concrete possibilities, look at landscape glass. It’s 100 per cent recycled glass that has been tumbled so not sharp.
Sold by the bag in a rainbow of colours including jewel tones, amber, blues, greens and grays, the glass is laid down like mulch in gardens, on pathways, and decorating fountains.
Written by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email decorating questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. Follow Debbie at instagram.com/debbie_travis, facebook.com/thedebbietravis, debbietravis.com.