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DEAR KAY:
Just before I was married, I got my first taste of patios made with paver brick. My future mother-in-law
wanted a red brick patio and found some used paving brick for the job. I installed them using some common sense
and lots of luck and sweat. The full-sized bricks were set on a compacted base of dry sand mixed with cement.
Believe it or not, today that patio looks like it did the day I finished it, and that was 35 years ago!
Since then, the concrete industry has gotten involved in the patio business. I distinctly remember when
colored concrete interlocking paving brick became the belle of the ball. It was the rage, and it's still
quite popular. But I feel the mortarless concrete products do not have the character of a real paving brick
made from clay. When you go the next step and add mortar in between red-clay paving brick, you really have a
classic look.
But building a brick patio in such a way as to create a traditional look takes skill and lots of time.
I know -- my wife had me do this on the patio and front sidewalk at two different homes!
The first time I did a paving-brick job at my own home, I tried a new method of setting the brick in sand.
It was a dismal failure. Weeds grew in between the brick, and whenever it rained the water would bring sand
up to the surface from between the small cracks. This sand got tracked inside our home, making a mess of things.
Then when the moles showed up and pushed up the brick, that was the final straw.
I tore up that sidewalk and taught myself how to install patio pavers over concrete.
The sidewalk and patio I did at my second home are still in fantastic shape today, and get all sorts of
compliments from the present owners as well as the neighbors.
I recommend that you talk with friends and see if any have patios that have been down for 20 or more years.
Pay some visits and see what the patios look like after Mother Nature has had her way. One of the things I do
not like about the colored concrete paver patios is the color-fade issue. The pigmented cement paste does
wear off the sand and gravel in the concrete, and when this happens the color appears to fade. Actually,
this color change is the true color of the aggregate in the concrete coming out.
This is but one reason why I prefer traditional clay-brick pavers.
The color never fades, as the clay is the same color through the entire brick. When you purchase paver brick that have been fired to resist weather, the color is locked in and does not change. The clay in the brick actually becomes like rock, and weather and oxidation seem to have no effect on the appearance of the brick.
To achieve a traditional look for your patio that is mole-proof and will not produce loose sand, you mortar
the brick to a concrete slab. This process is time consuming and expensive, but it produces a stunning look
that can last decades with no maintenance other than an annual cleaning to remove dirt and any algae.
Remember: any new patio will look really good once it is complete. What you need to consider is what the
patio will look like in 10, 15, even 25 years.
Why not invest in a patio surface that will have a rich and traditional appeal and require virtually no
work once it is installed?
That is what I have at my home, and you could never convince me to install anything other than traditional
clay paving brick.
HOME DECORATING, INTERIOR DESIGN, HOME RENOVATION & HOME IMPROVEMENT
From Common to Customized – Add Value With Architectural Details
Architectural Details Increase your Home's 'Wow' Value & Selling Value
Architectural elements are the unique details that form the architectural style of houses and buildings.
Customizing your kitchen, baths, master bedroom or any other room with architectural details is a simple way
set your home apart and increase the "wow factor" of those particular rooms and in turn the selling value of your
home.
Interior Design for the Sports Lover
Interior Home Decorating Trend
With the trend of sports decor becoming a mainstream choice throughout homes, decorating options are endless. Sports themes can range from fun and over-the-top to subtle and tasteful integrations depending on what the homeowner likes. Here are some ideas about where to start.
Planning A Screened-In Porch: What to Consider
Home Renovation Tip & Advice from Ask the Builder by Tim Carter
DEAR TIM: The next project at my home is a screened porch. I have looked at many plans, but none of them really excite me. After looking at some pictures, I have some really good ideas about what I want in my design. What should I take into consideration in this planning phase so that I end up with the perfect screened-in porch?
Two Main Forces Working Against Your Retaining Wall: Gravity and Frost
Home Renovation Tip & Advice from Ask the Builder by Tim Carter
DEAR TIM: Can you tell me how to build a retaining wall? Are retaining wall blocks a good choice? What critical things do I need to know so that I don't have a collapse or other failure in the years to come? I have access to lots of large stones. Can I just stack them to make a retaining wall from stone?
When Installing a Patio, Build It to Last
Home Renovation Tip & Advice from Ask the Builder by Tim Carter
DEAR TIM: I have decided to use patio pavers to build a nice outdoor space. Installing patio pavers seems easy enough. I don't want to make a mistake, so can you tell me how to install patio pavers? What method would you use? What should I be concerned about if I want a patio that looks good and is as maintenance free as possible?
Power-Wash the Deck or Do a Green Clean? The Pros and Cons
Home Care Tip & Advice from Ask the Builder by Tim Carter
DEAR TIM: I am having a spirited debate with my husband about how to clean a deck. The job doesn't seem that hard, but my husband wants to use a pressure washer, as he thinks it will save time. I want to use a green cleaner that is non-toxic and environmentally safe. What is the proper way to clean a deck and keep it looking nice? --Lisa T., Burlington, N.C.
Island Innovations: Make the Most of Your Kitchen Space
Home Innovation Tip & Kitchen Islands
"The kitchen island has become the icon of the modern kitchen – the 21st century equivalent of the old-fashioned hearth," says architect Duo Dickinson for This Old House Magazine. "It’s easy to understand why - kitchen islands work."
Green Building Options from the Ground Up
Going Green Environment Friendly Home Renovation Tips
More and more homes are being built and remodeled with the environment in mind. This green building movement is gaining momentum and options for homeowners continue to increase, making creating a green home easier than ever. Here are some tips to make your home greener, from the ground up.
Put the 'Eco' in Decorating
Eco-Friendly Home Decorating Tips & Trends
Just because you’re going green doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. There are many ways to easily incorporate eco-friendly ideas into your home decor without living the stereotypical "granola-and-Birkenstocks" lifestyle.
Add Warmth and Value with Easy Weekend Projects
Easy Home Decorating Tips that can be accomplished over a weekend
You’ve got a weekend to work with and the inspiration to do something to dress up your home. You don’t need to spend like a diva or wield a hammer like a home improvement show host to achieve a high-impact do-it-yourself project. Many value-enhancing, elegance-adding improvements can be accomplished in a weekend with minimal effort and expense.
A Good Excuse to Upgrade Your Home Entertainment System
Home Theater & Home Entertainment Systems
Television has come a long way since its introduction to the world in 1925, when Scottish inventor John Logie Baird successfully transmitted the first recognizable image -- the head of a ventriloquist’s dummy.
Hot Home Decorating Tips - Freshen Up Your Home and Brighten Your Mood
Home Decorating Tips & Advice
Could your home be putting you in a bad mood? If so, you’re not alone. A recent study shows that having a clean home in the winter makes 92 percent of adults feel happier. You don’t have to undertake a major cleaning overhaul; just a little polishing here and there can boost your mood as much as a sunny day.
Hot Home Decorating Tips - Walls Get In Step With Fashion
Home Decorating Tips & Advice
Fashion and home decor trends are so closely aligned now that we can add a favorite new look or color scheme to
both our wardrobes and our homes at the same time. One day you’re shopping for handbags in the hottest color
and the next day you find yourself reaching for pillows in a matching shade.
Hot Home Decorating Tips - Copy an Inspiration Room on a Budget
Home Decorating Tips & Advice
With a few easy tips, you can achieve a similar Inspiration Room look without the hefty price tag. The trick,
experts say, is to draw "inspiration" from these examples and emulate the look and style with more affordable
furnishings and decorations.
Hot Home Decorating, Color Trends and Tips - Interior Design and Decorating
Home Decorating Tips & Advice
Are you ready to get a jump start on discovering 2008’s hottest decorating and paint color trends?
Winter is an ideal time to start planning your interior decorating spruce ups. And one of the easiest, least
expensive ways to give a room a new look and feel is with paint.
Top 10 Home Decor Trends for 2008 - Interior Design and Architecture
Home Decorating Tips & Trends
Much like we can expect from the American people in next year’s election, the votes among the nation’s top interior designers and manufacturers are split when it comes to forecasting what will be "hot" in home decor in 2008.
Kitchen Color Trends and Tips - Interior Design and Decorating
Kitchen Decorating Tips & Advice
Every homeowner knows that the kitchen is the perfect place to please the palate. But it can also be the perfect place to add character with the color palette. When remodeling the hub of your home, choosing the right colors is an important part of the decision making process. But how do you choose colors that are compatible with your space and your taste?
The Art of Accent Colors: How to Use Color to Brighten a Room
Home Decorating Tips & Advice
Certain colors innately evoke different memories, thoughts or moods, according to a study conducted by Miami
University. If your home is laced with walls that are too white or overbearingly dark, details in your décor
can change everything. By recognizing this, it is easy to brighten up or give any room a little extra personality
with accent colors.
Architectural Digest's The New AD 100 Top Interior Designers and Architects
Top 100 List from AD (Architectural Digest)
Ask the Builder by Tim Carter
Expert home builder and renovation and remodeling contractor Tim Carter has 20 years of hands-on experience
in the home industry. His column ASK THE BUILDER is a how-to-get-it-done-right Q&A guide for all types of building projects. It offers important information on questions to ask and things to avoid while working with contractors of all varieties.
About Tim Carter
Tim Carter began his career as a renovation and remodeling contractor after college, first working on small jobs and gradually taking on bigger projects. Soon after he graduated from college, he and his wife bought their first house -- a "fixer-upper" -- and he renovated it and turned a profit. The construction bug had bitten him. He began rehabbing more houses and doing contract work for other homeowners, and eventually he began to build custom homes.
Carter is a licensed master plumber, master carpenter, master roof cutter and real estate broker. He is host
of the weekly two-hour live radio show "Ask the Builder" on WMOH in Cincinnati. Homeowners from around the nation
call Carter to get straight answers about difficult home building and remodeling dilemmas. Carter also serves as
TV expert for "House and Home" weekly news segments on WLWT-TV, Cincinnati (NBC affiliate). Carter is the
Editor-at-Large of the new magazine Extreme How-To. He is also the co-author of The Home Ranger Helps You Figure
it Out! a resource and instruction book for accomplishing common household repairs.
In his weekly column, Carter offers professional advice and walks readers through each project step by step,
offering instructions on how to hire the right professionals to do the work, what to expect from contractors,
questions to ask and tips on reading blueprints and job cost breakdowns.
Tim Carter holds a bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Cincinnati. He was born and raised in Cincinnati and still lives there with his wife, Kathy. They have three children, Meghan, Tristan and Kelly.
(c) 2008 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
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