7 Cheap Methods to Cowl Your Concrete Patio (2023)

Concrete patios aren’t a lot to take a look at on their very own, however they’re the right clean canvas to your artistic outside residing area. With the fitting private touches, you’ll be able to create a tranquil backyard oasis, dynamic leisure hub, or cozy leisure retreat — and all of it begins with protecting up the plain concrete. 

Though that may sound pricey, I do know many cheap methods to cowl concrete patio surfaces. Every possibility I’ll current on this information boosts aesthetics, consolation, or sturdiness and might even cowl up minor harm. 

Simply keep in mind that in case your patio harm goes past what a rug can conceal, it’s greatest to start out this DIY mission by getting it repaired by concrete specialists in your space. 

7 Methods to Cowl Your Patio on a Price range

The seven hottest inexpensive methods to cowl your patio are: 

1. Rugs
2. Tiles
3. Pavers
4. Wooden
5. Synthetic turf
6. Paint
7. Raised backyard beds 

Each has professionals and cons to contemplate, along with excited about the way it suits your design plans and preferences. We’ll go over every possibility, so you can begin envisioning how your concrete patio will take care of its makeover. 

#1: Rugs

A colourful rug can immediately brighten up your patio and make it really feel cozier whereas hiding its imperfections. You don’t have to spend so much to get a pleasant carpet, both. 

Amazon, dwelling enchancment shops, and different retailers checklist primary 5’x7’ outside rugs at $30 and up. If you would like an 8’x10’ rug, costs begin at $60. Smaller rugs are even cheaper in the event you’d reasonably combine and match the carpet. 

Dimension just isn’t the one factor influencing the worth. The fabric additionally issues. Polypropylene prices the least, whereas seagrass is the costliest. You’ve gotten a number of different choices in between, corresponding to sisal and bamboo. 

Rug Supplies for Concrete Patios 

Rugs solely take a couple of minutes to correctly place and easy out, so that they’re an excellent alternative in the event you don’t have a lot time for a DIY mission. Nevertheless, you do must account for the time it takes to scrub them.

If you would like your outside carpet to remain good, recurrently shake off the filth or vacuum the floor every week. You may additionally must clear the rug with a stress washer every season to forestall everlasting stains. 

Plan to take away the rugs throughout the wet season as properly. The dense materials can entice moisture in opposition to the patio, leading to mould and mildew progress, stains, and concrete harm. If you happen to get lots of sunshine, funds for brand new rugs each few years, as UV publicity causes fading. 

#2: Tiles

Tiles can immediately remodel plain concrete right into a visually gorgeous and extremely sturdy floor. Upgrading to a tile floor might be surprisingly cost-effective in the event you can deal with the set up.

So long as you have already got tile set up instruments, you simply want to purchase the tiles, thin-set mortar, grout, and sealer. Tiles are the costliest a part of the mission and their value is dependent upon the fabric. 

Porcelain is the most affordable tile possibility at $2 to $10 per sq. foot. On the different finish is travertine, which prices $7 to $20 for every sq. foot. Your different choices embrace slate, terracotta, and rubber. On the lowest value, a 300-square-foot yard patio will price you just a little over $650 in the event you do it your self. 

Concrete Patio Tile Supplies 

Tiles are available in pure tones and textures, daring colours and patterns, and all the pieces in between. With such a big selection accessible, you’re sure to discover a tile design that appeals to you. 

If you happen to fall in love with the higher-cost tiles, like travertine, be ready for sticker shock. Hiring a contractor can add much more to the ultimate value in the event you’re not snug dealing with the mission. 

Putting in tile is a troublesome mission, in any case. So, it’s higher to depart it to the professionals in the event you can not confidently minimize, lay, and grout tile. 

#3: Pavers

Pavers improve the look and sturdiness of your concrete patio with out outshining the opposite design parts. The pavers price extra upfront, however their immense versatility, sturdiness, and low upkeep wants might prevent cash in the long term. 

For the reason that pavers are really easy to put in, you don’t have to rent a contractor in the event you don’t need to, saving you much more. If you happen to solely purchase supplies, you’ll solely must pay for pavers, mortar, and sand. 

Relying on the fabric, the pavers vary from $5 to $50 per sq. foot. Concrete pavers are the least costly at $5 to $20 per sq. foot. Pure stone is the very best at $10 to $50 per sq. foot. If you happen to go together with the budget-friendly possibility, a 300-square-foot patio prices about $1,650 to improve with pavers. 

Pavers for Concrete Patios 

Concrete, brick, and pure stone pavers all have a timeless look that works for a lot of distinctive patio designs. You possibly can change up the look of your patio on the fly, permitting you to replace yearly and even embellish for the seasons. 

The method of putting in the pavers received’t ship immediate gratification, nevertheless. Though it’s an approachable DIY mission, that doesn’t imply it’ll go shortly. It’s essential to take your time with every step to reduce shifting and settling. 

If you happen to rush via, the fastidiously laid floor may look uneven earlier than you would possibly like. The polymeric sand between the pavers would possibly shortly enable weeds to develop if it’s not packed down sufficiently. 

#4: Wooden

If you happen to’ve all the time liked the appear and feel of a picket deck, you don’t must tear out the concrete to make it occur. Your current patio offers a secure base for the wooden, permitting you to get even quicker outcomes. 

You’ve gotten two decisions when upgrading your concrete patio with wooden. You possibly can both construct all the construction your self or use interlocking deck tiles. Until you go together with tropical hardwoods, interlocking tiles are simpler to put in however are normally costlier at $5 to $15 per sq. foot.

Updating your patio with wooden prices between $3 and $20 per sq. foot, relying in your chosen materials. Strain-treated pine sometimes prices the least, whilst you’ll pay a premium for unique hardwoods like Brazilian walnut. A budget-friendly construct will price $900 for a 300-square-foot deck in supplies. 

Wooden Coverings for Patios 

Protecting your patio with wooden creates a heat, pure look that superbly elevates the area. The wooden doesn’t get too sizzling within the daylight or chilly throughout the winter, and it all the time feels snug underfoot. 

Until you’ve deck-building abilities, the set up can really feel fairly difficult. To make it extra approachable, you’ll want to rent knowledgeable or go together with interlocking deck tiles. Each of which is able to enhance the worth. 

Wooden doesn’t final so long as pure stone, concrete, and different extra sturdy supplies. Insect harm and weathering can markedly lower its lifespan from 30 years to 10 or much less. 

#5: Synthetic Turf

Synthetic turf can remodel a colorless grey concrete space right into a lush outside area. This protecting might be comparatively cheap, however sturdiness will increase with the worth. 

General, you’ll pay $4 to $15 per sq. foot for the turf itself, relying on the fabric. Polypropylene prices essentially the most, whereas nylon has the very best value. Additionally, you will must pay as much as $1 per sq. foot for the hex assist panel. It’s attainable to connect the turf down as a substitute, however that may completely harm to the concrete. 

So long as you convey your persistence, putting in the turf is a breeze. You’ll keep away from paying a contractor, permitting you to cowl your 300-square-foot patio for simply $1,500. 

Synthetic Turf Concrete Protecting 

Synthetic turf immediately turns onerous concrete into a snug strolling floor. The pop of greenery additionally softens the patio’s look, serving to it mix into your backyard oasis significantly better. 

Nevertheless, the jury remains to be out on whether or not the factitious turf seems to be as enticing as pure grass. If you happen to don’t thoughts its artificial look, it’s an excellent different. You simply must cowl the considerably steep preliminary value, and it’ll preserve your patio trying the way you need it for as much as 20 years. 

Though the factitious grass feels mushy underfoot, keep away from strolling over it barefoot on sizzling days. The plastic fibers retain the warmth reasonably properly, to allow them to get sizzling quick. A pergola or different cowl over your patio can stop that and preserve rainfall from getting trapped in opposition to the concrete. 

#6: Paint 

Paint is the best way to go if you’d like a really customized search for your concrete patio. Outside paints are available in many various colours, and the sky is the restrict to what designs you do. 

Whether or not you’re artistic or not, portray your patio is an easy, budget-friendly DIY mission. The toughest half is cleansing and prepping the floor. So, you don’t have to rent knowledgeable if you wish to preserve extra money in your pocket. 

Paint costs range relying on the method you select. Water-based acrylic paint begins at $20 per gallon, whereas epoxy can go as much as $70 per gallon. So long as you have already got a stress washer, cleansing and prepping provides add about $150. On the lowest value, portray a 300-square-foot patio with a single colour prices lower than $200 for 2 gallons of paint and provides. 

Concrete Patio Paint Protecting 

While you paint concrete patios, it lets your character shine and makes your own home design all your individual. You need to use concrete stamps and stencils for much more aptitude. The straightforward utility course of feels satisfying, particularly as you step again to admire the ultimate outcomes.

When correctly utilized, the paint provides a protecting layer to outdated concrete slabs. You received’t have to fret about staining or weathering damaging your patio. The paint itself can chip and flake over time, nevertheless. 

Good floor prep prevents that from occurring too quickly, however it would begin to put on away ultimately. Fortunately, all you need to do at that time is clear, prep, and reapply the paint to revive your patio design. 

#7: Raised Backyard Beds

Raised backyard beds permit you to put your patio to work in producing flowers, fruits, and greens. The beds are as low-cost or costly as you’d like. and all of it is dependent upon what measurement and materials you select. 

Plastic raised beds are essentially the most budget-friendly possibility at $30 to $100 every. You’ll pay essentially the most for pure stone raised beds, which price anyplace from $100 to $500 apiece. The value of every raised mattress goes up with its measurement. A 2’x2’ plastic raised mattress is $30, whereas a 6’x5’ pure stone mattress prices $400 or extra. 

Don’t overlook that you just’ll want filth to fill all of the beds you put in, including $100 or extra to the worth. You’ll spend lower than $500 protecting your 300-square-foot patio with 10 2’x2’ plastic raised beds.

Raised Backyard Beds for Concrete Patios 

Raised backyard beds can utterly cowl your patio to create a high-yield backyard or simply function notable nook accents. Both means, the rise in greenery will create a really tranquil place to chill out alone or with family and friends. 

You don’t have to interrupt the financial institution to put in raised beds, particularly because it’s a DIY-friendly mission. You could possibly have all the pieces up and working in a single afternoon, though the work doesn’t finish there. 

To maintain every mattress producing at its limits, you’ll want to return out to water, feed, and weed the beds recurrently. Remember that overwatering the beds may harm the concrete ground beneath, so solely use sufficient to dampen the soil, not soak via the underside. 

So, Which Cheap Strategy to Cowl Your Patio is Proper For You?

When selecting cheap methods to cowl concrete patio surfaces, your funds, aesthetic preferences, and plans for the area will all come into play. You can’t select mistaken, so sit again and envision the way you need your patio area to feel and appear. 

Then, take into consideration your funds and the sturdiness of the supplies. You’ve gotten rugs, paint, and raised beds on the lowest finish of the worth vary. The remainder of the choices might price extra, however they’re additionally extra sturdy and can present lasting outcomes. So, all of it balances out in the long run.