A Textured Patio

Taking the couple's vision from concept to reality is this unique yet sensibly priced layout that features an octagon-shaped concrete patio, several redwood planters and a variety of brightly colored, low-maintenance plants. Concrete is chosen in part for its affordability, but also for its versatility, which is important when working with an unusual geometric shape such as an octagon.

The patio's straight edges will be softened by planting beds or containers, which will help integrate it with the landscape. Redwood planter boxes will grace the patio's border, while handsome arbors, stately trees and colorful plant material will add interest to the outlying area.

The patio itself will be located directly behind the house and will actually comprise two levels. A professional installation of this project would cost about $2,100, while the average do-it-yourselfer can expect to invest about $900 and roughly three weekends, working with a couple of friends. On a difficulty scale of 1 to 5 (with 5 being the hardest), this project rates a "4."

Step One: Making the Forms

To begin constructing the forms in which the concrete will be poured, the crew anchors stakes at the corner points of the designated perimeter, then connects the stakes with mason's line; these borders will provide the guidelines for the framing. (To achieve optimum results when designing a patio, devote ample time to the planning phase. Well-developed plans can make the difference between a simple, ordinary patio and one that features superb quality and a unique look.)

Once the framing is complete, the crew creates a bed five-and-a-half inches deep inside the frame to prepare for the concrete. Next, they fill the bed with road base, an angular gravel used in road construction (available in building supply stores). Then they smooth out the road base, leaving a four-inch depth above it in which to pour the concrete.

Step Two: Pouring the Concrete

Before the concrete is poured, the crew thoroughly saturates the site with water, but doesn't allow any standing water to accumulate on the surface. (The moisture that is absorbed into the ground will help the concrete cure evenly.)

As the pumper pours the concrete into the frame, the crew uses a 2"x6" to smooth it into place (figure D). Then they further smooth the surface with a bull float (a long-handled tool with a horizontal bar on the end that can be rented for about $9 per day).

To complete the smoothing / finishing process, the crew uses a smaller hand float and a steel trowel to continue refining the surface. As the concrete begins to set, the crew marks an eight-inch decorative border around the perimeter of the patio. To create a guide for the scored lines of the border, they lay a board over the surface so that it's perfectly straight, then mark along its edge with an inexpensive joint tool (these cost around $10).

To mark the pre-designated joint lines that extend across the patio's surface, the crew snaps a mason's line across the damp concrete, creating imprinted guidelines. Then, they simply use the joint tool to score over the imprints. (When scoring the lines, the crew lays boards across the concrete next to the imprints to avoid marring the surface with hand or knee prints.) The purpose of the joints is to create areas where the concrete can crack without being visible--the same reason they're used in sidewalks.

The concrete is allowed to harden over a period of several days, then the salt is washed away with a hose. The result is a stippled, beautifully textured surface that gives the patio both visual interest and character.

To complete the setting, the crew plants a variety of trees in the yard to provide privacy and shade, then fills in between the trees with bright, low-maintenance plantings that include roses, hydrangeas and numerous blooms in shades of blue. Featured varieties include:

• Bigleaf hydrangia (Hydrangea macrophylla), Zones 6-9
• Silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), Zones 6-9 (Although this tree is rather messy due to frequent shedding, its unique beauty makes it worth the inconvenience.)

Step Four: Scoring the Concrete

Since the chalk lines are susceptible to being washed away by the water from the saw, a long, straight board is laid along each pre-marked line beside the saw before the cutting begins to serve as a "backup" guide (figure H). When all the lines have been scored, the result is a grid of 16-inch squares that form a diamond pattern and resemble the look of tiles.

Step Five: Building the Planter Boxes

Finally, they cover the planter box frames with tongue-and-groove redwood siding for a handsome, finished look, and cap the top edges with lengths of redwood cut with mitered corners (figure J).

With the patio complete, all the plants in place and the finished planter boxes filled with brightly colored blooms, the Infalds are ready to relax and entertain in comfort and in style.