Get matched with top patio pros in Hoxie, KS

If you don’t put gravel under concrete, the concrete can crack, sink, bow, or crumble. Even the concrete forming process will not go as smoothly if you are working directly on the soil or bare bedrock. The lack of a proper gravel layer can also lead to drainage issues below your slab, leading to water issues throughout your lawn and around your foundation.

About 6 inches between the edges of each stone in the sequence is common. Rather than sticking to 6 inches, some people measure the length of the entire path and adjust the space between stepping stones a couple of inches wider or narrower than 6 inches to make sure the entire path fits the length perfectly without having to cut a paver at either end. Other people prefer a design with a 24-inch distance from the center of one stone to the center of the next stone, which matches the stride of an average-sized person.

A concrete porch costs about $2 to $10 per square foot upfront, while a wood porch costs about $4 to $30 per square foot, making concrete less expensive upfront. However, wood requires much more maintenance than concrete, so you’ll need to consider the costs of staining, painting, and resealing the porch every few years, which makes wood more expensive in the long run.

Many concrete companies that handle installing concrete slabs or standard concrete patios can also install stamped concrete, but you can also hire a company that specializes in stamped concrete. These textured concrete surfaces take some finesse to get right, and choosing a company that concentrates on stamped concrete patios and walkways is a good way to ensure the finished product looks top-notch. Additionally, specialists in stamped concrete will likely have more texture options that suit your preferences, like riverstone, sandstone, yorkstone, and cobblestone.