As a backlash to the amount of time we now spend indoors, people are putting more and more effort into their gardens. This includes spending time and money on gardening, lawn maintenance and patios.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re considering installing a patio, you need to think about what material you\u2019re going to use. Concrete is a good option but it depends on you and your home.<\/p>\n
To help you decide whether a concrete patio is right for your property, we\u2019ve come up with a list of its pros and cons.<\/p>\n
Lots of people want a patio that looks good, both for their own benefit and other peoples. Using concrete to create your patio is a great way to achieve this. Concrete can be dyed lots of different colours, patterned and made to look like other materials, like granite, slate and cobbles. So if you want a customised patio that coordinates with your home or garden, concrete could be the right material for you.<\/p>\n
Another advantage to concrete patios is that they\u2019re low-maintenance. All you need to do is sweep and wash them regularly to keep them in good order.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also a good idea to coat your concrete patio with a sealant. This will protect it and keep it in good condition for longer. Sealant does need reapplying, but only around once every two years or when your patio starts looking tired.<\/p>\n
Concrete is also a good material for a patio because it lasts a long time. If you install it using a quality contractor and take care of it then it can last around 50 years.<\/p>\n
A downside to concrete is that it\u2019s expensive. This is due to the fact that it costs more per square metre than other surfacing materials like asphalt and gravel. So a concrete patio is often expensive to install and repair, particularly if it\u2019s a big one.<\/p>\n
Concrete is also prone to cracking. In extreme temperatures, it\u2019s likely to get stressed and break apart. This can also happen if when it\u2019s under significant pressure.<\/p>\n
Another disadvantage to concrete patios is that they\u2019re difficult to repair. You can fill cracks up when and if they appear but this can create ugly, unsightly patches. You can try to resurface a concrete patio but this isn\u2019t always successful as new concrete doesn\u2019t always stick to an old layer. The most effective way to repair a concrete patio is to replace it, which is usually expensive and time-consuming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Concrete can be a good material to use to make a patio. It\u2019s popular because it\u2019s long-lasting, low maintenance and easy to customise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":503,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":[],"tags":[],"tax_works":[3],"class_list":["post-496","project_page_element","type-project_page_element","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tax_works-paving-driveways"],"acf":{"price_time":[{"acf_fc_layout":"price","price_title_label":"Price","price_detail_label":"From approx. \u00a332 per sq m","price_sub_detail_label":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"time_limit","time_title_label":"Installation time","time_detail_label":"2-3 days","time_sub_detail_label":""}],"benefits_inconvenients":[{"benefits":"