Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with patio

Help us build a foot path.

futureisunwritten — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:58:52 -0800

How can I build a footpath from a door to the street that's economical and weather-resistant? At my place of work, our main door is on the side of the building that leads into an empty lot. We would like to construct a footpath from the door to the street (a distance of roughly 19 feet). This previous question is helpful since there is a bit of growth in the area.

The building is located in eastern Canada and is 100 percent guaranteed to get pounded by the elements, especially snow, during our crappy winters.

What's our best option? Bricks? Stones? Are we able to do this ourselves or are we better off hiring a professional? I work at a nonprofit, so we'd like to do this as economically as possible. Thanks!

Rain ruined my patio!

shew — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:58:39 -0800

DIY-Disaster Filter: I sealed my new (expensive) concrete patio with water based sealant. Followed the directions by cleaning it the day prior and waiting 24 hours for it to dry completely. Just as I was finishing my first coat it started to rain unexpectedly. Help me fix it! I stopped applying any sealant once it started to rain and hoped it would be dry enough (it was dry to the touch) to be 'ok'. Well, two days later, I cleaned it and am noticing that the water is still seeping through in areas and making it dark (indicating absorption and a bad seal). I also have one or two areas that appear to have moisture trapped under the sealant as they are dark and splotchy (near the downspout where the water was running just after it was sealed).

Is there anything I can do to make this better? I think it needs a second coat of sealant but am unsure of how to proceed now that the first coat has failed. Am I destined to stripping it and starting over? If so, what is the best recommendation for that procedure?

Here are some photos of it right after I wet it down:

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu200/shewsnsaux/100_2080.jpg
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu200/shewsnsaux/100_2081.jpg

The stamp color was a light tan and a cream colored release (the cream in the photo is the release color, not over-application of sealant).

Wood deck vs. stone patio

colemanm — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:53:38 -0800

I'm going to build a deck or patio in my backyard, but I'm trying to make the final decision between poured/stamped concrete, stone pavers, or a standard wood deck... The finished product we hope will be about 15'x25', or something in that range. We'd like a pretty good size, so it can be multipurpose. What's generally the cheapest option? The most expensive?

My concerns with a wood deck seem pretty standard across the internet: lots of maintenance, size (if raised off the ground... my yard is not humongous, so I don't want the deck to take over the yard), and lack of durability. I'm attracted more to a stone patio for looks and lifespan, but I've had a couple people tell me that a deck would raise the home value more, at least if the economy was not a wreck.

Any advice on the cost of one vs. the other? I don't mind some hard labor, or an up-front investment in something that'll last for years, so my budget is flexible.

How can I enjoy my deck without being swarmed by bugs?

Fleebnork — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:21:24 -0800

How can I enjoy my deck without being swarmed by bugs? (I searched previous questions and didn't find anything pertaining to bugs, yards and/or decks, porches, or patios.)

I have a nice big deck on the back of my house. Unfortunately I live in Georgia, and that means bugs. Lots and lots of bugs. The bugs in question are gnats and mosquitoes. The gnats are just annoying and seem to want to fly up my nostrils. And mosquitoes are... well you know.

We've tried citronella candles and tiki torches, but they don't really work. I don't have a covered deck, so creating a screened area would be a major rebuild, so that's not a possibility.

Can anyone recommend anything, or are we just kind of stuck with the bugs?

Patio furniture advice?

boots77 — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 07:01:46 -0800

Please give me advice before I go out and buy patio furniture. I am buying patio furniture and really do not know anything about it. What are some issues that I would consider before buying patio furniture? What kind of materials have you had good or bad luck with? Is there anything that you regret about the patio furniture that you have? Is there anything that you especially love about your patio set-up? Any other ideas for making the patio experience FANTASTIC?

Just some info about my individual situation: I have a room (10x10) sized patio which is enclosed with screen and has a roof...lots of mosquitoes around here. I want to be able to not only eat outside but also to relax while reading or maybe take a nap or two. I'm living on a teacher's budget, so I'm not a zillionaire, not that I'm not willing to put a little more money into something that really will make my experience the best possible, but if it is possible to get the quality with less coin, the better. I don't have time to clean the furniture every single time I want to sit in it...rain and dust still gets in our screened in porch. And I think I would hate a cold uncomfortable metal frame. Thanks all. ( patio furniture )

Enlighten my patio.

halogen — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:44:34 -0800

Does this lamp exist? I need a motion-activated flood/security light for the fenced patio right outside my bedroom, but I also want it to stay dimly lit during the remainder of the night and turn itself off in the morning. It needs to be weatherproof, and ugly is okay.

How do I make those insulated patio covers?

ZackTM — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:26:06 -0800

Advice on making those insulated plastic patio covers? Hey, I am working with a buddy to build some off those heavy plastic insulated patio covers for a local bar. Basically, theres a covered patio thats awesome in the summertime and unusable in the winter because it's too cold. I wanted to know if anyone had any advice for putting these together. Has anyone ever made these before?

Basically they are long sheets of heavy plastic that hang from the ceiling and velcro together. I can't find any good pics online so maybe I'm calling them the wrong thing but it's pretty simple-- think screened in porch only instead of screens you have plastic to keep the heat in.

Where can I buy patio cushion covers?

lemonade — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:57:46 -0800

Where should I look for reasonably priced replacement patio cushions, or even better replacement cushion covers? I would have thought that this would be the time of clearance patio items, but replacing 6 picnic chair cushions, plus 2 chaises and 2 armchairs is looking like $500! Surely I can just by replacement covers somewhere? Solid colors preferred...

Window or portable AC in a glass door?

bsdfish — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:17:12 -0800

How can I install a window air conditioner in a patio door? Are there special things I can buy to seal the top portion, or will I need to assemble something on my own? It's getting warm, and I am getting ideas about buying a window air conditioning unit. I have two large glass doors, and I am thinking of trying to install the unit in the door. That would entail leaving it partially open, with the air conditioner in the bottom, and something filling the gap on the top.

What that 'something' should be remains a mystery. Does anyone have advice on how to install a window-mount air conditioner in a patio door? Alternatively, I could get a portable air conditioner, but would need to pass the exhaust vent through the patio door just the same. My apartment is a rental, so neither punching holes in walls, nor expensive cooling arrangements are really an option. I would prefer to buy a $100-200 window unit; splurging for a $300-400 portable one would already be pushing what I'm willing to spend.

Is there an IKEA of the patio furniture world?

nitsuj — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:27:20 -0800

Is there an IKEA of the patio furniture world? From what I can tell from the website, IKEA doesn't sell patio furniture, and the closest store to me is approximately 400 miles away so I can't easily check.

So, where can I get IKEA-quality/priced patio furniture? (Yes, IKEA quality isn't the best, I know, but it's decent for the price, no?) Are there specific brands I should look out for? I'm looking for stuff that's a little better looking and lasting than the plastic Wal-Mart setup.

Budget: ~$200, online or off.
Medium-sized table, four chairs.

Sliding glass "cat-io" door?

bartleby — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:22:41 -0800

Want to install a cat flap in a sliding glass 'patio' door. Your experiences? Have spoiled the cat by keeping door wide open during warm months.
Now it's a trade off between freezing and relentless meowing to get out.

It's a rental, so I won't be cutting up any of the doors.
But I figure something like this thing will do the trick.

Any MeFites have one? Built one?
Your experiences, caveats, horror/funny stories, product recommendations, etc. would be much appreciated.

Help me get to the garden! How can I unlock the patio doors?

handee — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 03:14:41 -0800

In our new house, I can't work out how to get out of the double glazed sliding patio doors. They are locked, and I think I have the key (well, I have a key), but they just won't open. What am I missing? I have always lived in older houses, so am new to the world of double glazing and window locks and patio doors, so I expect I am missing something simple - but here is all the information I have:

These are large sliding double-glazed glass doors. About half way up the left edge of the left door (where it fits the wall) is a fixed sliding door handle (does not turn) with a small lever attached. This lever goes from about -45 degrees to +45 degrees from the horizontal. Below this, at the base of the door, is a metal box with a lock and a small plastic knob which turns but doesn't seem to do anything.

I have a big bunch of keys, and one of these keys, when inserted into the lock, turns about a quarter turn. I have tried both states of the lever with both states of the key (up-vertical, down-vertical; up-turned, down-turned). No luck.

On the right hand door (at the base) is a small box with a light on it. When I touched this box, the light went from green to flashing orange (this, I assume, is something to do with the burglar alarm). The box with the flashing lights does not seem to have any other features. There do not seem to be any other locks or bolts, but I'm not entirely sure what I am looking for. We do not (yet) have a contact number for the people who have just moved out. I know the doors do open, as they were open when I viewed the property.

Any ideas?

Recommendations for Futon for Outside?

krudiger — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:25:58 -0800

Recommendations for futon for backyard? We want to be able to sleep outside during the summer, and fold it into a couch otherwise. Can't seem to find something that seems durable for outside (Southern California), both in terms of the frame and the cushion/mattress. Thanks!

Remodeling on a budget - scrap counters?

jimmy0x52 — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:45:27 -0800

Remodel Filter: Looking for scrap granite / mica countertops for some home remodel projects - or how to go about begging for them. I've watched shows on TLC, HGTV, etc. where they've been able to score scrap granite pieces leftover from larger jobs at countertop companies to use for countertops on patios, garages, etc buying pre-fabbed cabinets from places like Lowes or Home Depot and then attaching these scrap pieces. In most cases it looks like the scrap is actually cut as well it just was 'too long' or 'leftover' from a larger piece.

Does anyone have any experience on how to score such pieces? I'm not even sure where to start. Google turns up nothing, as well as AskMeFi searching.

I'm in Austin, TX if that's helpful

Help me remodel on a budget collective!

a nice, relaxed outdoor restaurant in toronto?

sergeant sandwich — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 21:45:12 -0800

toronto dining: a friend of mine is leaving toronto for a job in spain and is getting some friends together for dinner. she's looking for a nice restaurant, not terrifically expensive since everyone's a student, ideally a mellow sort of place with a patio or outdoors seating, and by the lake or at least with a nice view. or at least somewhere with that kind of casual summery atmosphere. got any suggestions?

Cool Shade

Aghast. — Sun, 28 May 2006 17:21:52 -0800

The deck / patio on my mother's house is completely exposed to the sun and umbrellas haven't been working as shade providers. The wind breaks them. Or they provide insufficient shading. Besides building a roof over the deck, what else can we try to turn her deck into a nicely shaded space?

Eco-Friendly patio furniture on a budget?

Ufez Jones — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 18:26:12 -0800

In search of eco-friendly patio furniture. We'd like to get a nice table and four chairs for the pending badass wooden deck in the backyard. Budget would be somewhere in the vicinity of $150-$250. Are we delusional?

Calculating square footage for a patio project

DCTapeworm — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 10:55:15 -0800

I'm working on a patio project at home, and I'm trying to calculate the square footage of an area that's in the shape of an irregular pentagram. It's about 19ft 6 inches long at it's base, and then has measurements of 70", 93", 43", and 16ft (192in). Is there a utility online I can use to calculate this area, or possibly a feature in Visio that I can use to do this with? Many thanks in advance for any time you take to post.

Is there an irrigation system that easily water plants on a patio?

quadog — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 02:50:04 -0800

GardeningFilter: is there an irrigation system that easily waters plants in containers on a patio? I have a 12'x18' patio that is a simple concrete slab. I'm interested in placing some vegitation on said patio. I have in my posession 5 large cedar containers in which I intend to plant succulents and perhaps a citrus tree or two. Here's my problem: I have some back pain and I don't want to be bending over all the time to water the plants and perform maintenance, etc. The ideal system that I am envisioning gets hooked up to a hose and then routed through the soil of all the pots. This may require drilling holes into the continers to snake the hose through. All I would have to do is turn on the faucet to water all the plants at one time. Does anything like this exist? If not, do experienced gardeners know a way to reliably fashion something like this for the needs of my environment?

Window boxes & Patio gardens

bibbit — Mon, 09 May 2005 07:57:48 -0800

I'm moving into a new apartment in Chicago on June 1st, and I'm hoping to be able to have window boxes. There's also a ground-floor patio (shared with one other person), and I'm thinking of starting some container-type gardening. Any thoughts? For the window boxes: does anyone have any suggestions for a type of window box that is lightweight and removable? I'll be in an apartment, so I don't want to have to drill into anything. I want to grow herbs (mmmm, fresh basil!). The windows are normal window width.

For the patio, are there particular plants/containers that would be good to live out on a patio? It's a shared space, so I can't do much more than one or two pots. I'm thinking tomatoes. Recommendations?