My Front Yard project

[Malice]

As some know, a little more than 2 years ago I bought my first house.

Well now I am trying to really perform some upgrades.

I have a Ranch Style house (L shaped)

And there is a HUGE flower bed in front of the house. It has been an eyesore, overgrown Boxwood bushes, weeds, and river rock. Well I am ripping it all out.

I want to put in a concret path conected to the front door, that is colored and stamped. I have called for prices and its damn expensive.

Has anyone else worked with concrete themselves?

 

[jaguarr]

I've done some concrete work. It's expensive to have it done, but if you know how to make the forms yourself and and can map out how much concrete you need (and know how to work the cement when it's delivered), you can save a bundle. Do some Googling and you should find some good DIY info on this. It's not really that hard to do.

jag

 

[Erzengel]

As some know, a little more than 2 years ago I bought my first house.

Well now I am trying to really perform some upgrades.

I have a Ranch Style house (L shaped)

And there is a HUGE flower bed in front of the house. It has been an eyesore, overgrown Boxwood bushes, weeds, and river rock. Well I am ripping it all out.

I want to put in a concret path conected to the front door, that is colored and stamped. I have called for prices and its damn expensive.

Has anyone else worked with concrete themselves?

You don't want like the typical 4' wide concrete sidewalk or do you want to put some slate rock on top of it?

 

[THWIP*]

As some know, a little more than 2 years ago I bought my first house.

Well now I am trying to really perform some upgrades.

I have a Ranch Style house (L shaped)

And there is a HUGE flower bed in front of the house. It has been an eyesore, overgrown Boxwood bushes, weeds, and river rock. Well I am ripping it all out.

I want to put in a concret path conected to the front door, that is colored and stamped. I have called for prices and its damn expensive.

Has anyone else worked with concrete themselves?

WELL, IT MAY BE EXPENSIVE, BUT IT'S MUCH MORE ECONOMICAL THAN THE RAW MATERIALS IT'S DESIGNED TO IMITATE. YOUR ONLY OTHER OPTION, WHICH WOULD BE CHEAPER, IS HAND-PLACED BEDROCK/FLAGSTONE. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA.

 

[Malice]

I have been looking.

I was looking at pouring concrete myself now.
I can create the forms myself, not to hard, just time consuming.

Two big issues
1) I have never worked with concrete.
2) I want an existing concrete path to have the same pattern, so I would have to pour some concrete on this path and stamp it as well. Not to sure about this.

 

[jaguarr]

Working over the top of existing concrete is where things could get challenging. You might be able to put a layer of fresh concrete on top of the existing slab and stamp it, but it may not fully take. Look into concrete cleaners and etchers before you try to put fresh cement on top of existing concrete.

jag

 

[black_dust]

Working over the top of existing concrete is where things could get challenging. You might be able to put a layer of fresh concrete on top of the existing slab and stamp it, but it may not fully take. Look into concrete cleaners and etchers before you try to put fresh cement on top of existing concrete.

jag

Indeed over time, lying over existing concete it will get waethered and crack if its not fused to the under one.

 

[Erzengel]

I've never heard of of putting fresh cement on top of existing concrete.

 

[black_dust]

I've never heard of of putting fresh cement on top of existing concrete.

Learn somthing new everyday

 

[Malice]

I know there are ways to apply a covering to concrete, but it may not be concrete you are adding. Its an epoxy or something like that.

 

[jaguarr]

I've never heard of of putting fresh cement on top of existing concrete.

That's because it's hard as hell to do. The temperature of the previous slab and the wet concrete has to be perfect, as does the cleanliness and prep of the surface. Most concrete guys will refuse to do it. You're better off putting down some flagstone over the top of it or something.

jag

 

[Superman79]

Working over the top of existing concrete is where things could get challenging. You might be able to put a layer of fresh concrete on top of the existing slab and stamp it, but it may not fully take. Look into concrete cleaners and etchers before you try to put fresh cement on top of existing concrete.

jag

I would just tear out the old concrete (provided it's not too much) and poor all new. It would add a bit of extra time, but it woul dlast longer without many problems.

Also, pouring concrete isn't too hard, you just need tobe sure if it's a wider path that you have someone to help screed it, and do your stamping and such after it solidifies slightly but not before it's too dry.

 

[Erzengel]

I use to do a lot of inspections for a few towns for installation of curb and sidewalk, but the most complicated I've seen is brick pavers.

 

[black_dust]

Better yet have the rustic look and go with a dirt path

 

[jaguarr]

I would just tear out the old concrete (provided it's not too much) and poor all new. It would add a bit of extra time, but it woul dlast longer without many problems.

Also, pouring concrete isn't too hard, you just need tobe sure if it's a wider path that you have someone to help screed it, and do your stamping and such after it solidifies slightly but not before it's too dry.

Yeah, I agree.

jag

 

[Ronny Shade]

nobody listens to me

 

[Malice]

Damn you people are scaring me.

 

[Superman79]

Damn you people are scaring me.

how?

 

[black_dust]

Malice what are you doing with the rest of it then? are you going to Truf over the flower bed if it is "huge" or just leave as is?

 

[Malice]

The project I know is not an easy one...but I dont know if I am prepared to pay 3500 for someone to come and pour concrete and stamping it for 300 squar feet.

 

[Malice]

That's because it's hard as hell to do. The temperature of the previous slab and the wet concrete has to be perfect, as does the cleanliness and prep of the surface. Most concrete guys will refuse to do it. You're better off putting down some flagstone over the top of it or something.

jag

Jag, how bout I buy you a plane ticket to Houston, put you up in a hotel for a few days and you do it?

 

[jaguarr]

Jag, how bout I buy you a plane ticket to Houston, put you up in a hotel for a few days and you do it?

LOL! I appreciate the offer, but I hate Houston. Especially in the summer. Besides, we'd just end up drinking beers and not laying concrete. Have you considered tearing all that sh1t out and putting in some nice flagstone? It looks awesome, wears well, and is something different from the standard stamped concrete that so many people have. I really like the look of it in a garden area. Makes for a nice functional walkway and patio and it's actually cheaper than concrete if you shop around and find the right stones.

jag

 

[Superman79]

The project I know is not an easy one...but I dont know if I am prepared to pay 3500 for someone to come and pour concrete and stamping it for 300 squar feet.

lOOK at it this way... if you really want it that bad then you have one of the two choices...paying or doing it yourself. Look at it this way, it is an investment in your home...the property value will likely go up if you ever want to sell, plus it'll look better. Given that, the time and effort or the 3500 is not bad.

 

[Malice]

LOL! I appreciate the offer, but I hate Houston. Especially in the summer. Besides, we'd just end up drinking beers and not laying concrete. Have you considered tearing all that sh1t out and putting in some nice flagstone? It looks awesome, wears well, and is something different from the standard stamped concrete that so many people have. I really like the look of it in a garden area. Makes for a nice functional walkway and patio and it's actually cheaper than concrete if you shop around and find the right stones.

jag

I was actually looking at flagstone as well....
Was wondering if that was more expensive then stamped concrete.

 

[jaguarr]

I was actually looking at flagstone as well....
Was wondering if that was more expensive then stamped concrete.

Flagstone is MUCH easier to put in on your own, so you can get into it for time and materials much cheaper. Go talk to some rock wholesalers and see if you can get an idea of what the pricing might be. The problem with any construction project these days is that materials costs are through the ROOF since the Iraq war and Katrina.

jag