She Covers A Concrete Patio With A DIY Solution That Mimics Natural Stone Tile For Under $400

Patios are a backyard luxury that are ideal for entertaining and hosting your loved ones. They provide a level, dedicated area to sit outdoor furniture on top of. A concrete patio can look plain and uninspiring and there's no doubt that using natural stone is visually more appealing. However, a natural stone patio can be very expensive, with the average stone patio costing anywhere from $6,250 to $11,500, and labor costs coming in at $50 to $100 per hour. If you love the look of natural stone but don't quite have the budget, there is an affordable design idea for your concrete patio – decorating it with cracked pavers to mimic the look of natural stone.

TikToker Sarahli pulled off this transformation for under $400 for her 144-square-foot space. What you're going to need for this patio DIY project is enough pavers to cover your concrete patio, a hammer to smash them, exterior mortar to stick them down, outdoor grout or concrete to fill in the gaps, and sealer to finish it off. The great thing about this project is that you can easily keep costs low, especially if you manage to find the pavers second hand on Facebook Marketplace or at a reclamation yard.

Once you've sourced your pavers, the first step is to smash them into irregular pieces with a hammer, to achieve that cracked tile effect. A good tip to avoid making too much mess is to wrap a dust sheet around your pavers and smash a couple at a time, this will stop fragments flying everywhere, which could be a health hazard. 

@hauz.and.co

Replying to @viavivivn Crazy Paving Tutorial ~ We went from a cracked, stained concrete slab under our gazebo to this natural stone masterpiece✨️ To get started on your patio deck dreams, when in doubt & on a budget, source on Offerup or FB marketplace. It can be really cost-effective! In total, I spent under $400 for this 144 sqft. space, probably less knowing now that I would sell the rest of the tiles. Check my LTK within my bio to shop the post. ________ Frequent Q&A's ~ • The stone used is 18" x 18" Tumbled Travertine, color unknown. • You can also do this on top of leveled dirt! Normally, a heavier stone like flagstone or similar is used & concrete is used for the joints. • Another alternative vs. traditional grouting is polymeric sand to fill the joints, but your joint lines need to meet a specific parameter in width size. You pour, sweep, mist & it sets! • Sealing your design is important for future cleaning, especially with light colored grout. If you want to keep your work pristine, use it. • Altogether, it took about a week to finish from picking up supplies and sealing it. It takes one day to lay the mortar and another day to grout and another day to Seal. This accounts for curing time, too. #crazypave #crazypaving #tilesdesign #patiodesign #backyardprojects #patio #beforeandafter #exteriordesign #pavers

♬ som original – Dessa Rassam

Next, pick up some professional-grade, heavy tile mortar. Ensure it's compatible with the paver material and made for exterior use. Apply the mix to your concrete patio and the back of each paver piece using a trowel and carefully place each piece. Feel free to map out your arrangement beforehand to make sure you like it. There are no rules for the design, but the more variety of shapes and sizes, the better. Next, follow the manufacturer's instructions for the drying time. Once dry, pipe your exterior grout or concrete between the paver pieces. Smooth it out afterwards using a damp sponge.

Finally, it's time to properly seal your backyard patio pavers with a masonry sealer. The best way to apply paver seal is to use either a roller or a sprayer, leave for half an hour and then remove any excess with a squeegee. It is advised to apply two coats of sealant to fully protect your patio from the elements. Allow two days before putting your outdoor furniture back just in case it hasn't fully set. Now enjoy your new stylish patio!