Summer has arrived, bringing with it backyard barbeques and lazy afternoons relaxing on a deck or patio.

If your outdoor living space isn’t all it could be, this is a great time to tackle DIY projects to improve your yard, from laying a paver walk or patio to cleaning and staining a concrete porch.

Building with Pavers

Stone pavers, such as those from Pavestone come in many shapes and sizes. Pavers are perfect for everything from laying walks and patios to building outdoor kitchens and fireplaces.

Paver walks and patios are laid over a bed of crushed stone topped with sand. Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are available from Pavestone in easy to assemble kits.

To protect and enhance the finished look of your patio or walk, seal the pavers with Surebond or Techniseal sealers from Pavestone.

Concrete patio improved with Quikrete cleaner and stain.
Concrete patio improved with Quikrete cleaner and stain.

Cleaning and Staining Concrete

To improve the look of an existing concrete patio or porch, start by cleaning the surface with Quikrete Cleaner, Etcher & Degreaser, making sure to wear protective clothing, safety glasses, and rubber gloves.

After the concrete surface has been cleaned, rinsed, and allowed to dry; stain it with Quikrete Translucent Concrete Stain. Use a brush to apply stain to the edges and a roller for covering larger areas.

When the concrete stain is dry, seal and protect the surface with Quikrete High Gloss Sealer. Find out more at Quikrete.

Custom Building Products mortar mix and waterproofer.
Custom Building Products mortar mix and waterproofer.

Installing Tile and Stone

When installing tile or stone outdoors, such as to construct an outdoor kitchen, it’s important to use quality adhesives and grout, such as those made by Custom Building Products.

Custom Building Products has a full line of exterior products, from RedGard waterproofer—which create a continuous waterproofing barrier with outstanding adhesion and crack resistance—to bedding mortar for laying granite or travertine, to quality adhesives for laying tile.

Watch our video on Exterior Enhancements for Your Home to find out more.

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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