How to Build a Patio or Porch

Stone Patio

• 1

  Mark the patio area so that you see how big the space is. After marking the patio, step away and look at the area to see if it is big enough. This way you can change it before you do any work. Use twine and wood stakes to form straight lines, or spray paint if you prefer a free-form surface.

• 2

  Dig out the patio space, removing 8 inches of soil. Slope the sub-surface away from your home -- drop the soil ½ inch every 4 feet as you work away from the house. A 4-foot level helps you check the slope and adjust as needed.

• 3

  Cover the bottom of the area with landscape fabric to deter weeds.

• 4

  Spread 4 inches of gravel on top of the landscape fabric and pack it down. You can do this by hand with a combination of watering the gravel and tamping it down with the flat edge of a hoe. Try to maintain the slope that you created in the soil.

• 5

  Fill in over the gravel with 2 inches of coarse sand. Keep the slope as before. Pack the sand down in the same way you did the gravel.

• 6

  Place patio stones or pavers in the area, starting in one corner. Keep a gap of ¼ inch between the stones.

• 7

  Spread sand over the stones and use a broom to sweep it firmly between the stones, filling the spaces completely.

• 8

  Use a hose to water the surface and settle the sand. Add more sand if needed to fill it back to the top of the stones.

Concrete Front Porch

• 9

  Outline an area for your porch with stakes and twine. If you're planning a typical square or rectangular porch, check the measurements between the stakes to ensure the opposite sides match. Check the measurements between stakes diagonal to each other to ensure they also match. This tells you if your area is squared up.

• 10

  Dig out the area inside the outline. Remove the soil down to a depth of 8 inches.

• 11

  Add 4 inches of gravel and pack it down with a plate compactor, which you can push over the surface.

• 12

  Build a frame of 2-by-6 boards to fit inside the area. Measure and cut the boards, using a circular saw to make the cuts. Connect the boards with 3-inch screws using a drill.

• 13

  Mix up the concrete for the porch. Use a wheelbarrow so that you can pour it easily.

• 14

  Pour the concrete into the area and smooth it out with a trowel.

• 15

  Place a long board across the frame, resting it on edge on the 2-by-6s, and drag it back and forth across the surface to level it.

• 16

  Let the concrete dry until it is no longer wet on top.

• 17

  Spray the surface with water and cover it with plastic.

• 18

  Leave the porch area covered for a week so that it cures slowly. Lift the plastic and water the surface each day. The slower it dries, the harder it will become.

• 19

  Pry off the wood frame after the porch is dry and fill in the soil.