Our patio and home are 43 years old. Over the years the patio has developed some uneven sections that have been corrected with mud-jacking. Now we are considering rejuvenating the look of the patio by having it professionally stenciled. We’ve been told that they clean the patio, then spray the color of our choice then use a stencil (in our case we are thinking of a brick pattern) so we have a brick “looking” patio. Our question is; what are your thoughts on the process and do you have any idea on how this look holds up over time?
Our Answer
We live in southern Wisconsin where obviously the temperature can go from very cold to very hot and humid in the summertime. The patio faces south and we are also going to add a lattice structure over it this summer to protect us and the patio from the sun.
jandsmac
Stenciled patios are a great way to spruce up the look of an old tired slab. There are many options for stenciling and you are limited only by your imagination. Concrete can be stenciled using paints, stains, dyes and even sandblasting. If the surface is deteriorated, it can also be “overlayed” which is where a coating is applied to the entire surface to even everything out, and then it is stenciled on top of that.
Well done stenciled concrete can really fool the eye by making the surface look indistinguishable from real masonry work. Stencils come in paper or vinyl in rolls of up to 1,000 sq feet or so and are available in a wide variety of patterns and can look like stone, brick or even carpets!
Stenciling can be done to new or existing work. With new concrete, the stencil is pressed into the finish to add a physical dimension as well as the visual dimensions created by the paints or dyes.
For some really great examples of what can be done with concrete stenciling and other techniques, check out the website for Modello Concrete. Their work is some of the best looking I have ever seen. They sell stencils and even offer classes in thier well developed techniques.
As far as the longevity goes, any finish will be worn by the deteriorating effects of UV light, However, with the planned lattice shading the southern sky, I’m certain that your project will retain its beauty for many years to come.
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