Concrete porch makeover question
#1
08-20-14, 11:28 AM
Concrete porch makeover question
We have a concrete porch (done by the builder) and we saw a lot of neighbors hired contractors to do a makeover by putting paving stone on them (mortar them). They look very nice.
I am looking at "Techo-Bloc Venetian" stones (Google it for photo), basically to use caps and risers to cover all the horizontal and vertical piece. But the problem is that all the stone comes in 1 3/4" thickness. It is perfectly good for horizontal.
One thing I don't understand is that.. For the vertical part on the front/side of the porch, if I stick those 1 3/4" stone on the front/sides, it will add quite a bit of thickness... also will the mortar going to hold?
Do the professional contractors use paving stone (thick) for horizontal and then use Tiles (thin) for vertical?? or they just stick the paving stone for all the vertical part too?
Thanks for help.
I am looking at "Techo-Bloc Venetian" stones (Google it for photo), basically to use caps and risers to cover all the horizontal and vertical piece. But the problem is that all the stone comes in 1 3/4" thickness. It is perfectly good for horizontal.
One thing I don't understand is that.. For the vertical part on the front/side of the porch, if I stick those 1 3/4" stone on the front/sides, it will add quite a bit of thickness... also will the mortar going to hold?
Do the professional contractors use paving stone (thick) for horizontal and then use Tiles (thin) for vertical?? or they just stick the paving stone for all the vertical part too?
Thanks for help.
#2
08-20-14, 11:55 AM
the guys that know their stuff will tell you that water will enter the mortar, freeze, & up will come your stonework - sooner or later,,, you didn't post your location so who knows ?
#3
08-20-14, 12:11 PM
Super Moderator
Ottawa Canada area gets both wet and cold I think? Maybe they have some sort of water impermeable mortar, but I don't think so. If the work on the neighbors was done recently, I'd give it a while before deciding. Many patios/porches are tiled in my area, but we don't have the temperature swings of most areas.
They do make an overlay (Diamond something?) that can be applied, grooved/tooled, and stained to look like any number of surfaces from natural stone to brick to marble. It's not affected by freeze/thaw anymore than regular concrete.
I think to get a valid answer, you should really consult with a contractor in your area that is familiar with the processes and materials used in your region.
They do make an overlay (Diamond something?) that can be applied, grooved/tooled, and stained to look like any number of surfaces from natural stone to brick to marble. It's not affected by freeze/thaw anymore than regular concrete.
I think to get a valid answer, you should really consult with a contractor in your area that is familiar with the processes and materials used in your region.
#4
08-20-14, 12:36 PM
I am in Toronto area. It does freeze 
I have seen many contractors done it not only in our neighborhood but also in the Toronto area for many years. So this is not new.. it just happened we moved to a new neighborhood and we want to do the same thing.
Indeed, I visited a local paving stone place, I even asked about should I need crack isolation membrane (originally I was going to do exterior grade tile) but the expert there said no necessary for paving stone and they told me to get "polymer-modified mortars" from Lowes.
I have seen many contractors done it not only in our neighborhood but also in the Toronto area for many years. So this is not new.. it just happened we moved to a new neighborhood and we want to do the same thing. Indeed, I visited a local paving stone place, I even asked about should I need crack isolation membrane (originally I was going to do exterior grade tile) but the expert there said no necessary for paving stone and they told me to get "polymer-modified mortars" from Lowes.
#5
08-21-14, 02:47 AM
of course there are conc overlay products - had a colleague in montreal using elitecrete,,, toronto i don't know,,, generally speaking, polymer-modified overlays are good for the life of the underlying conc,,, color's uv-resistant + they're only 1/16" to 5/16" high,,, water can't penetrate jnts as there aren't any so freeze/thaw is never an issue 
concretenetwork.com will have some specific info + more pics than you'll ever remember
concretenetwork.com will have some specific info + more pics than you'll ever remember
