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How to revive outdoor concrete?

Hi,

I have been wanting to revive the concrete floor of my outdoor area. I love the idea of doing crazy paving on the current floor but a friend I know I might have to check if that will block the weep holes.

Is there anyway to avoid that? or other suggestions on how to revive the floor that looks nice like crazy paving.

Thank you!

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Comments

EricL

Hello @Tsu

Due to your weep holes getting blocked, I can't recommend tiling your concrete floor. However, I suggest looking at painting the surface with either White Knight 4L Medium Grey Ultra Pave Quick Dry Paint or Berger Jet Dry 4L Heavy Duty Deep Charcoal Paving Paint. These concrete paint systems will give your floor a beautiful deep uniform colour and a modern finish that also protects its surface.

Here is a handy step-by-step guide: How To Paint Concrete Floors

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Tsu

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/54651#Comment_54651

Hi @EricL

Thank you so much for the prompt advice.

Is it possible to do crazy paving for the area in the middle and add some edging with pebbles around the weep holes?

Or any suggestions on how can we make some nice pattern to the floor?

These are our weep holes.

Thanks!

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/89593#Comment_89593

Hello @Tsu

I'm afraid even partial coverage with pebbles or gravel is not recommended. Weep holes are crucial for ventilation and drainage in brick walls, and obstructing them can lead to moisture buildup, rot, and potential structural damage.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Dave-1

Good Evening @Tsu

You do have a blank slate to work with 🙂 Which is good tho I will admit I am not a huge fan of painting concrete 🙂 I have had to remove old flaky concrete too many times. (yes I have repainted my patio and bessa block wall lol The idea I have for your area is a bit outside the box painting/old school design.

My Grandma loved painting her small patio, she would paint it when my Grandfather was at work doing shiftwork so it was a done and dusted deal when he got home... She would hand paint chequred squares across the patio and steps, looking back the grandkids were tasked every few years with repainting the squares. Think large chessboard sized squares and you have the pattern. They started off all different colours (paint pot samples) and ended up black and white by the time I was a teenager. It gave a very different look and was calming.

You could do something similar with your area, the whole lot dosnt have to be that way, it can have a mixture of @EricL's paint and then maybe the design above in the middle,, or pathway even.

To keep you wish for a crazy pave idea in mind, how about either making or modifying some rectangular plant boxes with a crazy pave style coating on them? I was looking at Decor8 Tiles 300 x 300 x 10mm Beige Java Marble Tile Mosaic and it is what started me thinking like that, this way no weepholes/air vents are blocked and you still get the look and feel. You could try it on a cheap terracotta pot first and see if it suits. 🙂

Dave

Nailbag

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/89593#Comment_89593

Hi @Tsu

I also agree with @EricL in not covering them. You could box-out about the size of a brick centre to each weep-hole and pebble around. It wouldn't be noticeable and will solve both not blocking the holes and having your pebble garden.

Nailbag

Tsu

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/110616#Comment_110616

Thank you all for your ideas and amazing comments – they’ve really helped me a lot!

Especially you, @EricL – I’ve been bombarding you with questions lately 😅

@Dave-1 – the story about your grandparents is beautiful. And trust me, I’m doing this behind my partner’s back too haha! But I’m really bad at painting, so I’m sure mine will turn out worse 😬

@Nailbag I’m keen to explore more with your idea. When you said "box out," do you mean adding some edging around it to block water from coming in? Since now those areas around weep holes will sit lower than the rest of the space with crazy paving?

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