Pretty Patio

Our patio has good bones, but just needed to be beautified. Most homes our size are built with a smaller concrete porch that extends off of the back of the house. Our previous homeowners had added on a larger slab of concrete, as well as a pergola. The only part I didn't enjoy was coming out to just grey concrete, which turned brown and muddy once it rained and the dogs ran back and fourth across it. So we decided it was time to make the patio prettier - stain it!

We power washed it to make sure the concrete was clean and free of debris (of course right after we did so it rained for a good three days, that's Texas for ya). We bought a semi-transparent stain from Valspar in the brown, because I figured brown would be a more earthy neutral color. The semi-transparent stain also keeps it looking more natural as opposed to just painting the concrete, because you can still see the variations of the concrete underneath. I purchased a paint roller that is made specifically for concrete, and I put the handy husband to work! It was really streaky after the first coat, so the second coat was necessary to even the stain out. We let it dry for a good 24 hours (crossing our fingers for no rain), and then sealed it with the Valspar Protective Seal. The seal keeps the stain from fading, and repels the dirt and water out of the concrete. It also has a nice sheen to it, which makes it look a lot cleaner. What a big impact just a little can of stain can make - I am so excited with how it turned out. I rearranged the furniture, added a few finds from an antique mall, and we now have a prettier patio to enjoy!

Stain: Valspar Vaquero Brown / Protective Seal: Wet Look / Roller: Wooster Synthetic