[Caitlin11]

Hi - Here's my situation - I have a small concrete slab porch off the back of my house. It's about 10' X 4' with an overhang. I want to add a 10' X 9' patio onto it.

My questions - Can I use 16" X 16" pavers (looks like concrete with "scores" in it) right up next to the concrete slab? Will that look horrible? My other option is to make the entire patio a concrete slab or break up the small porch to make the whole thing with the 16 X 16 pavers.

NOTE: The pavers that I have picked out are similar in color to the slab that is down. They are gray (stone looking) with a hint of brown. So the colors won't be too much of a contrast.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Caitlin

[Stonehenge]

Can you do it? Sure. Will it look like you just tacked on some square footage to an existing slab. Probably. In these situations, your best bet is to either remove the slab and start with a blank canvas, or modify (cut) the slab to make it part of a more grand plan that includes both the slab and pavers. Make it look like the design always intended to have both materials.

[papercutter]

Yeah, don't go for a color that's almost but not quite what you have, go completely the other direction- if your slab is a weathered gray, do your new patio in browns and tans. You'll never get an exact match on old concrete.

Or, you can get one of those outdoor area rugs that all my clients seem to be buying this year, and who cares what's underneath?

[jshilan]

Quick thought - can you lay pavers over the existing patio (porch) and just extend it so it all looks the same? Is there a step out of the door to the patio that is at least 3" to compensate for the paver and some dust?

[Terre]

Totally out of my league here, but what about acid staining the concrete to coordinate with the paver color?

I've never used the acid stain, just know its available.

[Caitlin11]

Hi - thanks for the input. I wish we could lay the blocks over the concrete that is there but it's too high. We have a contractor coming out tomorrow to see how hard it will be to remove the concrete slab. It's right up against the house so I'm not sure what that will entail..

Thanks again!
Caitlin

[LandArts]

Homeowners love those 16" pavers but they're actually the hardest material to do right. If your base settles at all you'll have 16" toe-trippers popping up all over the place. Better to stick with smaller pavers.