7 Tempting Concrete Ideas You Must Try

Concrete is the only material that is always the first choice for builders and homeowners while laying the foundation of anything. Whether it is your backyard, driveway, patio, or swimming pool, creative concrete solutions bring out the best product. 

So, whether you want to provide support to something heavy, or design a patio, or a custom swimming pool, creative concrete solutions and ideas will help you. 

However, prior to beginning your project, do not rush into picking up the bag of concrete from your nearest store and just dig in. The smart approach is to get in touch with a professional and figure out the exact type and amount of supplies you require. 

• Get in touch with the local construction authority and see whether you need to obtain permission for any construction. 
• Figure out whether any utility lines are below the area where you plan your construction. 
• Determine the amount of concrete you require.

Top Creative Concrete Solutions & Ideas 

1. Custom design your patio 

During the summertime and monsoon seasons, there is no better way to spend time with family and friends than having snacks and tea on the patio. 

You can come up with stylish, elegant, and theme-based concrete slabs for your patio to create a seating area, fire grills, plantation area, and maybe a playing area. 

Pour the concrete over your patio according to the square feet area. Make sure you use an electric mixer to create a perfect concrete solution. Cover the entire area, and then create small sections, then pour the concrete in the sectioned areas. 

This will provide you the leverage to level out the concrete areas while it is still wet and remove any protruding joints. 

Bonus Tip: If you are planning to build a patio on your property’s foundation, you must check out the local construction codes. 

The process requires drilling the ground and inserting rods inside. The laws will vary according to areas, such as the concrete repair companies in Bloomfield Hills MI follow different rules than the ones in Houston TX.

2. Use the shady areas

Is there any area in your yard or garden that has such dense coverage above that no plant or even grass grows in it? Then we have some creative concrete solutions for you. 

The tall boundary walls and dense tree canopies can easily block the sunlight and not allow grass to grow in certain patches. At times, even the shade-loving grass fails to grow. So, if you have such a patch in your yard, you can take advantage of the shade in the area by placing a concrete slab on it.   

This perhaps is one of the most unique ways to use concrete. On this concrete slab, you can install a sitting bench, a table for two, a cooking station, or even an aesthetic fountain. Figure out the exact size of slab you require, whether square or rectangle and go for it! 

3. Design and install a utility-based concrete slab

One of the main reasons why homeowners use a concrete slab in their yards is to create a functional space or a foundation for installing let’s say an air conditioner or a trash bin. Ideally, the concrete slab should surround 4 inches on all four sides of anything that is placed onto the slab.

Bonus Tip: The driveways and patios require a slope-based space for effective drainage of water, however, the functional slabs such as fir air conditioners need to be of a flat level so that the unit does not slide off or fall down. 

4. How about a hot tub? 

Have you ever given a thought to create a luxurious hot tub in your backyard for parties and long-weekend relaxation time? If not, then it is not too late to do it now. 

You can easily create a six by eight feet hot tub that can easily accommodate eight people and hold 450 gallons of water. However, a hot tub can weigh as much as 5,500 pounds. So make sure the foundation ground is stable enough to support it.  

It is highly likely that such a heavy hot tub when placed on the flat ground may eventually sink inside. The hot tub may begin to appear lopsided. Not pretty, huh? You can support your heavy hot tub by first pouring a good-quality concrete slab beneath the hot tub. This will prevent it from sinking into the ground.  

5. Install a basketball hoop and create an entertaining space

If you have kids at home, or you like to play basketball, then installing a basketball hoop in your yard can provide you quality playtime with family, friends, and kids.

You can also install a basketball hoop in your driveway however, it can utilize the parking space and may end up damaging your cars as well. If you have space in your front or backyard, you can place a concrete slab on the ground and then install the basketball hoop over it to create a separate playing space. 

6. Come up with a concrete stool idea

You can always design and create a concrete stool for any corner of your house. It will not cost you more than $6. Take a bucket and pour the concrete into it. Attach the stool’s wooden legs and allow the mixture to set. 

Once the wet concrete has dried, take out teh stool from the bucket or the mold, and voila! In fact, you do not even require a lot of concrete for a stool, so you can easily make more than one! 

7. A Table Lamp

Running out of creative home decor ideas? How about you try and make your own concrete table lamp. Create a concrete box of any size by pouring concrete into a mold. When the concrete dries, simply de-mold it and attach the electrical wires from an old lamp to create a new one! There is nothing more creative and unique than a lamp designed out of concrete.