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Idaho Statesman Review

Friday, October 26, 2001
Back yard now is great escape

Since building their West Meridian home, Mathew and Diane Roy have turned their back yard into a haven.

In it, they entertain, roast marshmallows, play badminton and chip golf balls. But when they moved in, their patio was unattractive, with concrete that had discolored during the curing process.

Vision
The Roys' oversized lot already had much to offer: a playground, sandbox, basketball court and garden. They can see Bogus Basin and the Foothills from their back yard, plus catch the sunrise.

They decided to change the color of the concrete, cover the patio and set up a covered spot for a hot tub. The Roys had experience in home improvement. Diane Roy, a category manager for a national food manufacturer, had worked in the past with her father, a Magic Valley home builder. She knows how to do a number of home improvement jobs, such as wiring, tiling and drywall hanging. But even with all her expertise, Diane Roy wanted an expert to do the job. This project was the first home improvement job the couple hired a professional to do. Knowing what to look for in a contractor made picking one easier, Diane Roy said.

"Having experience really helps," she said.

When choosing a structure, the Roys considered wood, vinyl and aluminum. They ended up picking an aluminum structure made by Amerimax based on the look, durability, and cost. They chose a contractor based on his price, good reputation and the product line he uses, and because he could complete both the covers and concrete.

Obstacles
When the Roys had the home built, they knew they wanted to have a hot tub in the future, so they decided to have it wired in ahead of time. Unfortunately, when work started on the patio, they learned that the wiring was not up to code and had to be redone.

Budget and process
Instead of starting with a budget, the Roys waited to get price quotes from professional companies to establish a guideline The project ended up costing them about $4,600.

After comparing cost and reputation, they decided on CoverTech in Boise to resurface the patio and put up coverings. The company started in early July. The Roys wanted the patio to look as if it were made of tile with brick trim around the edge. The CoverTech workers followed a process with several steps:
  1. After stripping the concrete with acid to etch the surface, workers troweled on a layer of concrete, which was the color of the grout line.
  2. Once dry, they taped off the false grout lines and sprayed several colors of finish, using various textures, to make the tiles look real.
  3. After it dried, the tile portion of the patio was taped off, and the same process was followed to create the brick look on the edge.
  4. Then the patio was sealed with a durable clear coat. It will need to be resealed every three years or so, Diane Roy said.
After the concrete dried for a week, CoverTech built the patio coverings. Parts of the cover have solid roofs to keep the patio clear of snow and provide shelter from rain, so the Roys can use it anytime. The other parts are slats, which allow more light in.

Other projects The Roys are shopping for a hot tub, which will go in an area that has been pre-wired and plumbed.

Advice
Shop around for contractors. In addition to cost, take into account the quality of the contractor's work, his or her reputation, and creativity in planning projects.

Leave some projects to the professionals. Even though Diane Roy is qualified to tackle a number of home improvement jobs, she says she hired professionals because the project required practiced and developed techniques -- and special tools.

-- Christine Liebenthal

The Idaho Statesman


The structures the Roys chose have a combination of solid and slat roofs, to allow light in in some areas, but to block the weather in others.




The Roys chose aluminum structures to cover their patio area.




Before photo courtesy of the Roy family

Before, the patio at Mathew and Diane Roy's West Meridian home was uncovered and had discolored concrete.




After remodel photos by Brad Talbutt / The Idaho Statesman

The Roys had their patio refinished to look like tile and brick.
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