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Diver
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 11-15-2004
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What is the existing surface and in what condition ?
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
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1. Tile is one obvious choice.
A glazed tile will be easier to maintain but the surface can be slippery when wet. Use a dark grout and a few coats of sealer but count on it getting
stained.
2. Pavers or cut brick or stone make a less level surface that will stain easier.
3. There are a number of epoxy-concrete surfacing materials that are great.
The offering started with a product called "Kool-Deck" in the late '70's and there are now many similar products available. Problem would be in
finding an installer in your area. The decks can be bulletproof and colored to your liking.
4. Possibly the best alternative if you like the look is to apply an acid stain (color to the bare concrete (clean with dilute acid first)) and then
apply a clear sealer immediately after the acid stain dries. The stain can be applied in colors as you like, the slab can also be cut 1/4" deep into
square or diagonal tiles (and grouted). Most good concrete sealers are bulletproof and can be re-applied as needed after another light acid cleaning.
(Look for one that requires Xylenol or Xylene for clean-up.)
5. Whatever you do; don't paint it !!!!!
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Bajagypsy
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Registered: 8-31-2006
Location: BahÃa Asuncion BCS
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Mr. Gypsy here...
I second Divers thoughts,
And additionally if you pick tile and you want trouble free grout, you can buy an epoxy grout (it is basically fiberglass resin with colored sand of
your choice), near indestructable stuff, wont stain, never requires sealant.
The saw cutting and acid staining your concrete is also a very nice way to go, if done correctly, will look just like tile. (and it isnt real hard or
expensive to do)
Personally havent had a whole lot of luck on the epoxy surfacing....seemed to chip or flake after a few years, but who knows...(I may have srewed up
the surface prep.)
[Edited on 8-28-2007 by Bajagypsy]
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Crusoe
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 10-14-2006
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Another Option.......Only when the tile/surface it is to hot to walk on, (June-Nov.) you can use large woven grass mats,10'x10' sq.. Keep stored and
roled up and swept up and handy. Nice walking surface for bare feet. ++C++
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
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The only way to keep the deck surface cooler is to use a lighter color material.
Or move to Washington State !! 
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Don Alley
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We've used various tiles on floors and out favorite is saltillo. Readily available, and should some need replacement in the future they will probably
still be available. Not sure you can do that with all the glazed tiles. We have some indoors, and some outdoors.
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Pescador
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All of the RV places like Quartzite or Yuma sell an oriental woven mat for RV usage that works really slick on top of concrete. We used one on our
patio for a long time and I think we paid around 50 bucks for a 10 x 12. They basically let the dirt fall through since they are woven from hollow
plastic material. They are comfortable on bare feet and do not overheat. I think that I even saw some at Wal-mart.
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BajaBruno
Super Nomad
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Registered: 9-6-2006
Location: Back in CA
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My little patio is flagstone. It's a nice transition from the interior tile. I sweep it every coiuple of days, hose it every week and it looks fine
and is easy on bare feet. I assume it is La Paz local material, but I wouldn't swear to it.
Just an option.
Christopher Bruno, Elk Grove, CA.
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aquaholic
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Registered: 9-2-2006
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...I had the same problem when it came time to surface my sundeck. I wanted something that would withstand the climate, would be easy to clean, keeps
slips to a minimum, and would be OK to walk on without frying feet. I poured a mortar base contoured and sloped to drain the deck, and installed white
1' x 1' paver tile with an anti-skid surface. I used the best thinset and white grout available, and the tile has held up for over 12 years, with no
problems. It drains well, is easy to clean, and is fine to walk on in the hot days of summer.
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
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Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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 Hmmmmm....Now who was that who told you white/light colored tile is the best way to go for minimal heat
retention? Light colored finish will also help "visually enlarge" your small back yard.
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comitan
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Using light colored material is cooler but you will need sun glasses because of relection.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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Debra
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I'm using laminate (.98 per sq ft.)........cheap, easy to clean, durable, flexable installed on concrete, looks nice. (looks like a hardwood floor) I
talked to the locals about it and they all said "good idea"
Mean people suck!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Indoor-Outdoor carpet? Good quality is durable. Probably best if the slab has a bit of fall to it so the carpet doesn't sit in water longer than
necessary.
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Barry A.
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If you ever go thru Owens Valley in the "eastern Sierra", stop in the little town of Independence and check out the front deck of the Winnedumah Hotel
right across from the Inyo Courthouse----------they just "cut and stained" the entire front concrete deck of the hotel to look like flag stone, and it
is incredible good looking------we are going to to this to our back patio which right now is bare old concrete.
The guys who did this job on the Winnedumah Hotel are Mexican artisans from LA, and they certainly know what they are doing (don't have their names
or addresses, tho).
Beautiful job!!!!
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DENNIS
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Barry........
How do they cut it on curves, as flagstone? Or, is it a bunch of straight line cuts on different angles?
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Barry A.
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Dennis------
Wow, great question.
I did not actually witness the "cutting", but I talked to them about it and they indicated that the cuts were 1/4 inch deep and they went really fast.
I can't remember if the cuts were straight, or curved, but they were irregular. I wished I had taken a picture. They did the entire front deck in
one day, I believe, and the deck and entrance stairs cover an area about 150 feet long by 8 to 10 feet wide. 3 artisans were really moving fast for
about 12 hours, and they did spend the night at the Hotel gratis. Great guys!!! The deck was ready to walk on by the next day. They spent many
mins. explaining their "work" to me, and were really proud of it-------justifiably so, in my opinion. It is really impressive.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Thanks Barry.....
It makes the imagination buzz. I'd sure like to see it. Are you getting the same crew?
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Barry A.
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If I was willing to pay for them to come up to Redding, they would come!!!! they said. But, I can't afford that---no matter how good they are. No,
I will try and find some local artisans. 
Barry
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Barry A.
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On "cutting and staining"-----------I forgot to mention that the "process" really stinks for at least a couple of days until the "stain" sets
completely and drys out. But that is a small price to pay for the beauty accomplished------after 3 days I could barely smell it, and then we left
town.
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BajaBruno
Super Nomad
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Barry A.,
Sunset magazine had an article on that process a couple of years ago. They showed several options, including one that was patterned after a geometric
Indian blanket motif with several colors. I thought it was pretty impressive, too, and I was just looking at photos.
Christopher Bruno, Elk Grove, CA.
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