More and more homeowners are looking to the back yard as a way to add extra square footage. In fact, updating or adding an outdoor living space was considered one of the top home improvement projects of recent years. From a spacious patio or deck to outdoor kitchens and dining areas, the possibilities are virtually endless.
When Dr. Thomas and Andrea Rak moved into their Springfield home, they had every intention of renovating the back yard. After making a few interior improvements, their attention turned to the outdoor space behind the house. “We purchased this home because of its great location,” Andrea says. “Plus, it sits on four wooded acres, which is something you don’t find so close to the city. We knew we wanted to take advantage of the private back yard.”
She brought in Jason Schell, president of Custom Outdoor Structures, to help her transform the bland patio into a usable outdoor living space. Schell and his team covered the patio with a concrete overlay to add color and texture. “We used a polyaspartic coating that is very similar to an epoxy, but it is much more durable,” Schell explains. “The overlay actually strengthens the concrete.”
The overlay also gives Schell the freedom to create any shape, color or texture a homeowner desires. The Rak’s patio features neutral earth-toned hues with a dark brown border.
In addition to sprucing up the look of the patio, Andrea imagined adding a few additional elements to the space. “I wanted to incorporate a fire feature in the back yard, but our son Alex is six years old, so I wanted to make sure it was also safe.”
Since the Raks intended to use the patio to entertain friends and family, Schell suggested combining the fire feature with a dining table. The end result is a custom-made, curved concrete fire pit with an attached table. Schell topped the structure with a copper-toned liquid metal counter.
To accentuate the fire table, Schell added a sunburst design to the patio. “The sunburst was hand-carved and textured. It features a reflector enhancer, where pieces of metal are actually mixed into the sealer to give it a metallic look,” he explains.
The Raks were just returning from vacation when construction started on the patio. Andrea says Thomas and Alex spent hours playing on a large chessboard at the resort. “When we came home, Jason wanted to know if we had any ideas for the lower patio and I automatically thought it would be a great addition.”
Schell carved the oversized chessboard into the patio and applied the same metallic reflector used to create the sunburst.
With summer right around the corner, the Raks say they’re excited to host their first official barbeque in their new back yard. “I want this to be a place where our friends and family, especially our son, can gather together and have fun. We can’t wait to have a back yard filled of people.”