okay then I guess we will do it too I was just worried about the nearby plants...acid doesnt sound like something they would like

No I think you would have to be pretty careful. I had a devil of a time keeping Ric from putting up the GH. I kept saying we aren't going to use it now so just wait and do the floor it will be so much easier without any structure to work around.

Annmarie and Holly,
I couldn't help but chime in here. How the concrete is prepared for staining is a function of the type of stain being used, old or new concrete as well as interior or exterior location. Not knowing the specific stain type you will use, acid based vs. water based, WILL affect the concrete prep treatment REQUIRED. This type of information is readily available from stain manufacturers. If memory serves acid washing concrete is not recommended for acid based stains. I haven't specified concrete stains in quite a while but I can't recommend strongly enough the need to prepare the concrete properly. Past conversations with concrete sub-contractors (who would also be a great source of definitive information) usually focused on prep work vs. actual stain application. This is because the preparation is actually far more critical to achieving an acceptable finished product.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Evan!

When we were looking at the jug of stain at the store it did state that we needed to use an acid wash for prepping. I dont remember what type of stain it was so next time I drive to town I'll look more closely to see what types of stains they have and what all the prep work entails for each.

Holly, I'm anxiously awaiting to see your results

Thanks Evan, We have done a good bit of concrete pouring over the years but this will be our first try at staining. I agree a good finished product is all in the basic prep work. Ric has been on line doing a lot of research especially when we were going to add the stain to the wet cement. Would have really liked to try that but just couldn't come up with any color we wanted. Our local building supply houses would have had to order it as one didn't have any on hand and the other was in the process of changing mfg lines and what was left on hand just wouldn't have done for our needs. So that left us with the option of change the pour date or stain after the fact.

Best of luck in finding your perfect color. I did a search for -decorative concrete staining- and here's a link to some eye candy of primarily interior applications. http://www.decorativestaining....

Some of it is just amazingly beautiful.

Evan - That stain color link had some amazing finished floors! I was blown away by the type of staining that could be done! I had no idea that it could be that elaborate and look that beautiful!

Holly - I, too, am very curious in your staining project! Please do post photos and detailed info for all of us novices! Your dh sounds like he is really on the ball with all these custom built garden projects! It's going to be awesome when it is all done!

How about some of these efforts from the Hampton Court Flower Show!
Regards.
Neil.








And now for the ultimate Garden room! The bit at the back is where one sits, the bit with the chimney is the cooking area, it has a barbecue with it. and even has arrow slits on the side, should you have unwanted guests! :rofl:

Neil those are wonderful!!! Thanks for sharing your pictures!!! I love the Africa Shade and wonder if you know what they used for roofing. I want to make a tiki bar behind my pond and use that for roofing.

Those are really neat, Neil! Thanks for sharing those photos! I like that last one, too! Nice set-up!

Dear Jeri, I am most sorry but I have no idea what the Africans used for roofing!
My sincere apologies about that.
Regards form England.
Neil.

What fun, they are.

What a great resource we have here for wonderful and original ideas!

Look at what I found googling African Roofing.

http://www.africaroofinguk.co....

I love the oval one.

Jeri, Neil, Taking a guess but on a trip to the UK a friend brought me to an historic building renovation project and I was thrilled to see traditional thatch being installed. It was quite different in overall appearance in that the thatch was 2' or more thick. Still, other than the thickness this installation looks quite similar.

Dear Evan, there is a lot of thatched houses, churches and mansions in the UK. I used to live in a village in Hampshire where the entire village has thatched roofs! My friend has a cottage in Oxfordshire and he has just had a new thatched roof put on, and they are very expensive. The reed to do them comes mostly from Norfolk, and they have to cut it each year anyway or it would clog the Norfolk Broads up! The costly bit is the labour to do it, as it is a very skillful job and labour intensive. Plus not many people want to do it nowadays, as it is hard work. The people who do this are craftsman, and to see them make animals and birds out of the reed to put on the top of the house\cottages is a joy! I hasten to add Thatching is thousands of years old!
Regards.
Neil.

I love that tecnique also and the Caribbean type roofs also!!! Thanks for all the info, very interesting!!! I saw them thatch a roof once on TV and it was AMAZING!!!!

I am in love with all the garden rooms. We just made a sitting area down in the shade and Steve made the chairs. We had the tree between them cut down and it is now a little table.


Many of you have already seen our favorite "garden room" which we call our Isle of Dreams, Steve made these adirondack chairs and my stool as well.


Our most used "garden room" is the back deck which Steve built with a friend. Unfortunately we just had one large maple tree taken down that stood in front of the grill area, we really miss it as it provided more late afternoon shade than the other large maple. I call this our 'Burning Pickle Patio" because the bird of paradise painting I did over the table reminds me more of a burning pickle!

Haighr, Love your garden rooms on the burning pickle, I never noticed that but you are right it does look a bit that way from a distance.