What this covers
A concrete patio is a poured slab on a prepared base. The contractor excavates and compacts gravel, sets forms to the shape and a grade that drains away from the house, places reinforcing mesh or bars, and pours and screeds the concrete. The surface can be broom-finished for grip, troweled smooth, colored, or stamped to look like stone or wood. Control joints are tooled or saw-cut at planned intervals so the slab cracks there, in straight lines, instead of at random. The slab cures for days before it carries furniture. Careful work shows in a surface that drains with no puddles and joints that line up with the house.
When to call
- A sliding door that opens onto grass or a cracked old slab.
- A spot for a grill, a table or a hot tub that needs a firm, flat surface.
- A patio that was damaged by a fallen tree or heavy equipment during a rebuild.
What to expect
- Lay out and formThe shape is marked, soil removed, base compacted and forms set to grade.
- ReinforceMesh or rebar is placed and the pour scheduled for suitable weather.
- Pour and finishConcrete is placed, screeded, floated and given its finish.
- Joint and cureControl joints are cut, the slab cured and sealed if wanted, and you review it.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
Why does concrete crack?
It shrinks as it cures and moves with the ground. Control joints give it planned places to crack; a good base and reinforcement keep random cracks to a minimum.
Broom, smooth or stamped?
Broom finish is the standard for grip when wet. Smooth trowel looks modern but is slippery. Stamped and colored concrete imitates stone or wood in a single pour.
How soon can I use it?
Foot traffic in a day or two, furniture after about a week, and full strength in about a month. The company tells you the schedule for the mix used.
Related: Paver patios · Flagstone patios · Stamped concrete · All decks, porches and outdoor living
This page describes what the service involves. The company you hire sets the scope, the schedule and the price, and your contract is with that company. We verify credentials and collect reviews from real jobs. We do not guarantee any company's workmanship. Safety steps are general guidance. When in doubt, leave the home and call 911.