Concrete Patios
A patio has to drain away from your house, not toward it. We set the slope so water runs off, put an expansion joint where the slab meets the foundation so the two move independently, and tool control joints across the surface. You pick the finish: a broom finish for grip around a pool, a smooth finish for a covered space, or a stamped and colored finish if you want a pattern. The base prep is the same care we give every pour, because a patio set on loose fill will heave and crack just like anything else.
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Picking a finish for your patio
The finish sets the look and the feel underfoot. A broom finish gives the most grip and is the safe pick around a pool or anywhere it gets wet. A smooth trowel finish looks clean under a covered patio where it stays dry. A stamped and colored finish gives you the look of stone, brick, or slate with the strength of a poured slab. Exposed aggregate and a salt finish are other options when you want texture. We walk you through what works for how you will use the space.
Drainage and the joint where the patio meets the house
Most patio problems start at the house. We slope the slab so water runs away from your foundation, never toward it, and we put an expansion joint where the patio meets the house so the two can move on their own without cracking each other. Control joints across the surface keep any shrinkage cracking where we want it. Skip these and a patio will crack at the wall and trap water against the slab, which is exactly what you do not want in this climate.
Built Right, Start to Finish
- Graded, draining slab
- Expansion joint at the house
- Finish of your choice
- Optional stamping and sealing