Concrete Patios

Why Concrete Patios Make Sense

Your backyard should be a place where you actually want to spend time. A concrete patio gives you a stable, level surface for furniture, grills, and outdoor gatherings without the ongoing maintenance that wood decks require.

Wood decks need staining every few years. They splinter, rot, and attract insects. Pavers shift and sink, creating tripping hazards and letting weeds grow between the gaps. Concrete stays put. Once it is installed correctly, you just sweep it off and enjoy it.

In Lancaster, we deal with freeze-thaw cycles that destroy weaker materials. When we build your concrete patio, we account for local soil conditions and weather patterns. Proper drainage keeps water away from your foundation. Correct thickness and reinforcement prevent cracking. The result is a patio that looks great and functions perfectly for decades.

Design Options for Your Outdoor Space

Concrete patios do not have to be plain gray slabs. Modern techniques let us create finishes that match your home and personal style.

Basic and Broom Finishes

A basic broom finish costs less and provides excellent traction. We drag a broom across the wet concrete to create slight texture. This works well for simple, functional patios where you want durability without extra cost.

Stamped and Colored Concrete

Stamped concrete lets you mimic the look of stone, brick, or tile at a fraction of the cost. We press patterns into the concrete before it fully hardens. Adding color stains gives you nearly unlimited design options. You get the appearance of expensive pavers with the durability and low maintenance of solid concrete. Learn more about our stamped decorative concrete services.

Exposed Aggregate

This finish reveals the natural stone within the concrete. We remove the top layer of cement paste to expose the aggregate underneath. The result is a textured, slip-resistant surface with natural color variation. It hides small imperfections and ages beautifully.

Shape and Layout

Your patio can be any shape. Rectangles work well for simple layouts. Curves and angles add visual interest. We can integrate steps, planters, or fire pit areas directly into the design. Most patios work best at least 12 feet deep to fit furniture comfortably. We help you plan the right size and shape for how you use your space.

Building a Patio That Lasts

The quality of your patio depends on what happens before we pour any concrete. Site preparation makes or breaks the project.

• •Grade and drainage: The patio needs to slope away from your house. Even a slight grade prevents water from pooling or running toward your foundation.
• •Stable base: We excavate unstable soil and replace it with compacted gravel. This prevents settling and provides a solid foundation.
• •Reinforcement: Wire mesh or rebar adds tensile strength. Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension. Steel reinforcement prevents the patio from pulling apart when the ground shifts slightly.
• •Control joints: These deliberate weak points guide where cracks form. Instead of random cracking, any stress gets released along clean, straight lines.

Standard patio thickness is 4 inches. If you plan to park vehicles or place very heavy items on it, we increase thickness to 6 inches. Thinner concrete cracks more easily under stress.

Curing is the final critical step. We keep the concrete moist for several days so it gains full strength. Concrete that dries too fast becomes weak and prone to surface defects. If you need other concrete work done, we also handle concrete driveways and can coordinate multiple projects efficiently.

What to Expect During Installation

Here are answers to the most common questions we hear from homeowners planning a concrete patio.