Concrete Patios in East Providence, RI

What goes into building a concrete patio?

Building a concrete patio starts with laying out the shape on the ground and checking how water moves across the yard. We strip the sod or break out the old surface, dig down to firm soil and lay a compacted crushed-stone base. Forms set the edges and the slope. Reinforcement goes in, and the concrete is poured, leveled and finished in one visit.

A patio is usually four inches of air-entrained concrete over the stone, with control joints cut so any shrinkage cracks run in neat lines. We pitch the surface gently away from the foundation so rain and snowmelt drain into the yard. Most patios get a light broom finish for grip. If you want the look of slate or brick, a patterned patio surface can be pressed into the same pour.

When is it time for a new patio?

A new patio makes sense when you've got bare lawn outside the back door, or when the surface you have has stopped being usable. Common reasons homeowners call us:

• Old pavers that have sunk and shifted into a wavy, weedy mess.
• A concrete slab that tilts toward the house and sends water at the foundation.
• Cracks with one side higher than the other, which are a tripping hazard.
• A small slab from decades ago that's too tight for a table and chairs.

Why do patios crack, sink and hold water?

Most patio problems start under the slab. Many back yards around here were built up with loose fill when the houses went in, and that fill keeps settling for years. A patio poured straight on top sinks with it. Poor drainage makes it worse. Water that collects under a patio freezes in winter and lifts the slab unevenly, and after enough seasons it cracks.

Location matters too. In Riverside and other spots near the bay, the ground stays damp much of the year, so drainage and base depth get extra attention. Big shade trees drop leaves that hold moisture on the surface, and their roots can lift a slab from below. A patio that tilts toward the house is the problem to fix first, since that water ends up in the basement.

What affects the cost of a concrete patio?

The price of a concrete patio depends on its size and shape, what has to be removed first, and how much base work the ground needs. Curves and multiple levels take more form work than a simple rectangle. A back yard the concrete truck can't reach means pumping or wheeling the concrete in, which adds labor. Decorative finishes cost more than broom finish. We'll give you a written price after we've seen the yard and heard what you want.

Should you repair or replace an old patio?

An old patio can be repaired when the slab is level and sound and the damage is limited to a few narrow cracks. Those can be cleaned and sealed. If the patio slopes toward the house, has sunk in sections or has broken apart, replacement is the right call. You can't fix the slope of an existing slab, and patching a sinking one doesn't stop it moving. Replacement is also the time to make it bigger or change the shape.

Patio questions homeowners ask

How big should my patio be?

Size your patio for what you'll use it for. A small table for four needs roughly a 12 by 12 foot area to pull chairs out comfortably. Add space for a grill, a walkway around furniture, or a second seating area. We'll mark it out on the lawn so you can see it before we dig.

Can a patio connect to my back door?

Yes. If the door sits higher than the yard, we can pour a step down from the back door as part of the same job, so the landing, step and patio all tie together.

Is concrete better than pavers for a patio?

Concrete gives you one solid surface with no joints for weeds to grow through and no pieces to shift. Pavers can be lifted and reset, but they need a deep, well-compacted base to stay flat through our winters. For most back yards, a properly built concrete patio needs less upkeep.

Plenty of our patio customers also add a path out to the patio from the driveway or side gate, so they're not crossing wet grass to get there.