Concrete Patios in Flint, MI

Concrete patios in Flint usually replace one of three things: an original slab behind the back door that has cracked and tipped toward the house, a patch of lawn that turns to mud every spring, or an old paver patio that has heaved out of level. A new concrete patio gives you a flat, easy-to-shovel surface that drains away from the foundation, and it can be finished plain, colored or with exposed stone to suit the house.

Planning the size

Start with what will sit on it. A small table and grill fit on about 10 by 12 feet. A dining set for six with room to pull chairs out needs closer to 12 by 16. Add space if you want a separate seating area, a fire pit or a path to the garage. On narrow city lots we often work around a detached garage, a fence line and mature trees, so we mark the layout on the ground before pricing so you can see it.

Built for water and frost

We remove sod and soft soil, then compact a crushed-stone base so water drains away from the slab instead of freezing under it. The patio is sloped about a quarter inch per foot away from the house. HomeGuide's patio guide puts a standard residential patio at 4 inches thick and recommends 6 inches with added reinforcement under hot tubs or outdoor kitchens, and we follow that. The mix is air-entrained, and control joints are cut or tooled so shrinkage cracks follow straight lines.

Where a patio meets the house, we leave an isolation joint so the slab can move without pushing on the foundation. If the old patio drained toward the basement, fixing that slope is the first goal of the new one.

Finish choices

• Broom finish: the most economical option, with good grip when wet.
• Integral color: color mixed through the concrete, so it does not wear off like a surface stain.
• Exposed aggregate: the top layer is washed off to reveal the stone, giving a textured surface that hides dirt well.
• Stamped: stone, slate or brick patterns pressed into the surface. See our stamped concrete page for details.
• Borders: a stamped or colored band around a plain center to dress up the edges for less.

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Paths, steps and add-ons

Most patio projects grow a little. Common additions are a walk to the garage or driveway, a single step down from the back door, a pad for a shed or air conditioner, and a thicker section for a hot tub. Pricing these with the patio keeps everything on one pour and one consistent finish.

After the pour

HomeGuide says you can walk on a new patio after 24 to 48 hours, should keep pets off for 3 days, and can expect a full cure in about 30 days. Wait for that cure before putting heavy planters or a hot tub on the slab. Skip rock salt the first winter, and reseal decorative or colored patios every few years to protect the finish.