Concrete Patios in Norfolk, VA

Concrete patios in Norfolk have to handle summer storms, long humid stretches and backyards that are often almost perfectly flat. A patio poured dead level, or one that has settled toward the house, holds water at the back door and can push it toward a crawlspace or foundation. A patio built with the right fall dries out within an hour of the rain stopping.

Planning the space

Start with what the patio is for. A table and chairs for six, a grill, a seating area, a hot tub or a path to the shed all need different sizes and thicknesses. We mark the outline on the ground at the first visit so you can see it before anything is dug. We also look at where the downspouts empty, where the yard already holds water, and whether a tree will drop roots under the slab.

Slope is non-negotiable. The surface falls away from the house, usually toward a part of the yard that can take the water. On a lot with almost no natural grade, we sometimes add a small swale or route a downspout extension so the patio does not just move the puddle a few feet.

The build

We strip the sod and soft topsoil, place and compact crushed stone, and set forms to the planned slope. Most patios are about 4 inches thick; a hot tub or outdoor kitchen gets a thicker, reinforced section. HomeGuide prices rebar or wire mesh at $1 to $3 a square foot, and we use it where the ground is soft or the slab is large. Control joints divide the patio into panels so shrinkage cracks follow the joints.

Finishes

• Broom finish: plain gray with a light texture. The least expensive and the most slip-resistant.
• Integral color: pigment mixed into the concrete, so the color goes all the way through.
• Exposed aggregate: the top paste washed off to show the stone, with good grip around a pool or a wet lawn.
• Stained: color added to the cured surface for a mottled look.
• Stamped: pattern pressed into the surface, covered on our stamped concrete page.

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Connecting walks

Most patios need a path to the driveway, a gate or a back door. We pour walks in the same finish so the two read as one project, and pitch them the same way: away from the house and toward somewhere the water can go.

Looking after it

Keep heavy furniture and grills off for the first few days. A penetrating sealer every few years helps colored and exposed-aggregate patios hold up to sun and mildew. Keep gutters clear and downspouts pointed away from the slab edges, since water running under a patio is what makes it sink.