Concrete patios: pitched, reinforced and built for Connecticut backyards
Free layout visit. We stake it out with you, then send a written price for broom, colored and stamped options side by side.
- 4-inch reinforced slab on compacted gravel
- Pitched away from your foundation
- Steps, landings and pads poured in the same job
How we build a patio
A patio is the simplest slab we pour, and the one most often built wrong. The two mistakes we tear out most: patios pitched toward the house, which send water to the foundation, and patios poured on bare soil, which heave the first hard winter.
We set the elevation off your door threshold, pitch the slab away from the house and build on compacted processed gravel. Then you pick the finish: plain broom, color, exposed aggregate or stamped concrete.
- Layout
- Staked and strung with you on site before we dig
- Elevation
- Set below the door threshold so water and snow stay out
- Pitch
- 1/8–1/4 in. per foot away from the house
- Base
- 4–6 in. of processed gravel, compacted
- Thickness
- 4 in.; 5–6 in. under a hot tub or outdoor kitchen
- Reinforcement
- Welded wire or rebar on chairs
- Concrete
- 4,000 psi, air-entrained
- Joints
- Every 8–10 ft, laid out to line up with the house
- Finish
- Broom, color, exposed aggregate or stamped
- A
- 4 in. reinforced, air-entrained concrete
- B
- Welded wire or rebar on chairs
- C
- Joints every 8–10 ft
- D
- 4–6 in. compacted processed gravel
- E
- Firm subgrade
- F
- Pitch 1/8–1/4 in. per foot away from the house
- G
- Post footing 42 in. deep for a pergola or roof
How the job goes
Layout visit
We stake the shape, check grade and downspouts, and price finish options side by side.
Excavation and base
Sod and soil out, gravel in and compacted, forms set to pitch.
Pour and finish
Reinforcement set, concrete placed, edges tooled, finish applied, joints cut.
Cure and use
Walk on it in a day, furniture after about three, a full party after a week.
Planning prices
| Work | Planning range | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Broom-finish patio, 4 in. reinforced | $10–$15 / sq ft | On a compacted processed-gravel base |
| Colored or exposed-aggregate patio | $13–$20 / sq ft | Integral color or seeded aggregate |
| Stamped patio | $15–$24 / sq ft | Pattern, colors and borders set the price |
| Remove an old patio | $2–$5 / sq ft | Includes haul-away |
| Steps from the house or deck down to the patio | $2,500–$6,000 | Two to four risers with a landing |
Planning ranges for Connecticut in 2026, not quotes. Ledge, tight access, long pump or wheelbarrow runs and very small pours push a job up. Your price comes in writing after we've seen the site.
Finishes, sizes and extras
- Broom finish
- Clean, slip-resistant and the least expensive. Often paired with a smooth troweled border.
- Colored concrete
- Integral color through the slab. Warm grays and tans hide dirt and stay cooler than charcoal.
- Exposed aggregate
- Washed to show the stone. Grippy and very durable.
- Stamped
- Slate, stone, brick or wood-plank patterns. See stamped concrete.
- Hot tub and kitchen pads
- A thickened slab where the weight sits, with conduit in before the pour.
- Pergola and roof footings
- Posts for a pergola or roof need footings 42 inches deep; we pour them with the patio.
Patios and Connecticut frost
Patios float; posts don't. A patio slab sits on its gravel base and moves a little with the seasons, which is fine. Anything structural, like pergola posts, a roof or a deck ledger, needs footings 42 inches below grade, the frost depth in the Connecticut State Building Code.
Water is the enemy. Most patio heaving comes from water getting under the slab and freezing. Downspouts should discharge past the patio or into a pipe under it, never onto the slab edge.
Permits. At-grade patios usually don't need a building permit, but some towns apply zoning setbacks or lot-coverage limits. Roofs, pergolas and hot tub wiring need permits.
Questions we hear about concrete patios
How thick should a concrete patio be?
Four inches over 4–6 inches of compacted gravel for a standard patio. Under a hot tub, outdoor kitchen or masonry fireplace we thicken it to 5–6 inches or pour a separate pad.
Do I need a permit for a concrete patio in Connecticut?
Usually not for a patio at ground level, but zoning rules on setbacks and lot coverage still apply in some towns. Roofs, pergolas, electrical and gas lines need permits. We check your town's rules first.
How long does a concrete patio take?
Most patios take two or three days on site: excavation and base, then the pour. Stamped patios add a day for washing, joint cutting and sealing.
Concrete patio or pavers?
Concrete costs less for the same area and won't grow weeds in the joints. Pavers are easier to patch in small spots. Both need a good base.
Can a patio go right up against the house?
Yes, with an isolation joint at the foundation and the slab pitched away. A patio should never trap water against siding or a basement window.
Can you put a hot tub on a concrete patio?
Yes. We thicken the slab under it, level it within the manufacturer's tolerance and set conduit before the pour.
Concrete patios by town
We build concrete patios in 67 Connecticut towns. Pick yours for local conditions, permit notes and nearby towns.
Every dot is a town we serve.
Free concrete patios estimates
Call or send the estimate ticket. We set a time to see the site and put the price in writing.