Concrete Patios

Your backyard should be a place where you want to spend time. A concrete patio gives you a solid, level surface for outdoor furniture, grills, and gatherings. Unlike wood decks that require yearly staining and regular maintenance, concrete patios need very little upkeep. You will not deal with rotting boards, splinters, or termite damage. Just sweep it off and hose it down when it gets dirty. That is all the maintenance most concrete patios need for years.

Concrete also stays cooler than many other materials. In the Florida sun, dark pavers or composite decking can get uncomfortably hot. Concrete reflects more heat and stays walkable even on summer afternoons. You can enhance this cooling effect by choosing lighter colors or textured finishes. The durability of concrete means your patio will handle furniture legs, planters, and foot traffic without showing wear. It will not fade, warp, or buckle like other materials do over time.

Why Homeowners Choose Concrete

• Lower maintenance than wood decks or composite materials
• Better durability that lasts 30 years or more with proper care
• Stays cooler than dark pavers or wood in direct sunlight
• Resistant to insects, rot, and weather damage
• Versatile design options with colors, textures, and patterns
• Cost-effective installation compared to premium decking
• Increases property value and usable outdoor space

When we install a concrete patio at your University, FL home, we are creating a space you will use for decades. Whether you want a simple square pad for a table and chairs or an elaborate entertaining area with multiple levels, concrete gives you the flexibility to design exactly what you need.

Installing a concrete patio follows the same careful process as our driveway work. We start by marking out the area and excavating to the proper depth. The soil underneath needs to be stable and properly graded for drainage. Water should flow away from your house and off the patio surface. Poor drainage leads to standing water and potential foundation issues, so we take this step seriously.

After excavation, we add and compact a gravel base. This base layer prevents settling and provides a stable foundation for the concrete. For patios, we typically use 4 inches of concrete thickness. This is enough to support furniture and normal use without being overly expensive. We add reinforcement like wire mesh or fiber to help prevent cracking. Then we set forms to define the patio shape and any borders or decorative elements.

The concrete pour happens in one continuous process to avoid cold joints where separate pours meet. As we pour, we work the concrete to eliminate air pockets and ensure even thickness. Once the concrete is placed, we begin finishing. This includes smoothing the surface, adding texture or patterns, and cutting control joints. If you want colored or stamped concrete, those processes happen during finishing while the concrete is still workable.

Most patio projects take 3 to 5 days from start to finish. The first day or two covers excavation and base work. Day three is the concrete pour and finishing. Days four and five are for curing. You can walk on the patio after about 24 hours, but give it a full week before placing heavy furniture. Total curing takes about 28 days, but the patio is usable long before that. Weather can affect the schedule, especially during rainy periods when we cannot pour concrete.