Concrete patio construction in Brookings SD - a slab that drains and stays flat
Cracked, sinking or puddling patio, or just bare grass out back? We build a new slab on a packed base that sheds water.
What goes into building a concrete patio in Brookings?
Concrete patio construction in Brookings means building a new outdoor slab on a dug-out, packed base, so you get a patio that sheds water and stays flat instead of sinking or holding puddles. Most of the work goes into the ground you never see, before the pour.
Most folks call because the old patio has cracked, dropped at one corner or holds a puddle after every rain, or because there's only grass where they want a slab. The job runs about the same either way. We tear out what's there, dig down to the subgrade, the dirt the slab sits on, pack a base, set forms and steel, pour, finish and cut joints. If you want a walk out to it, we handle concrete sidewalk building too.
The price moves with the patio's size, how much old concrete comes out, how much digging and base the ground needs, and the finish you pick, since a plain broom finish, light brushed lines that give you grip when it's wet, costs less than stamped concrete. The schedule mostly turns on the weather and the base work. I'll give you your own figure at the estimate, once I've seen the spot.
The parts of a concrete patio job
Most patio trouble starts underneath, so it helps to know what goes into the ground and the slab before we pour, and not just the top you'll see.
Base dug out and packed
We dig out the soft dirt and pack a gravel base hard, because a base that's only raked level settles with the ground and cracks the slab on its way down.
Sloped away from the house
We shape the base so the slab falls away from your house, and rain and snowmelt run off into the yard instead of sitting on the patio.
Rebar inside the slab
Rebar is steel bar laid in a grid inside the concrete, and it holds the slab together so a crack stays tight instead of spreading apart.
Control joints cut on time
Control joints are grooves cut into the top so the slab cracks along a straight line we picked. If they're cut late or skipped, it cracks wherever it wants.
Pour timing and curing
We pour in the cooler part of the day, since midday heat can leave a weak, dusty top, then let the slab cure and gain strength before you use it.
Patio questions we hear in Brookings
How much does a concrete patio cost in Brookings SD?
I can't give you a fair number until I've seen the spot, because the ground under a patio moves the price as much as its size does. If the budget's tight, cut the fancy finish before you cut the base, since you can't fix the base later without tearing the slab out. When you compare bids, ask each contractor how they'll prepare the base, and ask for proof of workers' compensation and liability insurance, because the city's residential contractor license calls for both, with liability of at least $500,000 per occurrence.
How do I keep my concrete patio from cracking?
Start with the base, because poor base preparation leads to settling, a slab that's thick in some spots and thin in others, and bad drainage, and those are what crack a patio. For our winters, ask whether the mix has entrained air, tiny bubbles spread through the concrete that give freezing water room to push without breaking the slab. Even a good slab can get a hairline crack, which is why the control joints are there to steer it.
When is it warm enough to pour a concrete patio in Brookings?
Paving guidelines say to place concrete only when the air at the site and the ground under it are both at least 40°F. That's why pour dates move with the weather in spring and fall. The same guidelines say covers and other freeze protection should be on hand before the pour starts.
Who issues building permits for a patio in Brookings?
The City of Brookings issues building permits for all residential and commercial projects inside city limits, and on nonagricultural land in the joint jurisdictional area around the city. The city's page doesn't name patios, so check with Building Services about yours, or let us sort it out, and applications go in online through the city's SmartGov portal. Your project also has to meet zoning rules like yard size and setbacks from your lot lines, and if the plans touch a driveway, approach or public sidewalk, the City Engineer's Office needs a permit before any new work or change. Outside the city, I check with that city or county office when it isn't clear what applies.
How do I take care of a new concrete patio through winter?
Go easy on deicers, because one concrete supplier's guidelines warn that magnesium chloride and calcium chloride can break concrete down when used heavily, and plenty of products labeled "safe for concrete" may not be. The same guide says to seal no sooner than 28 days after the pour, on a dry slab, to keep water and salt out, and it notes penetrating silane and siloxane sealers hold up better against deicers. Sealer wears off, so plan to reseal now and then, following the sealer maker's directions.
How long does it take to build a concrete patio?
Most of the time on a patio goes into tear-out, digging and the base, and then the pour and the finishing happen together on pour day. After that the slab needs its curing wait before furniture or a grill goes on it, so plan to stay off it a while. I'll lay out your schedule once I've seen the spot and checked the forecast.
Why Brookings homeowners call Brookings Concrete for patios
I care most about what goes under the concrete, because you can't fix that later without tearing it out, and I'll tell you what to expect before we start, small cracks and upkeep included.
I look at the job myself
I come out to look over your yard and the ground, and I'm on site with our own crew for the pour.
Pouring flatwork since 2013
We've built patios, walks and driveways, the flatwork around a house, since 2013, after I learned the trade on a crew.
Fully licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured, and you're welcome to see proof of both before you sign anything.
Based in Brookings, working nearby
We're based in Brookings and work across Madison and the cities around both.
Satisfaction guaranteed
To get started, call (605) 401-5479 or use the form, and I'll come take a look at your patio spot.
Call about your new concrete patio
If a walk or steps should tie into the patio, mention it when you call so we can plan the whole layout together.
What happens after you call about a patio in Brookings?
We plan your patio around your yard, your plans for it and the weather, so you know what's coming before anybody starts digging.
Call or send a message
Call (605) 401-5479 or fill out the form with the patio's rough size, its spot on the lot and any driveway or sidewalk changes you're planning.
We walk the spot
We walk the spot together, checking the ground, what's there now and where the water runs, so the plan fits your yard.
Your estimate
I go over the estimate with you right there, including how we'll handle the base and the drainage, so you can weigh it against other bids.
Permits, pour day, the work
We sort out any permit questions, pick a pour day that suits the weather, and our crew does the work while I keep an eye on it.