Concrete Patios in Sparks, NV

A concrete patio is where most Sparks families spend their summer evenings. With only about 8.4 inches of precipitation a year and July highs that average in the low 90s, according to Wikipedia's climate figures for the city, the backyard is usable for much of the year. A well-built concrete patio gives you a flat, easy-care surface for a table, grill, hot tub or fire pit, and it holds up when winter brings freezing nights.

What keeps a patio sound

Patios carry lighter loads than driveways, yet they sit through the same freezing nights. Trouble usually traces back to water: a slab poured dead flat or pitched toward the house, a downspout emptying at the edge, or sprinklers soaking the ground beneath. Wet soil under a slab loses support, then freezes and lifts. So the first thing we plan on any patio is where the water goes.

• Pitch: Roughly a quarter inch per foot, falling away from the house
• Base: Compacted crushed rock for firm, free-draining support
• Steel: Rebar or welded wire matched to the slab size and what sits on it
• Joint layout: Saw cuts arranged to suit the patio's shape
• Mix: Air-entrained concrete for scaling resistance

Choosing a surface

• Broom texture: The plainest and least expensive, with good grip
• Smooth trowel: A cleaner look that suits covered patios
• Integral color: Pigment mixed through the concrete, so it cannot wear off
• Exposed aggregate: The top paste is rinsed away to reveal the stone, for traction and a natural look
• Stain: Color applied to cured concrete and then sealed
• Stamped pattern: Stone, slate or wood textures (our stamped concrete page covers these)

In strong summer sun, pale finishes stay cooler underfoot than dark ones, which can get uncomfortably hot by mid-afternoon.

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Planning around what goes on the patio

If you plan to add a pergola, patio cover or shade sail, tell us before the pour. Posts often need footings, and it is easier and stronger to pour them with the patio than to cut in later. A hot tub needs a thicker, well-reinforced area. A built-in fire pit or outdoor kitchen needs room and utility lines planned ahead. HomeGuide prices fire pits at $325 to $2,000 and pergolas at $1,450 to $5,750, so knowing the plan early helps you budget the whole space.

Adding on to a builder patio

Plenty of homes came with a small slab just outside the slider. Extending it is one of the simplest ways to gain usable yard. The new section is doweled into the old one so they move together, the finish is matched as closely as weathered concrete allows, and the pitch is carried through so both drain away from the house. If the original slab is already cracked or sinking, starting over is often the better call.

Caring for a concrete patio

Sweep regularly and rinse with a hose. Clean grease spills from grills quickly. Keep sprinkler heads aimed away from the slab edges. Seal the patio once it has fully cured, then reseal every 2 to 3 years to slow water, stains and freeze-thaw wear. In winter, shovel rather than use de-icing salts on a new patio.