Concrete Patios: Plan, Price and Compare
Request an estimate for your patio
A concrete patio gives your yard a flat, solid spot for chairs, a grill and the table. It is also a project with many moving parts. Size, thickness, finish, drainage and the shape of your yard all change the final price.
Selectedminimum Concrete is a referral service. We connect homeowners in the Yelm area with independent local providers who do the work. The providers pour the concrete. Selectedminimum Concrete helps you get started, keeps the steps plain and encourages you to compare written quotes before you pick anyone. Request an estimate and see what your patio could look like on paper first.
Planning a Patio? Start With the Budget
A patio is a big yard decision. It is easier on your wallet when you plan before you pay. Think about size, finish and drainage first. Then ask local providers for written quotes. The rest of this page explains each step in plain words.
Spot It Early: Yard Clues That Change the Plan
Small clues in your yard can change the price. Spot it early, and you can deal with the ground before concrete goes on top of it. Here are three things to look for.
Standing Water After Rain
If puddles sit in the spot you picked, water has nowhere to go. A provider may need to adjust the slope or add a drain. Better to learn that now than after the pour.
Soft or Mossy Ground
A long wet season leaves some yards spongy and green with moss. Soft soil needs more gravel base and sometimes extra digging. That adds cost, but it protects the slab.
An Old Slab That Already Cracks
If an old pad is breaking up, the soil under it is often the cause. Ask providers whether to remove it, and how they would prepare the ground this time.
Why Homeowners Choose Concrete
Concrete is sturdy and flexible in shape. It handles heavy grills, furniture and planters. It can be plain, colored or patterned. It also needs little upkeep compared with wood decking, which can stay damp and grow moss in rainy weather. Many homeowners like that the cost is clear up front.
What a New Patio Project Includes
Most quotes follow the same path. Knowing the pieces helps you spot what a quote leaves out.
Layout, Digging and Forms
The provider marks the outline, removes grass and soil, and sets wood forms. These forms decide the shape and the slope of the finished slab.
Gravel Base and Reinforcement
A compacted gravel layer helps water drain away. Steel bar or wire mesh is often added to help control cracking.
Pour, Finish and Joints
Crews pour, level and finish the surface. Cut joints let the slab crack in straight, planned lines instead of random ones. This kind of work is often called concrete flatwork.
Sizing Your Patio
Price the whole slab, not just the table. Add room to pull chairs back, walk around the grill and move through a door. A common starting point is about 10 by 12 feet for a small dining set. Bigger is nicer, but cost rises with every square foot. Mark the outline with a garden hose and live with it for a weekend.
Finish Options
The finish changes both looks and cost. Wet weather also makes traction important.
- Broom finish: a light texture that grips well when damp.
- Smooth trowel: clean looking, but it can feel slick outdoors.
- Exposed aggregate: small stones show through for a rugged look.
- Color and stain: add tone without a pattern.
- Stamped patterns: a form of decorative concrete that mimics stone or brick. Stamped concrete patios cost more per square foot.
Drainage and Your Foundation
A patio should slope gently away from the house, usually about one quarter inch per foot. Water that runs toward a wood-frame home or crawl space can cause damp and rot over time. If you already see wet walls or gaps near the foundation, talk to foundation repair experts before you add a slab beside it. Good providers will explain how they plan to move water away.
What Moves the Price
The main drivers are size, thickness, finish, access for equipment and ground conditions. Tearing out an old slab adds cost. So does a steep or tight yard. Local concrete prices and rain delays can shift a quote too. Note that this page covers new patios, not concrete driveway repair, which is a different job.
Compare Written Quotes
Ask at least two or three providers for itemized written quotes. Make sure each one lists the same size, thickness, base, finish and drainage work. A quote that looks cheap may leave things out. Ask what is included if rain delays the pour.
Choosing a Concrete Provider
Ask for proof of license and insurance where your state requires it. Ask to see past patio work. Check that the provider explains the plan clearly and answers questions without pressure. Selectedminimum Concrete does not do the work itself, so the final choice is yours.
Caring for Your New Patio
New concrete needs several days to cure before heavy use, and longer in cool, wet weather. Keep furniture off for the time the provider suggests. Sweep often, and rinse off moss and damp spots before they get slick. Ask whether a sealer makes sense for your finish.
Ready for the Next Step?
Start with a request for an estimate. If you would rather talk it through, Request a callback to check provider availability.
What's Included
Layout and Digging
Providers mark the outline, remove sod and soil, and set forms that shape the slab and its slope.
Gravel Base and Steel
A compacted base helps water drain, while rebar or mesh helps control cracking over the years.
Pour and Finish
The slab is poured, leveled and textured, with cut joints to guide where cracks may form.
Curing and Sealing
Fresh concrete needs time to harden. A sealer may be added to help resist stains and damp.
Typical Concrete Patio Costs in the U.S.
These are general U.S. ranges. Your price depends on size, finish, ground conditions and local rates. Use them to set a budget, then compare written quotes from more than one provider.
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plain broom-finish slab | $6 – $12 per sq ft | Common starting point for basic patios |
| Stamped or colored slab | $12 – $25 per sq ft | Pattern and color raise labor and material |
| Excavation and gravel base | $1 – $4 per sq ft | Soft or wet ground can cost more |
| Old slab removal | $2 – $6 per sq ft | Depends on thickness and access |
| Drainage adjustments | $500 – $3,000 | Grading, drains or downspout lines |
| Sealer | $1 – $3 per sq ft | Optional, may be reapplied later |
How It Works
Share Your Plans
Tell us the size, finish and spot you have in mind, plus any drainage worries you've seen.
Get Matched
We connect you with independent local providers who handle new patio work in your area.
Compare Written Quotes
Look at each quote line by line, checking size, base, finish and drainage.
Choose and Schedule
Pick the provider you trust and agree on timing, keeping weather delays in mind.
Why Call Selectedminimum Concrete
Plan Before You Pay
Learn the price drivers first, so the quotes you receive make more sense.
Clear Quotes
Written, itemized quotes let you compare size, base, finish and drainage side by side.
Local Providers
Independent providers in our network know how rain, damp soil and local building rules affect a slab.
No Obligation
Requesting an estimate does not commit you to hire anyone or start a project.
Other Services
Need concrete patios in Yelm?
Planning a new driveway or patio? Send an estimate request through the form or write to contact@selectedminimum.property, and a local provider in our network can follow up.
No obligationConcrete Patios FAQ
How much does a concrete patio cost?
In the U.S., a basic broom-finish patio often runs about $6 to $12 per square foot. Stamped or colored work costs more. Prep, drainage and old slab removal add to it, so get a written quote.
How long does a new concrete patio take to cure?
Concrete usually hardens enough for foot traffic in a few days. Furniture and heavy items often wait a week or more. Cool, damp weather can slow curing, so follow your provider's advice.
Should a patio slope away from my house?
Yes. A gentle slope, often about one quarter inch per foot, helps carry water away from the foundation. Ask each provider how they plan the grade and where rain will go.
Request a callback
Planning a new driveway or patio? Send an estimate request through the form or write to contact@selectedminimum.property, and a local provider in our network can follow up.
No obligation