Concrete Patios in Sioux Falls, SD

Concrete patios in Sioux Falls get used hard for a few months and then sit under snow for the rest of the year. July averages about 74 degrees according to Wikipedia's climate table, which makes summer evenings outside the reason most people want a patio. The same slab then spends the winter with snow piled on it, melting and refreezing against the back of the house. A good patio is designed for both seasons: the right size for a table and grill, and a slope that keeps meltwater away from your foundation.

Planning the size and shape

Think about what goes on it. A table for six with chairs pulled out needs more room than most people expect. A grill needs clearance from the house and a spot that is not in the path to the door. A fire pit area, a hot tub pad or an outdoor kitchen each change the size and sometimes the thickness. HomeGuide's patio cost guide prices common sizes from 10 by 10 up to 20 by 20, and many families find that a 12-by-16 or 16-by-16 slab is where a patio starts to feel like an outdoor room. Curves and multiple levels cost more in forming time but can fit a yard better than a plain rectangle.

Walkout basements and deck replacements

On homes with a walkout lower level, the area under the upper deck is often bare dirt or rock. A patio there turns it into usable, shaded space. It also gets more runoff from the deck above, so drainage matters even more. Another common job is replacing an aging wood deck at ground level with a concrete patio that will not need staining every few years.

Drainage against the house

A patio poured against the foundation has to slope away from it, about a quarter inch per foot is a common target, so snowmelt and rain run toward the yard. Where the lot is flat or slopes toward the house, we plan the grade before forming, and sometimes that means a small swale or a drain at the low edge. An isolation joint against the foundation lets the slab move without pushing on the wall.

Finishes

• Broom finish: simple, grippy and the least expensive
• Exposed aggregate: the surface cement is rinsed away to reveal the gravel, a look that hides dirt and stays grippy
• Integral color: pigment added at the plant so the whole slab is tinted and a chip does not reveal gray
• Stamped concrete: stone, slate or brick patterns, covered on our Stamped Concrete page

Whatever the finish, the slab under it is the same: compacted base, air-entrained concrete, planned joints and a proper cure.

Caring for a patio

Shovel the patio instead of using de-icers, especially near doors. Move planters now and then so they do not leave rings. Seal the surface after it cures and re-seal every few years, more often on colored or stamped work. Keep downspouts from dumping onto the slab edge, where water can wash out the base.