Clovis Concrete Crew pours concrete patios for Clovis backyards, from simple slabs off the back slider to large entertaining areas with a shade cover, an outdoor kitchen, and room for the whole family. In the Valley, a patio is where summer evenings happen, so we build it around shade, heat, and how you actually live outside.
Design Around Shade First
The best Clovis patios are planned with the shade in mind before the first form goes in.
Patio covers and pergolas
If you plan a solid patio cover, lattice, or pergola now or later, its posts need proper footings. We can pour thickened pads or separate footings in the right spots during the same job, so you don't have to cut into a finished slab later.
Orientation
West-facing patios take the full afternoon sun. Extending the patio along the shaded side of the house, or sizing it for a cover, makes it usable in July.
Color and finish
Lighter concrete stays more comfortable in direct sun. A light broom, salt finish, or light stamped color is easier on bare feet than dark concrete.
Building the Slab
Excavation and base
We dig out sod and topsoil, compact the native soil, and place about 4 inches of compacted Class II aggregate base. Where the dig hits cemented hardpan, we deal with it instead of leaving loose soil sitting on top of it.
Thickness and reinforcement
Patios are typically 4 inches thick with #3 rebar or welded wire mesh. Areas under an outdoor kitchen, a heavy fire feature, or a spa get thickened.
Slope
The surface falls about 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot away from the house, toward lawn or planters, so sprinkler overspray and the occasional winter storm drain off.
Joints
Control joints are cut every 8 to 10 feet on a 4 inch slab, and an isolation joint separates the patio from the house foundation.
Adding an Outdoor Kitchen or Fire Feature
Outdoor kitchens are common in the Valley. If you're planning one, tell us early. We'll leave sleeves through the slab for gas, water, and electrical runs, and thicken the slab where the kitchen island sits. Gas and electrical work should be done by the right trades, but planning the slab around them saves cutting later.
Finishes
- Broom finish: affordable and slip-resistant
- Salt finish: a soft, pitted texture common around pools
- Stamped: slate, stone, brick, and wood patterns; see stamped and decorative concrete
- Colored: integral color mixed through the slab
- Exposed aggregate: stone revealed at the surface for grip and texture
Extending an Existing Patio
Many Clovis homes came with a small builder patio. We can extend it by drilling and doweling into the old slab, or by using an expansion joint between the two. New concrete won't match old concrete exactly, so many homeowners add a decorative border, or resurface both together. See resurfacing and sealing.
Summer Pours
Patios are big, flat, and fully exposed, which is exactly what summer heat punishes. We start at dawn, dampen the base, finish fast, and cure the slab right. Read more in our summer concrete guide.