Job 02 — Patios
Patio finishes, priced honestly
A concrete patio is the best cost-per-square-foot outdoor living surface you can build — if the base is right and the finish matches your budget. Here's how the three main finishes compare and what moves the quote.
Section 01 — Finish options
Which finish for which patio
- Broom finish — the workhorse. Slip-resistant, easy to repair invisibly, cheapest per foot. Right answer for most patios, especially if budget matters more than looks.
- Stamped — patterned and colored to mimic stone, slate, or pavers. Looks sharp, costs roughly double plain gray, and needs resealing every 2–3 years to keep the color. Get the sealer schedule in writing.
- Exposed aggregate — decorative stone revealed at the surface. Durable, naturally slip-resistant, mid-priced. Good fit around pools and in freeze climates.
Section 02 — What a good quote includes
Reading a patio quote
- Excavation and base. Sod stripped, grade cut, 4 inches of compacted gravel. A patio poured on topsoil settles and cracks — this line item is not optional.
- Drainage slope. About 1/8"–1/4" per foot, sloped away from the house. Flat patios against a foundation send water to your basement.
- Slab spec. 4 inches thick, 3,500+ PSI, air-entrained in freeze climates, control joints on a plan — same spec language covered in the slab guide.
- Typical totals. A 12 × 20 (240 sq ft) broom-finish patio usually lands around $1,800–$3,300; the same patio stamped runs $3,000–$5,000+. Small-job premium applies below about 150 sq ft.
Worth knowing
Concrete patios add usable square footage for a fraction of a deck's cost — and unlike pavers, there are no joints to weed or re-sand. The trade: repairs show unless the whole panel is redone, so build it right the first time.
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