Backyard and side-yard patios

Concrete Patios in Sioux City, IA

Outdoor space for Siouxland summers that drains right and survives winter.

A site visit before any price: we check grade, runoff and what the old concrete is sitting on
Quotes in writing, with slab thickness, base depth, steel and joint layout spelled out
City sidewalk notices, right-of-way permits and pre-pour inspections sorted out before the truck is booked

A Patio Planned Around Your Yard

A concrete patio is the easiest way to get usable outdoor space for the warm months, and Sioux City summers give you plenty of reason to want one, with July highs averaging around 85 degrees. We build patios off back doors, under decks, beside garages and out in the yard, sized for a grill, a table or a fire pit, and sloped so rain and snowmelt move away from your foundation.

Where patios go wrong

Patios fail differently than driveways. They rarely see heavy loads, but they sit right against the house, often below a roof edge or a downspout, and on many lots in town they are on a slope. The common problems:

Water toward the house. A patio that tips back toward the foundation sends every storm into the basement wall.
Settling at the house. Soil backfilled against a foundation is often loose, so the patio edge drops there first.
Downspouts dumping onto the slab and freezing into ice sheets in winter.
Scaling from water, freeze-thaw and salt carried out from the driveway on boots.

We plan the slope before we form anything, compact the backfill zone next to the house, and talk with you about where downspouts should go.

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Finish choices

The cheapest and most common surface is a plain broom texture. Color can go into the mix or be stained onto the surface afterward. Exposed aggregate rinses away the top skin of cement so the stone shows, which hides dirt and gives good footing. Stamped patterns that mimic slate, brick or flagstone have their own page. HomeGuide's patio guide prices each finish separately, and the choice moves the total.

Size and thickness

Roughly speaking, 12 x 12 feet holds a small table and a grill; 16 x 16 or 20 x 20 feet makes room for a dining set plus a couple of loungers. HomeGuide treats 4 inches as standard for a home patio and 6 inches, with more steel, under heavy loads such as hot tubs and outdoor kitchens. Let us know what will sit on the slab and we size it to match.

Steps, edges and add-ons

Many patios here sit a step or two below the back door. We pour the steps and landing with the patio so they tie together. We can also add a seat wall footing, sleeves for future lighting or a post base for a pergola, which are easier to plan before the pour than to cut in later.

Keeping it looking good

Seal it after it cures, keep downspouts emptying away from it, and keep salt off it the first winter. According to HomeGuide, a patio that is looked after can last 30 to 50 years.

Patio Options

The main decisions are size, shape and finish. These are the most common choices.

Broom finish

Simple, slip-resistant and the lowest cost per square foot.

Colored concrete

Integral color mixed in, or a stain applied after the pour.

Exposed aggregate

Washed surface that shows the stone, with good traction.

Curved or custom shapes

Rounded edges and shapes that follow beds and lawn lines.

Hot tub or kitchen pad

6-inch slab with extra reinforcement under heavy loads.

Patio with steps

Landing and steps from the back door poured as part of the job.

Typical Concrete Patio Costs

Item	Published range
Plain concrete, per sq ft	$4 to $12
Broom finish, per sq ft	$6 to $13
Exposed aggregate, per sq ft	$7 to $18
Colored, per sq ft	$8 to $25
10' x 10' plain (100 sq ft)	$400 to $1,200
12' x 12' plain (144 sq ft)	$600 to $1,700
16' x 16' plain (256 sq ft)	$1,000 to $3,100
20' x 20' plain (400 sq ft)	$1,600 to $4,800

National ranges from HomeGuide's concrete patio cost guide. Sioux City prices can differ, and access to the backyard, removal of an old patio, slope and finish all change the total. Your written estimate is the price.

How a Patio Job Goes

1. Plan size and slope

We mark the outline with you and set a slope that drains away from the house.

2. Excavate and compact

Sod and soil come out, loose backfill is compacted, and a gravel base goes in.

3. Form and pour

Forms, reinforcement and any step or footing work are set, then concrete is placed and finished.

4. Cut joints and cure

We cut joints, let the slab cure, and tell you when to use it and when to seal it.

Concrete Repair & Replacement in Sioux City, IA

Concrete Patios Questions

How much does a concrete patio cost?

In HomeGuide's national figures, a plain concrete patio runs $4 to $12 a square foot. A 12 x 12 patio (144 square feet) lands around $600 to $1,700. Decorative finishes add to that. We quote in writing after seeing the yard.

How thick should a patio be?

Four inches is standard for a patio, according to HomeGuide. A hot tub or outdoor kitchen calls for 6 inches with extra reinforcement.

Which way should a patio slope?

Away from the house, typically a small fall per foot so water does not sit or run toward the foundation. We set the slope with the forms before the pour.

Is a patio better than a deck?

A concrete patio sits on the ground, needs little upkeep beyond sealing and lasts for decades. A deck makes more sense when the back door is high above the yard. Many homes in hilly parts of town have both, with the patio below the deck.

Get a Concrete Patios Estimate

Give us a rough patio size and tell us what goes on it. We will look at the yard and send a written quote.

Call (712) 482-2303 Free Estimate