Concrete patio construction in La Verne, CA - a patio that starts with a solid base
If your old patio is cracked, flaking or pulling away from the house, we'll build one on a packed base with planned joints.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What goes into building a concrete patio in La Verne?
Concrete patio construction in La Verne means forming, pouring and finishing a flat slab of concrete in your yard, on a base we dig out and pack, so you end up with an outdoor floor that stays even and is laid out so any cracking follows lines we chose together.
Most people who call us have either an old slab that has cracked, sunk or started to flake, or a bare corner of the yard they'd finally like to use. The price turns mainly on the patio's size, how easily we can bring concrete to the spot, whether an old slab has to be broken out and hauled away, how much digging and base work the area needs and the finish you choose, while the schedule depends on the weather, any city steps and the curing time before you can set furniture on it. I'll put the figures for your own patio in a written estimate after I've seen the site.
How do you know your patio needs replacing?
Cracks across the middle
A crack that wanders across the open part of the slab usually means the joints were skipped or cut too late, so the concrete broke where it wanted to. Once a slab cracks that way, the pieces tend to shift apart over the seasons and the edges become a tripping hazard.
A flaking, dusty surface
When the top layer chips away or leaves powder on your shoes, the concrete was often poured in midday heat or allowed to dry too fast while it cured. Patches rarely hold on a weak top, so the flaking usually keeps spreading until the slab is replaced.
Sunken or uneven sections
A patio that has dropped in one corner or tips toward the house usually sat on a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed. The settling generally continues, and the low spots are the first place cracks open up.
Our concrete patio construction, step by step
Before anything is dug, I go over two things with you at the patio site, the edge against the house and the joint layout, because on a patio they matter as much as the finish. Where the patio meets the house foundation or an existing slab, we set an isolation joint, a strip that lets the two move on their own, and across the rest we plan control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a straight line to crack along instead of a random one through the middle. Then our crew digs out and packs the subgrade, the ground the slab rests on, sets the forms and places rebar, steel that holds the slab together if it does crack. We pour, give the surface a broom finish, a light texture that keeps it from turning slick when wet, cut the joints on time and keep the slab from drying out too quickly while it cures. In summer we choose a pour time when the heat and wind are easier on fresh concrete, because a slab placed in hot afternoon wind can end up with a weak, dusty top.
A new patio often connects to other work. If you'd like the look of stone, brick or tile, our stamped concrete services press a pattern into the fresh slab, and if the patio needs a path to the driveway or side gate, we can handle the concrete sidewalk building at the same time so the two meet cleanly.
Broom-finish patio
This suits most families who want a patio for everyday use, since the texture wears well and gives sure footing when the hose or the kids splash it. If the budget is tight, this is where I'd suggest saving, because the money spent on the base protects the slab and no surface can make up for a base that settles.
Stamped or colored patio
This suits a patio that will be looked at as much as walked on, such as one off a dining room or around an outdoor kitchen. It costs more than a broom finish, so I'd recommend it only once the base and joints are fully covered in the plan.
Get a written estimate for your new patio
Please tell us where the patio will go, its rough size and whether it will meet the house or an existing slab. We reply within one business day to set a time, and I come out myself to look over the site and leave you a free written estimate. There's no obligation and no pressure to book.
(840) 588-1377Concrete patio construction in La Verne and nearby cities
In La Verne, the city's Building and Safety office issues construction permits, checks plans and inspects the work, and whether your patio needs a permit is their decision to make, not ours. We check with the city on every job, and where a permit is needed we handle the application and set up the inspections, so the paperwork is settled before a pour date is booked.
Most of the patios we build here go in behind homes where families are living every day, often reached through a side yard, so we protect the lawn and the path in, keep the street and the neighbors' driveways clear and clean up before we leave each day. Summers in the valley run hot and dry, and we plan the same careful pour times on jobs in San Dimas and Claremont.
What happens after you call about a patio in La Verne?
Call or send a request
Call (840) 588-1377 or use the form, and we'll get back to you to arrange a visit. A time that suits your household is fine with us.
I visit and write the estimate
I come out myself, look over the spot and ask how you plan to use the patio, since that shapes its size, the house edge and the joints. You get a written estimate with the price for your patio, so you can weigh it before deciding anything.
We go over the plan together
Before we start, we go over the layout, the city steps and what to expect while the concrete cures. The city's planning counter keeps weekday morning hours Monday through Thursday and is closed Fridays and weekends, so we plan any permit and inspection dates around that before the pour is booked.
We pour and walk it together
Our crew does the work with me on site for the pour, and when we're done I walk the finished patio with you. Please keep children and pets off the fresh concrete, because wet concrete is caustic and can burn skin with prolonged contact.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a concrete patio cost in La Verne?
The cost of a concrete patio in La Verne depends on its size, access to the spot, any old slab that has to come out, the base work and the finish, so I give you a figure only after seeing your yard. A back yard reached through a narrow side gate takes more labor than one we can reach from the driveway, and a stamped or colored surface costs more than a broom finish. Your written estimate spells out the price for your own patio.
When is the best time of day to pour a concrete patio in summer?
In summer, the best time is a part of the day or night when the weather is favorable, because heat, low humidity and wind are hard on fresh concrete. Hot-weather problems can happen any time of year but mostly show up in summer, and wind makes them worse. If you're comparing contractors, ask each one when they plan to pour.
How do I keep a new concrete patio from cracking?
Plan the joint layout before the pour and make sure the slab is cured properly, since those two steps decide where the concrete cracks and how sound the surface stays. Control joints give the slab a straight, planned line to crack along instead of a random crack across the most visible part, and good curing shields it from low humidity, drying wind and sharp temperature swings. Poor curing can lead to shrinkage cracks and flaking, so ask any crew how they'll keep the slab from losing moisture.
Who issues construction permits in La Verne, CA?
The City of La Verne's Building and Safety office issues construction permits, reviews plans and inspects work for code compliance. Whether a particular patio needs a permit is a question for the city, and you can reach them at 909-596-8706. On our jobs we check with them for you, as described above.
How much of a down payment can a concrete contractor ask for in California?
In California, the down payment on a home improvement contract can't exceed $1,000 or ten percent of the contract price, whichever is less. Finance charges aren't counted in that contract price. If a contractor asks for more than that up front, please take it as a reason to look elsewhere.
Does a contractor need a license to build a patio in California?
Yes, unless the whole job, labor and materials together, comes to less than $500 and isn't part of a larger project. Forming, pouring and finishing flat concrete like a patio falls under the state's concrete contractor license. It's worth confirming a contractor's license before you sign anything.
La Verne, CA
Start your new patio with a visit
Booking the visit early leaves time to settle any city steps before a pour date goes on the calendar.