Concrete patio construction in Waltham MA - a slab that drains away from the house
Old patio cracked and sinking, or water pooling by the back door? We build a new concrete slab on a packed base, sloped to drain.
A concrete patio is a slab outdoors. Its life is decided underneath.
A concrete patio is an outdoor slab poured over a prepared base and sloped just enough that rain runs off, with a texture that won't turn slick when it's wet. Most people only look at the top. How long it holds up depends on the ground under it and on where the water goes.
Most patios we're asked to replace failed from below. The base was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so it sank with the dirt, a corner dropped and cracks followed. Others were pitched toward the house, so every storm sent water at the foundation.
Price mostly follows the size, how much digging the base takes and the finish. A plain textured finish costs less than color or stamped concrete, which take their own steps and experience, so ask any crew whether they've done that look before. The schedule turns on the weather and the season. Your written estimate spells out what's included.
We build patios from the ground up. The finish comes last.
A patio lives or dies on its base and its slope, so that's where we spend our time. Before we dig, I work out where the water should go and how deep we need to go to reach firm ground, because those two answers shape everything poured on top.
We give the surface a finish that isn't slick when it's wet. We also try to pour early enough in the year that the patio gets an easy first winter, and our crew lead runs the pour with me there at the key steps.
Concrete patio work covers more than the pour. Here's what's included.
Layout and slope
We mark out the shape and set the slope so rain runs off away from your house instead of pooling by the back door.
Digging and base
We dig down to firm subgrade, the soil the slab sits on, then pack crushed stone over it so the patio has nothing soft to sink into.
Forms and rebar
We set forms to hold the edges and add rebar, steel bars that keep cracks from spreading, where the size or the ground calls for it.
Pour and broom finish
We pour, smooth the surface and drag a broom across it, which leaves a fine texture that gives your feet grip when the patio is wet.
Joints and curing
We cut control joints, grooves that give the slab a planned place to crack, then start curing right away so the fresh concrete hardens properly.
Walkways to the patio
If you need a path from the driveway or the back door, we can pour a concrete walkway at the same time so it matches.
Good patio and base work lasts. Shortcuts surface after winter.
Bad patio work rarely shows on day one. A slab poured in midday heat can look fine and then wear down to a weak, dusty top, and joints cut late or skipped leave cracks in places nobody chose. By then the only real fix is breaking it out.
The base is the first thing people want to trim from the budget, because nobody sees it once the slab is down. I'd trim the finish first. A fancy top on ground that settles is likely to crack, while a plain slab on a packed base stays put. We're licensed and fully insured. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
It starts with a call. Then I come look myself.
01. Call or send a message
Call (781) 622-9470 or use the form with roughly how big a patio you want and where it goes, and we'll set a time.
02. I look at the site
I come out myself, measure the spot, check how the ground sits and ask how you'll use the patio, so the size and slope fit.
03. Your written estimate
You get a written estimate that shows what's included, and we line up any permits, surveyors or engineers before the pour goes on the schedule.
04. The work and walk-through
We work Waltham's construction hours, weekdays 7 am to 5 pm and Saturdays 8 am to 4 pm, with me there at key steps. Then we clean up and walk it with you.
Tell us about your patio. We'll come take a look.
Send the patio's size, where it goes on your lot and the finish you want. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, no obligation.
(781) 622-9470Based in Waltham. We pour patios all around it.
- Waltham, MA
- Newton, MA
- Cambridge, MA
- Weston, MA
- Watertown, MA
- Belmont, MA
- Lexington, MA
- Wellesley, MA
- Arlington, MA
- Needham, MA
- Burlington, MA
- Sudbury, MA
We're based in Waltham and build patios in Newton, Watertown and many cities around them. If yours isn't on the list, call (781) 622-9470 and ask.
Mon–Fri: 7 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
Concrete patio questions, answered. Call if yours is missing.
Read through the answers below. If your question isn't covered, call us and I'll walk you through it.
How much does a concrete patio cost in the Boston area?
A concrete patio in the Boston area usually costs about $6 to $15 per square foot, materials and labor included. That's the going rate around here, not a quote. Your own number depends on the size, the base and the finish, and I write it out after looking at your yard.
Do I need a permit for a concrete patio in Waltham?
A state guidance chart lists patios as needing no building permit, but treat that as general guidance. If yours is raised or comes with steps or a wall, check with the Waltham Building Department, and we handle the permit steps for our work. Before any digging, the state also asks that Dig Safe be called at 811, a free notice to the utility companies.
When should I pour a concrete patio, and how do I treat it the first winter?
Earlier in the season is better, because engineers studying surface damage on concrete tie it to late pours. For the first winter, the best plan is to keep deicers, the salt and melt you spread on ice, off it entirely, or at least for 2 to 3 months, and protect it with a sealer. After that, Boston-area contractors recommend resealing every year or two.
Why does the base under a concrete patio matter so much?
The base matters because a poor one lets the slab settle, end up uneven in thickness and drain badly, and that's what leads to cracking. Boston-area contractors typically put down a packed crushed stone base of at least 4 to 6 inches, which adds material and labor cost. It's fair to compare bids on how each contractor plans to prepare the ground.
There's more than patios. See what else we pour.
- Concrete driveway building
- Stamped concrete services
- Concrete sidewalk building
- Garage floor concrete
- Decorative concrete
- Concrete retaining walls
- Concrete floor installation
- Concrete pool decks
- Concrete steps construction
- Slab foundation building
- Foundation installation
- Concrete parking lot building
- Concrete footings
- Foundation raising
- Concrete cutting
Planning a patio or walkway? Call for a free estimate.
Tell us the size, the spot and the finish you have in mind, and we'll set a time to come look at the ground before anything gets priced.
(781) 622-9470