Concrete Patios in Pueblo, CO

A concrete patio is the simplest way to turn a patch of dry grass or gravel into a place you will use. In Pueblo that place gets a lot of sun. Wikipedia's Pueblo article lists about 78 percent of possible sunshine a year and July highs averaging 93.4 degrees. That makes shade, surface color and texture worth thinking about before the forms go in. We build new patios, enlarge small ones, and replace old patios that have cracked or settled toward the house.

Planning the space

A common regret is a patio that turned out too small. A table with chairs pulled out needs more room than people expect, and a grill wants its own corner. We stake out the shape in the yard at the estimate so you can see it before anything is dug. We also look at where the afternoon sun hits, where a shade structure might go, and where water from the roof lands, because the patio has to drain away from the house.

Some patios need more than a standard 4-inch slab. A hot tub, a heavy outdoor kitchen or posts for a pergola call for thicker concrete or footings at certain spots. Tell us what you plan to put on the patio, even if it is a few years away, and we will build for it now.

Signs an old patio needs replacing

• It has sunk or tipped so rain runs toward the back door
• Big cracks where one edge has risen above its neighbor
• A flaking, pitted surface that sheds grit onto your shoes
• It is pulling away from the house or steps
• It was never big enough to begin with

Finishes that suit the sun

• Broom finish: the most economical and the most slip-resistant. Light gray concrete stays cooler underfoot than dark finishes.
• Colored concrete: integral color mixed into the whole slab, in tan, buff or earth tones that hide dust better than plain gray.
• Exposed aggregate: the surface washed back to show the stone, which gives grip and a natural look.
• Stamped concrete: patterns that look like stone, slate or brick. We cover that on our stamped concrete page.

Dark colors and slick, sealed surfaces get hot in July. For a patio around a pool or where kids go barefoot, a lighter color and a textured finish are the safer choice.

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How we build a patio

First the sod, rock or old slab comes out. We excavate until we hit firm ground and build up a tamped layer of road base. Forms go in with a slope of roughly a quarter inch per foot away from the house. We tie the patio to steps or the house only where it makes sense and use an isolation joint where the slab meets the foundation, so the two can move separately. Reinforcement goes in, then an air-entrained mix, then the finish. Control joints are laid out to suit the shape so cracks have a place to go.

In summer we pour early and keep the slab damp or covered while it cures. Dry Pueblo air can pull water out of the top of a new slab within hours, and a patio that dries too fast is the one that crazes and dusts later.

Taking care of it

Wait a day or two before walking on the new patio and about a week before you roll out the grill or bring back the patio set. Seal it after the first month and reseal every few years. Keep sprinklers from soaking the edges. In winter, shovel snow instead of using rock salt, especially in the first year. A well-built patio should give you decades of use; HomeGuide puts the life of a properly installed concrete patio at 30 to 50 years with regular maintenance.