Concrete patio construction in Sunnyvale CA - a patio on solid, well-drained ground
If your patio is cracked, sinking or holding water, we build a new one on firm ground, sloped so water runs away from the house.
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What does it take to build a concrete patio in Sunnyvale?
Concrete patio construction in Sunnyvale means clearing the ground, packing a firm base and pouring a slab that rests right on it, so you get a level, well-drained place to sit outdoors that holds up as long as the ground under it does.
Most people call us when an old patio has cracked, sunk at one corner or kept a puddle after the sprinklers run, or when a bare patch of yard needs a place for a table and chairs. The price mostly follows the size of the patio, whether an old slab has to be broken out and hauled away, how much ground work the yard needs and the finish you choose. The schedule turns on the weather, because we want dry days for the pour and the cure, and on any permit the city asks for. I'll walk the yard with you, and after the visit you'll have the scope and the price in writing.
How we handle concrete patio construction
I start by looking at where water runs in your yard now and where it should go once the patio is in. We dig out the grass, roots and loose soil, then check the subgrade, which is the ground the patio will rest on, for soft spots, dig out anything that won't hold and pack the base until it's firm all the way across. We set the forms so the slab falls gently away from the house, and where the job calls for it we lay rebar, the steel inside the slab that holds it together if it cracks. On pour day we place and level the concrete, give it the finish you chose and cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a straight line to crack along as it shrinks instead of a random one. Then it cures, the waiting period while it hardens and gains strength, which is why we try to plan the pour for a dry stretch.
A patio often comes with other work nearby. If you'd like a pattern pressed into the surface rather than a plain finish, our stamped concrete services cover that, and if you need a walk from the patio to the driveway or side gate, our concrete sidewalk building can usually be planned on the same schedule so the two slabs meet cleanly.
Concrete patio construction and permits in Sunnyvale
Whether your patio needs a permit is the city's decision, and the answer depends on the project. Sunnyvale keeps a list of work that doesn't need a permit for single-family homes and duplexes, but the city also says each project has different requirements and asks first-time applicants to call the city's permit center about theirs, where staff explain the steps, the documents needed and whether the plans will need review. When it isn't clear for your patio, I check with the city before we start, and if a permit is needed, we handle the application and the inspections and keep you informed.
Around Sunnyvale we often find older patios poured over ground that was raked smooth instead of dug out and packed, or set right against a lawn whose sprinklers soak the edges every morning. We look for both before we pour, and we see the same on jobs in Santa Clara and Cupertino.
Concrete patio work up close
Ask for a written patio estimate
We'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out and see your yard. The estimate is free and done on site with no obligation, and after the visit you'll get the scope and the price in writing.
(669) 215-2122Questions about patios in Sunnyvale
How much does a concrete patio cost in the Bay Area?
A standard concrete slab, installed with materials, labor and a basic broom finish, usually costs about $13 to $18 per square foot in the Bay Area. That's the usual market price, not our quote, and a San Jose price guide notes that replacing a patio can cost more per square foot when the old one has to be demolished first. For your own patio, I'll measure on site and you'll get the price in writing.
What causes a concrete patio to crack or sink?
Uneven support underneath is the usual cause. A slab on the ground does best when the ground under it is evenly firm, and soft pockets, loosely filled utility trenches or buried roots and other organic matter can let parts of it settle even when most of the yard feels solid. Some fine cracking is normal in any concrete, which is what the control joints are for, but I'd ask any contractor how they'll check and prepare the ground.
When is the best time to pour a concrete patio in Sunnyvale?
Pour during dry weather, with enough dry days afterward for the concrete to cure before the next rain, which is what guidance for concrete work recommends. In the wetter months that means watching the forecast and waiting for a dry stretch rather than squeezing a pour in before a storm. On hot days we'd also rather start early, because concrete placed in midday heat can end up with a weak, dusty top.
Is exposed aggregate worth the extra cost over plain concrete?
It's worth it if you want a decorative look and good footing at a middle price. Exposed aggregate gives a slip-resistant surface, and it costs slightly more to install than plain concrete but less than other decorative options such as stamping. One trade guide says it can last at least 50 years without repair if cared for properly, and that care includes a sealer to protect it from oil spills and stains from standing water.
Who is allowed to build a concrete patio in California?
Under California contractor law, building a patio is home improvement work, so it should be done by a contractor licensed by the Contractors State License Board. The state's minor work exemption covers jobs up to $1,000, and only when the work needs no permit and the unlicensed person employs no one on the project.
How do I stop water from pooling around a new concrete patio?
Keep surface water moving away from the patio area, both while it's being built and afterward, because ground that stays soaked under a slab can lose its strength to carry the load. Before we pour, we check where your downspouts and sprinklers send water, and it helps to keep them aimed away from the patio edges once it's in.
Get your Sunnyvale patio estimate started
Call (669) 215-2122 any day of the week, and if you can, tell us the patio's rough size, the finish you'd like and whether an old slab has to come out.