Backyard patios, steps and pads
Concrete Patios in Wilmington, DE
Outdoor space on a solid base, pitched away from your house so water and ice have somewhere to go.
- Free on-site estimates with measurements
- Itemized written quote before any work starts
- Air-entrained mixes and planned control joints for Delaware winters
Outdoor Living Space for Short Yards and Big Ones
Concrete patios in Wilmington come in two very different sizes. Behind a city rowhome, the yard may be a narrow strip between the back door and the alley, and a patio turns that strip into a usable, low-maintenance space. In the suburbs north and west of the city, a patio is more often a large slab off the kitchen or family room, sometimes with steps, a grill area or a hot tub. Both need the same things underneath: a good base, the right slope and a mix that handles winter.
Why patios fail
Most patio problems come from water. A patio that slopes toward the house sends rain and snowmelt against the foundation and toward the basement. A patio poured straight onto soil, without a compacted stone base, settles unevenly and cracks. A patio poured without air entrainment, or finished while water was still on the surface, starts to flake after a few winters. And a patio poured tight against the house without an isolation joint can push on the wall as it moves.
How we build a patio
- We lay out the patio with you, mark the size and check how water moves across the yard.
- We excavate, set the grade so the slab falls away from the house, and compact a stone base.
- Forms go in, along with an isolation joint where the patio meets the house, steps or walls.
- Reinforcement is added where needed. HomeGuide's patio guide notes that standard patios are 4 inches thick, and that a patio holding a hot tub or outdoor kitchen should be 6 inches with added reinforcement.
- The concrete is placed, finished and jointed, then kept moist while it cures.
Finishes and options
- Broom finish: clean, simple and slip-resistant when wet.
- Colored concrete: color mixed into the concrete for a warmer look that does not wear off.
- Exposed aggregate: the surface stone is revealed for texture and grip.
- Stamped concrete: patterns like slate or brick. See our stamped concrete page for more.
- Steps and landings: poured concrete steps from the back door down to patio level, with footings below frost depth when they need them. New Castle County's footing checklist puts the base of footings at 32 inches below finished grade.
- Pads: hot tub, grill, fire pit and shed pads built to the load.
Working on tight city lots
Many Wilmington rowhome yards can only be reached through the house or from the alley. That changes how we remove old concrete and how we get new concrete to the forms, sometimes by wheelbarrow or with a concrete pump. Access gets worked out at the estimate and written into the price, not discovered on pour morning.
Caring for your patio
Sweep off leaves and wash it down once or twice a year. Do not use rock salt on it in winter. A penetrating sealer applied after the patio has cured, and renewed every few years, helps keep water and stains out. Keep downspouts aimed away from the slab so water does not undercut the edges.
What This Covers
A patio job covers the layout, the base, the slab and the finishing details around it.
Layout and grading
Shape and size settled with you, and the subgrade cut so the slab falls toward the yard.
Old patio removal
Cracked concrete, broken pavers or old flagstone removed and hauled away.
Stone base and forms
A compacted stone base and forms for straight, clean edges or curves.
Finish choice
Broom, colored, exposed aggregate or stamped surface.
Steps and landings
Poured concrete steps from the door to the patio level.
Hot tub and grill pads
Thicker, reinforced sections where heavy loads will sit.
Typical Concrete Patio Costs
| Patio | 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 |
| 10 x 10 ft, plain | $400 to $1,200 |
| 12 x 12 ft, plain | $600 to $1,700 |
| 16 x 16 ft, plain | $1,000 to $3,100 |
| 20 x 20 ft, plain | $1,600 to $4,800 |
National ranges from HomeGuide's concrete patio cost guide. Wilmington-area prices can differ, and access, old patio removal, steps and the finish all change the total. Your written estimate is the price.
How It Works
1. Walk the yard
Size, finish and access to the back of the lot get settled on site, and we watch where rain would run.
2. Dig and base
We excavate, set the slope and compact a stone base.
3. Form and pour
Forms, joints and reinforcement go in, then the concrete is placed and finished.
4. Cure and seal
The patio cures before furniture goes on, and we tell you when to seal it.
Concrete Patios Questions
What will a new patio run me?
By HomeGuide's patio guide, a plain 12 x 12 foot slab lands between $600 and $1,700 nationally, and a 16 x 16 foot one between $1,000 and $3,100. Color, stamping and a tight rowhome yard push the number up. We price your exact size and access in writing.
What thickness does a patio need?
For ordinary furniture and foot traffic, 4 inches. HomeGuide calls for 6 inches plus extra steel where a hot tub or outdoor kitchen will sit, and we follow that.
Can you build a patio behind a rowhome with no side access?
Usually. We bring material in through the alley, by wheelbarrow, or with a concrete pump when the yard is hard to reach. We plan it at the estimate and include it in the price.
When can we start using the patio?
Light foot traffic is fine after roughly 48 hours. Give it about seven days before chairs, tables or a grill go on, and longer before a filled hot tub.
Why does my old patio slope toward the house?
Often the base settled over time or the patio was poured without enough pitch. A replacement patio should fall away from the house so water drains to the yard.
Concrete Patios Service Areas
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Get a Concrete Patios Estimate
Free patio estimates in Wilmington and the Brandywine valley.