How Do You Build a Concrete Patio?

It’s the perfect time of year (and the perfect time of quarantine) for DIY projects around your home and yard, and you can build a concrete patio.

The dry heat of summer creates an ideal environment for outdoor concrete updates. We’re going to walk you through the steps of building your own concrete patio to enjoy the rest of summer and barbecue in style all through football season.

The fastest and more effective way to get a new concrete patio is to trust in a concrete professional, but if you want to try it yourself be sure you’re ready for a labor-intensive project that yields big rewards.

How to Build a Concrete Patio

The first few steps can be done over a few days—or weeks. But the actual work of preparing and pouring the concrete needs a solid day of dedicated work and attention. Let’s get started.

1. 1. Pick Your Spot. You need to decide where and how big your patio will be. The section needs to be level, so consider using an excavator, stakes, and mason line to measure the slope of the ground. Sloping slightly away from the house foundation is best.
   2. Assemble the Materials & Tools. For this project you’ll need:
      • Concrete mix
      • Stakes
      • Mason string
      • Level
      • Tape measure
      • Gravel
      • Square-end spade
      • Tamper
      • 2×4 lumber
      • Circular saw
      • 3” screws & power drill
      • Wheelbarrow
      • Stiff broom 
   3. Mark Your Space. Using stakes and mason’s string, mark out the area for your concrete patio. Use your level to ensure that the lines are straight and corners are 90 degrees. Your mason’s string level should go down ⅛ of an inch over each foot of distance.
   4. Dig it Out. Excavate the space using your spade (or other tools) to 6 inches below your mason’s string, and an extra six inches wide of each edge. Tamp down and flatten out the soil, then fill with 4-5 inches of gravel and force it down
   5. Build a Mold. Using your 2×4 pieces of lumber, create the edges of the concrete to line up exactly with the mason’s string. Ensure they are level and then screw all the boards together. Coat the inside of the wood with something to prevent sticking, such as vegetable oil or WD-40.
   6. Pour. Mix your concrete and drop it in mounds within the mold. Use a hoe or concrete finish tools to spread it evenly through the frame. Use a 2×4 as a screed board to pull across the surface of the concrete to make it level.
   7. Finish. Use a stiff brush to rough up the surface of the concrete so it will be a non-slip surface once cured. Cover with a plastic sheet, which will trap moisture and aid in the curing process. Read the recommendations on your concrete mix for curing length of time.

Before the concrete cures completely, you can engrave initials or handprints to give it an extra touch of personality.

Hard Rock Concrete Coatings Are the Concrete Experts

If you want to build a concrete patio but don’t know where to start, you can count on Hard Rock Concrete Coatings. For creating concrete patios in the blink of an eye, repairing damaged concrete, or coating your existing concrete for a new and colorful effect—reach out to us today. We serve Salt Lake County.