Concrete Patios in Waterloo, IA

Iowa summers are short, so the time you spend outside counts. A concrete patio gives you a solid, level place for a table, a grill, a fire pit or a hot tub, and it takes far less upkeep than a wood deck. We build new concrete patios and extend existing ones for homes in Waterloo, Cedar Falls and the surrounding towns.

Start with size and use

Most patios end up too small. A table for six with chairs pulled out needs more room than it looks like on paper, and a grill needs space around it to work safely. Before we draw anything, we ask how you plan to use the space. HomeGuide's patio cost guide lists common sizes from 10 by 10 feet up to 20 by 20 and beyond. A 12 by 12 patio fits a small table. A 16 by 16 or larger fits a dining set plus a grill. If a hot tub or outdoor kitchen is in the plan, that area needs a thicker, reinforced slab.

Drainage next to the house

A patio usually sits right against the house, which makes slope more important than anywhere else. The slab should fall gently away from the foundation so rain and snowmelt run into the yard. Many older Waterloo homes have patios that have settled back toward the house over the years, sending water to the basement wall. On a new patio we compact the base well, set the slope with the forms and check the downspouts so roof water does not dump onto the slab.

Finish options

• Broom finish: the standard. Good grip, simple look, lowest cost.
• Exposed aggregate: the top layer is washed off to show the stones. Textured, hides dirt, good grip when wet.
• Color: integral color mixed in, or stain applied later, to warm up plain gray.
• Stamped: patterns like stone, slate or brick. See our stamped concrete page for details.
• Borders: a stamped or colored border around a broom-finish field gives a finished look for less than full stamping.

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Built for freeze-thaw

A patio does not carry cars, but it still faces every Waterloo winter. Snow piles up on it, melts in the afternoon sun and refreezes at night. We pour air-entrained concrete, cut control joints so the slab cracks where we want it to, and cure it properly. A sealer applied after the slab has cured helps it shed water and stains from grease and leaves. If you salt the steps or walk next to the patio, keep the salt off the slab itself.

Extending an old patio

If you have a small patio in good shape, we can often add onto it rather than tear it out. The new section is pinned to the old one with dowels or tied in with an isolation joint so the two can move a little without cracking. The new concrete will not match the old color exactly at first, which is one reason some homeowners choose a contrasting border or a full replacement instead. We will talk through which approach fits your slab.

Call (319) 481-5867 and tell us roughly how big a patio you want and what will go on it.