Michigan summers are short, so the time spent outside should count. A well-planned concrete patio gives you a solid, level place for a table, a grill and a fire bowl. It drains properly after a thunderstorm and won't shift, rot or need re-staining every spring the way a wood deck does.
Planning a patio around how you'll use it
Size is where most patios go wrong. A dining table with chairs pushed back needs more room than people expect, and a fire-pit area needs space for seating all the way around it. Before anything is formed, we walk the yard with you and talk through:
- How many people you usually host, and where the grill will go
- Where the sun sits in the evening, and where you'll want shade
- How the patio connects to the back door, the garage or the garden
- Which way water drains now, so the new slab doesn't send it toward your foundation
Shapes and finishes
A patio doesn't have to be a rectangle. Curved edges soften a small yard, and a step-down or a second level can separate a cooking area from a seating area. For the surface, choose from a light broom texture, a smooth troweled finish, an integral color mixed right into the concrete, or a full stamped pattern that imitates slate, flagstone or brick.
Built for a freeze-thaw climate
Like every exterior slab we pour, a patio sits on a compacted gravel base, uses air-entrained concrete, and gets control joints placed where they'll do their job. Slope is subtle but important. A patio should shed water away from the house, never back toward the basement wall.
Adding on later
If you're thinking about a hot tub, a pergola or an outdoor kitchen in a few years, tell us now. We can thicken the slab or add footings where those will sit, which is far easier than cutting into a finished patio later.
Concrete Patios: common questions
Is concrete better than pavers for a patio?
Both work. Concrete gives a continuous surface with no joints for weeds or ants, and it's usually quicker to install. Pavers can be lifted individually for repairs. We're happy to talk through which suits your yard.
Can a new patio go over my old one?
Sometimes, if the old slab is solid and level and the extra height won't block a doorway. Badly cracked or sunken slabs should come out first.
When can we use the patio?
You can usually walk on a new patio within a day or two. Lansing Concrete Co recommends waiting about a week before setting heavy furniture or a grill on it.
