Home Concrete Patios for Your Backyard

Say you look out the back door and see mud, patchy grass, and no good place to sit. A concrete patio can fix that. It gives you a flat, firm spot for chairs, a grill, and a few friends.

Felldrop Concrete is a referral service. We do not pour concrete. We help you understand the job, then connect you with independent providers in the Lake Orion area who do the digging, pouring, finishing, and sealing. Request an estimate and compare what each provider offers before you decide. On this page you will find notes on prep, timing, weather, sizing, finishes, and drainage, plus questions to ask so you feel ready when a provider visits your yard.

Dreaming of a Patio Out Back?

Say you stand at the back door on a quiet evening. One corner of the yard is soggy. Another is bare dirt. You picture a table, a few chairs, and a dry place for your feet. A concrete patio is a common way to get there.

This page shows what you can safely do yourself and what needs a professional crew.

Prep Versus Pour

Slab-day thinking helps here. A patio job has two halves. The prep happens over days or weeks. The pour happens in a few hours, and it cannot be paused halfway.

Homeowners can help with the first half. Providers handle the second.

What You Can Safely Do Yourself

Clear the space before the truck arrives. Move planters, old pavers, and furniture. Mark the edges with spray paint or string. Notice where your downspouts empty. Take a few photos from different angles so providers can see the yard.

Also ask your local utility marking service to flag buried lines before anyone digs.

What Needs Pro Tools and Fast Hands

Shaping the base takes a plate compactor and a steady eye for slope. Forms must be level and braced. Wet concrete is heavy and starts to stiffen fast. Edging, texturing, and cutting joints all depend on timing.

This is concrete flatwork, and it rewards practice. A weekend try with a rented mixer often ends in a lumpy slab.

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The Clock Starts When the Truck Arrives

Picture the truck backing up to your yard. From that moment, the mix is on a timer. Hot, humid days speed it up. Cool days slow it down. A provider plans the crew, the tools, and the wheelbarrow path before the chute ever opens.

The First Day

In the first hours, the surface is smoothed, edged, and given its texture. Then it rests. A footprint, a paw print, or a splash of water will stay in the surface. Kids and pets need a clear keep-off zone.

Days Two Through Seven

Light foot traffic may be fine after a day or two, depending on the mix and weather. Furniture and grills wait longer. The slab keeps gaining strength, so patience pays off.

Weeks Two Through Four

Curing goes on for weeks. Many providers suggest waiting before sealing or placing heavy loads. Ask for the exact schedule for your mix.

Watch the Forecast Before You Book

Say rain is due the night after your pour. A sudden storm can pit a fresh surface. Severe thunderstorms and hail are part of life in many regions. A cold snap with frost can also harm young concrete.

Providers often move a date when the sky looks wrong. Stay flexible. A short delay is better than a damaged slab.

Sizing Your Patio

Walk the space with a tape measure. A small bistro set needs far less room than a table for six. Leave space to pull chairs back without bumping the edge. Many homeowners add extra width for a grill.

Think about the future too. Adding on later can leave a visible seam. On bungalows and ranch homes, a patio that lines up with the back door often looks the most natural.

Finish Options

Broom Finish

A light broom texture is the simple choice. It grips well when wet and suits most budgets.

Stamped Concrete Patios

Say you love the look of stone but not the gaps between pavers. Stamped concrete patios use patterns and color to copy slate, brick, or wood. This takes more tools and tighter timing, so it is firmly a provider job.

Color and Stone Looks

Other choices include mixed-in color and exposed stone. A smooth trowel finish looks sleek but can be slick when wet, so many outdoor patios skip it.

Drainage and Your Foundation

Spring flooding and heavy storms test every patio. A common rule is a gentle slope away from the house, about a quarter inch per foot. Homes with full basements and sump pumps feel this the most.

Water that pools by the wall can work its way toward the foundation. If you already see wall cracks or a damp basement, talk to foundation repair experts before pouring next to that wall. A provider can also point out slope problems during the estimate visit.

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Cold Winters and Deep Frost

Deep frost moves soil, and moving soil moves slabs. A well-packed gravel base, cut joints, and sometimes steel reinforcement help a patio ride out the seasons. Ask each provider how they plan for frost in your yard.

Choosing a Concrete Provider

Pick a provider who visits, measures, and writes things down. Ask for a written quote that lists the base, thickness, reinforcement, finish, joints, sealing, and cleanup. Ask about insurance and any license your area requires, and ask to see proof.

Questions Worth Asking

• How deep will the base be, and how will it be packed?
• Where will the joints go?
• What happens if the weather turns on pour day?
• When can we walk on it, and when can we set furniture?

Caring for Your New Patio

Sweep it often and rinse it with a hose. Keep downspouts clear. Skip deicing salt on a young slab, since it can flake the surface. Reseal every few years if your provider suggests it.

Cracks that wander across a slab often start with poor prep, the same trouble that sends people searching for concrete driveway repair. Good prep up front goes a long way toward protecting the slab for years.

Ready to Compare Estimates?

Tell us about your yard and your ideas. A local provider in our network can then walk the space with you and quote the job in writing, with no obligation.

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What's Included

Site Layout

A provider measures the space, checks the slope, and marks the edges so the shape fits your yard.

Base and Forms

The ground is dug, leveled, and packed with gravel, then framed with forms that hold the wet mix.

Pour and Finish

Crews place the concrete, smooth it, add texture or pattern, and cut joints at the right time.

Curing and Sealing

The slab rests while it gains strength, and many providers then add a sealer.

Typical Home Concrete Patio Price Ranges

Prices vary by size, soil, access, and finish. These are typical U.S. ranges only. Local costs may differ, so always request a written quote from each provider before you decide.

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How It Works

Share Your Plans

Tell us the rough size, the finish you like, and where the patio will go.

Get Matched Locally

We connect you with independent providers in our network who handle patio work.

Compare Written Quotes

Review the base, finish, joints, and sealing details each provider includes in their quote.

Pick Your Pour Date

Choose a provider, finish your prep, and plan a date around the forecast.

Why Call Felldrop Concrete

Plain Steps, Clear Roles

You learn what you can prep and what providers handle before anyone shows up.

Local Providers

Independent providers in your area know the soil, frost, and storms your patio will face.

Written Quotes

Request an estimate and compare details line by line before choosing anyone.

No Pressure

Asking for an estimate carries no obligation, so you can take your time.

Other Services

• Concrete Driveways
• Stamped Concrete