Concrete patio construction in Muscatine IA - a slab that stays flat and drains
Cracked, sinking or puddled patio out back? We dig out, build the base and pour a new one that sheds water away from your house.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What does it take to build a concrete patio in Muscatine?
Concrete patio construction in Muscatine means preparing the ground under your patio and then placing a concrete slab on top of it, and that ground work decides most of whether the slab stays flat and sound.
Most people call us when the old patio has cracked, dropped at one corner or started holding water against the house, or when there's only grass outside the back door. The price mostly comes down to the size, how deep we have to dig, how much base goes back in and whether an old slab has to be broken out and hauled away. The schedule turns on the weather, whether the ground has thawed and whether your city wants a permit, and the estimate spells out what's in the job and what isn't. Iowa requires contractors who earn at least $2,000 a year from construction to register with the state, so it's fair to ask anyone you're thinking of hiring. We're licensed and insured.
What our concrete patio construction covers
A patio is only as good as what's under it, so most of our work happens before the truck shows up. We dig out the grass and soft dirt down to firm subgrade, the ground the slab will sit on, then bring in base rock and pack it in layers, because a base that's just raked level settles right along with the dirt under it. We slope that base so water runs away from your house, set the forms and add rebar where the patio needs it, steel bars that keep the pieces together if the slab cracks. On hot days we try to pour early, since a slab placed in the midday heat can end up with a weak, dusty top. Once it's finished we cut control joints on time, shallow grooves that give the slab a place to crack in a straight line instead of across the middle, and then it cures, sitting undisturbed and kept from drying too fast while it gains strength. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather you save on how the top looks than on the base, because nobody sees the base on day one and it's the part that decides whether the patio lasts.
Most patios tie into something else. A new concrete sidewalk from the driveway or side door makes the patio easy to get to, and we can form both on the same job. If you'd like a pattern instead of plain gray, look at our stamped concrete services before we pour.
Replacing a cracked or sunken patio
This suits a yard where the old slab has settled, tipped toward the house or broken up. We break it out and haul it off, then dig past the old base, because whatever let the first one sink is usually still down there.
A new patio where there's grass now
This suits a back door that opens onto lawn or a small stoop. We stake out the size with you, strip the topsoil and build the base from scratch, which is the easiest way to get the slope right.
If your patio is tipping toward the house or water sits against the foundation after rain, call now instead of waiting a season, because that water has to go somewhere.
What happens when you call us about a patio in Muscatine?
Here's how a patio job runs with us, from your first call to the walk-through, and who you'll be dealing with along the way. I'm the one who comes out, and my crew and I do the work.
Call or send us a request
Call (563) 261-8613 or use the form, and tell us the patio's rough size, where it sits on your lot and whether you're inside city limits. That last part tells us which office handles any permit.
I come out and measure
I look at the spot myself, measure it, check where the water runs and ask what you'll use the patio for. You get an estimate that spells out what's in it and what isn't, so you can see where the money goes before you decide.
We take care of permits
Once you say go, we handle the permit side with your city's office and set up any inspections. In Muscatine the city says most permit reviews take about 10 business days from when the application goes in, so if your patio needs one, that wait goes into the start date.
We prep, pour and finish
Our crew digs out, packs the base, sets the forms and pours, the way we laid out above. When it's done I walk you through how to care for the new patio and when it's ready to use.
Get a free on-site estimate for your new patio
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day. I'll set a time to come look at the spot myself, and the estimate is free with no obligation.
(563) 261-8613Concrete patio construction in Muscatine, permits and ground
Inside Muscatine city limits, the city's Building & Construction Division enforces the building codes, and it says most work needs some type of permit while some work is exempt. That doesn't settle a patio one way or the other, so we check with the city before we set a date and pull the permit if your job needs one.
The ground here is the bigger story for a patio. Across most of Muscatine County's mapped soil, the shrink-swell rating, a measure of how much the soil swells and shrinks, is Moderate, and about 49% of the county's land drains well while 43% stays wet for long stretches. Those are county-wide shares, so they don't tell me what's in your yard, but they're why I look hard at where water sits on your lot before I price anything and why we take soft, wet soil out instead of pouring over it. We build patios the same way across the river in Rock Island, up the road in Davenport and in the other cities around Muscatine we work in.
Concrete patio questions from Muscatine homeowners
What causes a concrete patio to crack and sink?
Most of the time it's the work under the slab, because poor base preparation can lead to settling, uneven slab thickness and poor drainage, and those lead to cracking. That's why I'll talk more about the dig and the base at your estimate than about the surface.
What concrete holds up to freezing and thawing?
Air-entrained concrete, which has tiny air bubbles mixed in that give freezing water room to expand, is what a national concrete trade group advises for concrete that faces severe freezing and thawing. Ask any contractor, us included, whether the mix in the quote is good quality air-entrained concrete meant for those conditions.
Can a concrete patio be poured when it's freezing out?
It can, but only with a plan, because fresh concrete that freezes can lose more than half its potential strength and won't be durable. A national trade group says it needs protection from freezing until about two days after it's placed, and a regional group says it belongs on ground that has thawed, since concrete on frozen ground is likely to settle unevenly and crack once the ground thaws. If your timing runs close to frost, we'll work out how those days get covered before we set a date.
Do I need a permit for a patio in Muscatine?
Possibly, since inside city limits most work needs some type of permit and some work is exempt, and the city decides which one your patio is. We find that out before we set a date, as covered above.
How much does a new concrete patio cost in Muscatine?
There's no one price, because your choices move it as much as the size does. A simple rectangle the truck can reach costs less than curves, steps or a spot the concrete has to be wheeled to, and a patio that will carry a hot tub needs more under it. The estimate gives you the number for your yard.
How do I care for a new concrete patio in its first winter?
Shovel it and leave the deicing chemicals off that first winter, which is what a national concrete trade group advises for new concrete. After the first winter you can use them in moderate amounts.
Other concrete work that pairs with a patio
If you want your patio to look like something other than plain gray concrete, this page covers the patterned work we do and what it involves.
If you're carrying grills, chairs and food out back, a poured walk keeps you off wet grass and gives the patio a clean edge to meet.
Call about your new concrete patio
Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and we take calls until 11 PM on weekdays and 10 PM on weekends at (563) 261-8613, so you can call after work or send the form.