Home › Concrete Patio Installation
We design and pour custom concrete patio spaces for homes throughout St Louis, MO. Whether you want a simple broom finish slab or a decorative stamped concrete patio, our team handles layout, grading, and drainage so your outdoor living area is comfortable and low maintenance. Enjoy a durable patio ready for grilling, seating, and entertaining.
St. Louis Concreters provides professional concrete patio throughout St Louis, MO, Missouri and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (314) 207-8572 or request your free quote.
Concrete patios in St. Louis that are built for real backyards
A good concrete patio should feel like an extension of your home, not an afterthought. At St. Louis Concreters, we focus on how you actually use your yard: grilling, watching Cardinals games outside, kids running through sprinklers, or just having a quiet coffee in the morning. Before we talk sizes or finishes, we walk the space with you, look at sun and shade through the day, and talk through where furniture, grills, and walkways will go.
St. Louis yards often have a bit of slope, so we pay close attention to drainage and existing landscaping. We look at where water currently flows during heavy Midwestern storms and design the concrete patio so it sheds water away from the house and toward safe drainage areas. This planning step is what prevents puddles under furniture, ice buildup near doors in winter, and water seeping toward your foundation.
We also make sure your new concrete patio fits local code and practical needs. That means checking clearances from property lines, planning for steps or railings when needed, and thinking ahead about any future plans, like a pergola, hot tub, or outdoor kitchen. If you want power, lighting, or a gas line later, we can leave access points or sleeves in the concrete instead of having to cut into it down the road.
How we install a concrete patio that survives St. Louis weather
Concrete patios in St. Louis have to handle freeze-thaw cycles, humid summers, and heavy rain. Our installation process is built around those realities so your patio stays solid and attractive for years.
First, we mark and excavate the area to the proper depth, which usually means removing 6 to 10 inches of soil depending on the soil conditions and your design. Many St. Louis neighborhoods have clay-heavy soil that holds water, so we pay extra attention to digging deep enough and getting all organic material out to avoid future settling.
Next, we install a compacted gravel base. For most patios we use a 4 to 6 inch layer of crushed rock that we compact in lifts using plate compactors. This base is what keeps your concrete from cracking due to uneven settlement and helps with drainage. On poor draining yards or for larger patios, we may use a thicker base or add a French drain alongside the slab.
We then set solid forms to define the shape and establish the slope, typically about 1/8 inch per foot away from the house for proper runoff. At this stage, we place steel reinforcement, usually rebar or welded wire mesh, based on patio size, soil conditions, and how you plan to use the space. For example, if you plan to roll heavy grills or have a hot tub, we will upgrade reinforcement and possibly thicken certain sections.
When we pour, we use a concrete mix that is appropriate for exterior flatwork in our climate, usually a 4,000 psi mix with air entrainment to handle freeze-thaw. Control joints are saw-cut or tooled in at specific intervals and in a deliberate pattern so that any shrinking or movement in the slab occurs along clean lines instead of random cracks. Proper curing is the final key step, so we use curing compounds or a wet cure method and protect the slab from rapid drying due to wind, hot sun, or sudden temperature swings.
Design options to personalize your concrete patio
Your patio can be simple and functional or a focal point of your backyard. St. Louis Concreters offers several ways to customize the look and feel of your concrete patio so it matches your home and the rest of your outdoor space.
For a straightforward, clean look, a standard broom finish provides traction and a classic appearance. Many homeowners choose this around pools, play areas, or on larger patios where durability and safety are top priorities. If you want a more decorative style, we can do stamped concrete that mimics stone, brick, or wood planks. In St. Louis, popular choices are patterns that coordinate with brick homes or blend with existing flagstone or paver walkways.
Color is another option. We can add integral color to the concrete mix for a consistent tone throughout the slab, often in warm grays, tans, or subtle browns that complement local brick and siding styles. For more budget-conscious projects, we may apply color hardeners or stains to specific areas, such as borders or “rugs” that visually separate a dining area from a seating area.
We can also incorporate functional design elements into your patio. This might include thickened edge beams for future pergola posts, built-in pads for a grill island, or step-down sections that transition smoothly to your lawn. In older St. Louis neighborhoods with smaller yards, we often design multi-level concrete patios that work around existing trees or garage access so you gain usable space without feeling crowded.
Lighting and utilities can be planned as part of the design as well. We coordinate with you or your electrician to set conduit in the slab for post lights, outlets, or even future heaters. Doing this at the installation stage keeps the patio surface clean and avoids exposed wires and cords later.
What affects the cost of a concrete patio in St. Louis
Concrete patio pricing depends on more than just square footage. When we prepare estimates in the St. Louis area, we walk you through the real factors so you understand where each dollar goes.
Size and shape are the obvious starting points. A simple rectangular 12 by 16 patio near the back door will cost less per square foot than a curved, multi-level design with steps, borders, and multiple access points. Complex shapes require more forming, more cutting, and more hands-on finishing.
Site conditions are a major cost driver as well. If we need to remove an old concrete slab, break up asphalt, or haul out large amounts of unsuitable soil, that adds labor and disposal fees. Tight access, like narrow side yards common in parts of South City, may mean smaller equipment or more wheelbarrow work, which also affects price.
Thickness and reinforcement matter. A standard patio that will only see foot traffic might be 4 inches thick with standard reinforcement. If you want to support a hot tub, outdoor kitchen with masonry, or occasional vehicle access off an alley, we may recommend a thicker slab, upgraded rebar, or a different base design. These upgrades protect your investment and reduce the risk of costly repairs later.
Finish and decorative options influence cost too. Broom finish is the most economical. Stamped concrete, borders, complex saw-cut patterns, and multi-color stains add labor and material, but they can still be more cost effective than natural stone while delivering a similar visual impact.
Finally, timing can affect pricing slightly. Spring and fall are the most popular times for concrete patios in St. Louis because temperatures are moderate. Booking several weeks ahead for those seasons gives you more scheduling options and can help avoid rush charges that sometimes come with last-minute projects.
Local considerations: timing, weather, and long-term performance
Living in St. Louis means planning around real Midwestern weather. For concrete patios, we usually recommend scheduling major installations from early spring through late fall, avoiding the coldest winter weeks and the hottest, driest streaks of summer when possible. This helps concrete cure properly and allows us to deliver better surface finishes.
When we do pour during very warm or cold conditions, we adjust. In hot weather, we may pour earlier in the day, use set retarders, and provide extra curing to prevent surface cracking. In cooler weather, we monitor forecasted temperatures closely, use blankets or insulation if needed, and avoid pouring if overnight temps are expected to drop too low before the concrete gains strength.
Freeze-thaw cycles are a big factor in St. Louis, particularly in older neighborhoods with established trees and varying soil conditions. We always use air-entrained exterior mixes and encourage good water management around the patio. That includes correct slope, proper downspout routing, and sometimes adding drains or gravel swales so water does not sit against the slab.
Salt use in winter is another local concern. On concrete patios, de-icing salts can accelerate surface damage, especially in the first year. We advise using sand or non-corrosive products for traction and avoiding standard rock salt on the new patio. We also discuss sealing. While sealing is not a cure-all, a quality penetrating sealer applied at the right time helps reduce moisture penetration and makes it easier to keep your patio clean over the long term.
Tree roots are common in many St. Louis yards. When needed, we adjust the layout, install root barriers, or thicken the slab at specific points to help reduce future lifting and cracking from growing roots. We talk honestly about what is realistically preventable and what will simply require monitoring over time.
What to know before you hire a concrete patio contractor
Before you move forward with a concrete patio, it helps to know what to ask and what to expect from your contractor. At St. Louis Concreters, we encourage homeowners to compare proposals based on more than just the bottom line.
Ask how thick the patio will be, what type of base will be installed, and what reinforcement is included. Get clarity on the concrete mix strength and whether it is air entrained for exterior use. Have the contractor explain where control joints will go and how they will handle drainage. These details are what determine how your patio performs after the first couple of winters.
You should also understand the project timeline. A typical residential concrete patio installation takes 2 to 4 days on site for removal or excavation, base prep, forming, and pouring, plus curing time before heavy use. In most cases you can walk on the patio within 24 to 48 hours, but we generally recommend waiting about a week before placing heavy furniture and longer for hot tubs or built-in features.
Permits and local requirements can vary by municipality in the St. Louis region. We help you identify if a permit is needed based on patio size, location, and any structural additions like roofs or decks. If your project falls in an area with an active HOA, we can provide plan sketches and finish samples for your approval process.
Finally, make sure you know what kind of warranty or follow-up support is included. We are realistic about concrete. Hairline surface cracks can occur, but with proper design and installation, structural problems should not. St. Louis Concreters stands behind our work, and we will explain which types of issues are covered, how to care for your new patio, and what maintenance will help it look its best over time.
