Concrete patio construction in Cupertino CA - a slab that drains away from the house

In the Bay Area, a 4-inch concrete slab, installed, usually runs about $13 to $18 per square foot, and that's the area's usual price, not our quote. A hard-to-reach backyard or a stamped finish moves your number, and the estimate I write gives you the real one.

It will likely crack somewhere, because all concrete tends to crack and a crack-free slab isn't possible, so be wary of any quote that promises one. We cut control joints so cracks follow lines we chose, and steel set in the right spot helps keep them narrow. Concrete also cracks where the ground under it moves unevenly, so the base gets my attention.

Plan on about a week, since one Bay Area contractor's guide says a poured patio needs 7 days before normal use after two to three days of work on site. Book at least a week before a gathering out back. Industry guidance says curing, keeping the new slab damp so the top stays strong, should start right away and run at least 3 days.

Yes. One Bay Area contractor's guide notes backyard patios are usually harder to reach than driveways, so concrete may go through the gate by wheelbarrow or need a hired pump. Which one your yard needs is part of what I look at on the visit, since it changes the price and how the pour day runs.

A licensed contractor, or in some cases a landscaping contractor, since California's license board lets one take on concrete that's part of improving the grounds around a house. Unlicensed work is capped at $1,000, and only when the job needs no permit and the person employs nobody on it. If your patio needs a permit, we pull it and set up the inspections with the city.