How Much Concrete For Patio

Surface Options For Concrete Patio Flooring

There are various surface design options you can play with to customize the look of your concrete patio.

Stained Concrete Patio

Stained concrete is an affordable and aesthetic patio flooring choice, costing between $18 to $27 per square foot. Stained patio colors come in a wide array of hues, particularly earthy tones, and can include design accents.

With staining, the color sinks deep into the concrete and is fade-resistant. Whereas paint coats will peel and flake away, stained concrete patios maintain their color without much maintenance.

Stained concrete comes in two forms, acid stained and water-based stains. Acid based stains generally come in earthy tones, whereas water-based stains have more of a variety of available hues, including black and metallic hues.

Stamped Concrete Patio

Stamped concrete can take the look of stones such as slate and flagstone, as well as brick, tile, cobblestones, and even wood. Stamped concrete has almost limitless possibilities for color and design.

Many choose designs that blend well with existing stone or tile in the outdoor living space or the outside of the home. For instance, a brick-styled border of a patio might be the perfect fit for a brick house.

While the most common colors are greys and earth tones, rust and reddish hues are also popular. Stamped concrete is an affordable option, costing about $15 to $25 per square foot.

Stenciled Concrete Patio

Exposed Aggregate Concrete Patio

Engraved Concrete Patio

Painted Concrete Patio

Faq About Concrete Patios

1. What are the advantages of a concrete patio?

A concrete patio has many benefits: Its an inexpensive material. Its easy to maintain. It can withstand harsh weather conditions. It can replicate the appearance of other patio materials, such as brick or cobblestone.

2. How much does a cement patio cost?

The terms cement and concrete are often used interchangeably, but theyre not the same thing. Cement is an ingredient in concrete and cant make up a patio by itself. When someone refers to a cement patio, its actually a concrete patio.

How Much Concrete Can Fit In A Dumpster

In most locations, you can load up to 10 tons of concrete into one of our concrete disposal dumpsters.* Since just one cubic yard adds up to over 4,000 pounds, we recommend calculating the weight of your concrete before you rent a dumpster.

Concrete generally cannot be hauled in containers larger than 20 yards. Most areas place a legal limit for how much weight can be safely transported on the road. If you have a lot to get rid of, rent more than one dumpster to avoid overage fees and ensure the debris can be hauled safely.

Keep in Mind: Heavy debris cannot be collected through curbside pickup or in front load containers.

*Weight limits can vary by location.

Have Questions About Concrete Disposal? Get in Touch

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Cost Estimator By Size

Your patios size will have a significant impact on your total bill. Most concrete patio contractors charge between $4.40 and $16 per square foot, depending on thepatios shape and finish.

The larger your patio is, the more you can expect to pay the pros for labor and materials. A 400-square-foot concrete patio will cost four times more in labor and materials than a 100-square-foot patio.

Below youll find the average cost estimates for installing a concrete patio. Keep in mind these average costs cover only the materials and the labor needed to install a concrete patio. The prices do not include land preparation costs, such as grading or resloping the site, nor high-end finishes.

Before You Hire Your Contractor

Narrow your choices down to three who have extensive experience pouring concrete patios and adding the decorative effects youve chosen.

Pick from contractors who check off some or all of the following.

• See their portfolios of previous work.
• Make sure they are bonded and insured.
• Make sure cleanup is included in their quotes.
• Have an exact starting date and finishing date.
• Ask about warranties on the concrete and labor.
• Check their Better Business Bureau rating.
• Check their HomeGuide and Google rating

Get free estimates on HomeGuide from trusted pros:

Daniel W.

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Understanding The Concrete Calculator

To understand how concrete calculator works we must first begin with the definition of volume. Volume is the space / area that a substance occupies in this case its concrete.

Each calculator depending on the shape of area, may require different inputs to calculate the volume of concrete required to fill the shape. The require inputs can be entered in US units or metric units .

The calculator also provides the option to calculate cost of the material required to fill the shape.

Concrete Patio Vs Brick

The materials for a brick patio will typically cost around $7 per square foot and another $10 to $12 per square foot for installation since they need to be laid by hand. However, a well-made paving brick can last for one hundred years or more.

• Bricks are a possible alternative for a patiothey come in a variety of colors, and you can get creative in your designs with them.
• They are more likely to crack, break, and shift.
• You have to power wash and reseal the surface every year.

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Requesting Your Ready Mix Supplier To Visit Your Site

After you have chosen a Ready Mix Supplier, have a representative come to your site to give his/her opinion on the quantity required. Compare the figure with what you came up with. Discuss any variances with the supplier.

Your ready mix supplier is invaluable for checking your view of job conditions, checking your margin of safety, identifying issues you may not have thought of, and informing you of any local conditions you need to be aware of.

Concrete Patio Vs Wood Deck

The average cost to build a deck is $25 per square foot with most homeowners spending around $4,380 to $10,080. For an entry level deck it costs around $15/sq.ft., and for a deck built with premium materials costs $35/sq.ft.

• You wont have to deal with mold, rot, or termites.
• A decks wood fades if not treated,
• It might not be able to hold the weight of a hot tub or BBQ grill and kitchen area either.
• Usually needs to be power washed, stained, and resealed every few years.

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Circular Slab With Price Per Unit Of Volume

I want to construct a circular slab of concrete measuring 5 ft high.

I want to figure out how many bags of 40 lb concrete I need to do this.

The outer diameter is 10 ft and the inner diameter is 9 ft. The price of the concrete is $108 per cubic yard.

The ready mix concrete calculator does the following calculations:

Volume=××Height=××5ft=74.6ft3Volume=××Height=××5ft=74.6ft3

Weight=Volume×145lb/ft3=74.6ft3×145=10819lbWeight=Volume×145lb/ft3=74.6ft3×145=10819lb

Bags=Weight40lb=10819lb40lb=270.4271bagsBags=Weight40lb=10819lb40lb=270.4271bags

Cost=Volume×Priceperunitofvolume=74.6ft3×108$/yd3=$298.45Cost=Volume×Priceperunitofvolume=74.6ft3×108$/yd3=$298.45

But wait, theres more!

We imagine you are wondering what happens if you want to use concrete bags weigh different amounts.

Well, our calculator can figure this out for you as well.

Simply select from the multiple options in the drop-down menu to select a different weight.

Concrete Patio Examples And Costs Associated

Large patio with tiered stairs and a stamped concrete border fire pit area. New build home so no landscape removal. Half of the raised patio already existed. Square footage 1100

Total Investment: $19,900

Colored Patio with Smooth Border. No Existing landscaping removed. Square footage 700

Total Investment: $6,900

Patio with indented step. New build so no existing landscaping to remove. Square footage 500

Total Investment: $6,425

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How Does The Concrete Calculator Work

Lets give an example to illustrate how our concrete calculator works.

The best way to calculate how much concrete you will need in cubic yards is to do the following:

• Calculate the volume of your area after determining its shape by multiplying it with the thickness of the concrete.
• Convert the volume from feet to cubic yards to get a precise number of concrete that you need in cubic yards.

NOTE:As you probably know, foundation walls and stem walls need different calculations. Since they are thicker, they require more concrete to stay strong against a whole house which is something you should definitely consider.

Example

You have 50 round concrete form tubes, cement tubes or any other tubes you need to fill. Each of them is 4 feet in height and 10 inches in width . Shortly, what you have is 4 x 10 tubes.

Now, you need to:

We hope the example above clearly showed you how to use a concrete calculator and get to the values that are important to you or your custom project.

How Thick Should A Concrete Patio Be

While the average slab thickness for a patio is 4 inches, you may not want to simply pour a four-inch slab and move on. Why not? The answer is simple: not every patio is built in the same conditions or holds the same amount of weight.

For example, if your patio will be holding up a heavy hot tub, jacuzzi, or outdoor kitchen, you may want to pour the concrete thicker in those spots. Similarly, if you are pouring concrete on a slope, youll certainly be using a higher slab thickness at the lower part of the slope.

Will you be decorating with simple, average furniture like chairs, an outdoor sofa, and an umbrella? Or, are you building an outdoor kitchen, complete with a brick pizza oven? Is your slab going to be on a hill or have a lot of water draining beneath it?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you calculate the right slab thickness for your concrete patio! The type of ground youre pouring over doesnt matter too much, since youll prep the ground before your pour. What does matter, however, is how much weight your concrete patio will need to support!

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Painted Concrete Patio Cost

For an estimated $2 to $6 per square foot, either painting or coating concrete is a great way to add design and/or color to your patio concrete with professional quality products.

• Pros: Depending on your concrete contractors skill, you should have the choice of literally any color.
• Upkeep: Standard cleaning methods and resealing every couple of years.
• Summary: A straightforward, inexpensive way to add designs or color to your concrete slab.

How To Calculate How Much Concrete You Need

Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Deane is a member of The Spruce’s Home Improvement Review Board.

Toa55 / Getty Images

For projects around the home like patio slabs, fence posts, walkways, and more, you’ll need to know how to calculate how much concrete you need. Online calculators and tables are helpful. But those calculators are often tied to specific brands. Once you know how to calculate concrete needs, you can apply this skill to any type of concrete, any brand, any project.

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How Long Will My Concrete Patio Last

A well-maintained concrete patio can last 30 to 50 years. And often longer with something as simple as a resurfacing. Resurfacing concrete costs$4 per square foot on average. Like most other structures, the amount of care and maintenance you put into your patio will increase its longevity and help you enjoy it for years to come.

How Does It Compare To Stone Or Other Materials

When compared to similar options, stamped concrete excels in many categories:

• Customization: No other surface offers the numerous pattern and color choices and complete customization that is possible with stamped concrete.
• Maintenance: With minimal maintenance, stamped concrete can last for decades, while other surfaces such as precast pavers or natural stone need ongoing maintenance to keep weeds from growing between them and to keep the joints filled with sand.
• Installation: Stamped concrete installation is faster than setting natural stone or precast pavers.
• Price: Pouring stamped concrete will usually cost considerably less than installing natural stone surfaces and although some lower-end paver options may initially have a lower price than stamped concrete, they may end up costing more in the long run for maintenance, repair or replacement.

See this chart comparing stamped concrete with other paving materials.

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What Are Your Concrete Patio Options

When most people think of concrete, plain concrete is usually what comes to mind. This can be an option if grey suits your patio, as long as it’s applied professionally and is sealed against moisture, but it isn’t the only option.

If you don’t want grey concrete, your concreter can also discuss options such as coloured concrete and techniques to resurface concrete with patterns or to look like brick, stone or other materials to create a stunning patio floor.

Choosing decorative concrete will add to your concrete patio cost. Plain concrete is the least expensive option, followed by:

• Coloured concrete costs $75$90 per square metre
• Exposed aggregate costs $100$150 per square metre
• Stencilled concrete costs $100$150 per square metre
• Stamped concrete costs from $120$200 per square metre
• Polished concrete costs $50$100 per square metre on top of the concreting cost

See our patio design ideas for inspiration for your concrete patio. Also see our 8 design ideas for concrete driveways that can also be applied to a concrete patio.

Should I Order Concrete By The Yard From A Ready Mix Company Or Just Use Bags

Larger jobs such as driveways are easier to complete when ordering concrete by the yard, rather than trying to mix bag after bag by hand. For smaller jobs, like a walkway, modest patio or footings, you should calculate the number of concrete bags instead.

Bagged concrete is ideal for:

• Pouring small slabs for sidewalks or patios
• Setting posts for fences or mailboxes
• Making repairs to foundation walls, walkways or steps
• Pouring small curbs, steps, or ramps
• Footings for decks, pergolas, walls and more

If youre purchasing bagged concrete you may be able to have it delivered, but if it is only a few bags youll be responsible for transporting it yourself. Youll also need additional equipment for mixing the concrete. A rented mixer can be very helpful, but a wheelbarrow works for just a few bags.

Ready mixed concrete by the yard is good for:

• Large patios, driveways, pool decks and more
• Foundation slabs for a house
• Parking lots or commercial sidewalks

If youre planning to order concrete from a ready mix supplier, theyll need to know how many yards of concrete to deliver. Many ready mix companies will have a minimum order of 1 yard, and will charge shortage fees when ordering partial batches. The average truck holds between 9 and 11 yards total. If your project requires more concrete, multiple trucks will be necessary.

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How Do I Hire The Right Contractor To Install My Stamped Concrete

As when choosing any contractor to do projects around your home or business, you should get several written estimates and check their references carefully. With stamped concrete, its especially important to find a contractor who can show you a portfolio of their work and provide actual samples of the patterns and colors they offer. Some decorative concrete contractors have showrooms with all their samples on display. Another option is to visit the contractors website, where youll often find photos of their projects and a description of the types of decorative concrete they specialize in.

Find contractors that specialize in stamped concrete near me and get more tips for hiring a contractor to do exterior concrete work.

Chutima Chaochaiva / Shutterstock

How To Repair Stamped Concrete Pool Deck

I recommend wetting color patch materials with a 50:50 blend of concrete bonding polymer and water. Use a wooden tongue depressor or gloved finger to smear the color patch into the cracks. Soften the edges with a damp rag or sponge to blend the patch and color into the slab. Let these repairs cure for 24 hours.

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Concrete Patio Supplies Cost

Here is a list of the materials and tools needed to frame, pour and finish a concrete patio.

• $2 $4 per Square Foot | Concrete by the bag costs more than by the truck, but unless you pour a large concrete patio, a full truck load likely wont be required
• About a $1 per Linear Foot | Lumber to frame the perimeter of the patio for pouring the concrete lumber prices remain volatile, so this is subject to change
• $12 $15 per Box | Duplex nails used to fasten the framing together
• $15 $25 per Cubic Yard | Youll want about 4 inches of it, unless youve had to dig out more topsoil. One yard of gravel covers about 80 square feet 4 inches deep.
• $.25 $.33 per square foot | Steel or Fiberglass concrete reinforcement
• $15 $30 | Edging Trowel for working the concrete along the edges
• $25 $40 Finishing Trowel of Float | Required for finished concrete to give it a smooth surface
• $35 $40 per Gallon or $170-$200 for a 5-gallon Pail | Concrete Sealer with 200 square foot per gallon coverage
• $300 $500+ for purchase $50 $100 per day Rental | Concrete Saw with Diamond Blade