Concrete Patio Construction in Lake Forest CA - a slab that drains the way it should
Old patio cracked, sinking or holding water by the back door? We build a new slab that slopes away from the house and wears well.
Complete Lake Forest Concrete Company is a concrete contractor based in Lake Forest. We pour driveways, walks and slabs for homeowners across Orange County, and concrete patio construction is a big part of that work. I come out myself to look at your yard and explain the job before we price it, and our own crew does the work.
- Owner walks the yard with you
- Slope and joints set before pour
- Site cleaned up before we leave
How we build a concrete patio
Concrete patio construction in Lake Forest usually starts with a slab out back that's cracked, sinking or holding water, or a bare yard you're tired of looking at. A patio is flatwork, the same kind of flat slab as a concrete sidewalk or driveway, so it needs a slope that carries rain away and a texture that isn't slick when wet. I settle the slope and joint layout with you before we pour.
The price moves with the patio's size, the finish you pick, whether steel goes in and whether an old slab has to be torn out first. The schedule turns on that tear-out, the weather on pour day and the curing, the wait while the concrete gains strength before you use it. Your estimate gives you our price for your yard.
- Tear-out. If there's an old patio, we break it up and haul it off so the new one starts on clean ground.
- Base prep. We dig out and pack the subgrade, the ground the slab rests on, because a base that's only raked level settles with the dirt.
- Forms and steel. Forms set the patio's edges and its slope, and rebar, steel bars that hold the slab together, goes in where the design calls for it.
- Pour and joints. We place and finish the concrete, then cut control joints, grooves that give the slab a planned place to crack.
Patio work we take on
We pour new patios, replace tired ones and add on to slabs that ran out of room, with a finish picked for how you'll actually use the space.
New patios
A new slab off the back door or out in the yard, laid out with you for size, shape and where the water should go.
Patio replacement
When an old patio has cracked, sunk or started holding water, we tear it out and build the new one on a properly packed base.
Stamped patios
Stamped concrete gives you a patterned look, but it needs resealing every 2 to 3 years to keep its color and surface protection, so plan for that upkeep.
Patio extensions
We add on to an existing patio and set isolation joints, breaks that keep the patio separate from the walks, steps and garage slab it meets.
Not seeing your project here? Tell us what you have in mind for the yard, and I'll explain what's involved.
Why a concrete patio is worth doing right
A well-built patio sheds water, stays even and holds up to years of chairs, grills and foot traffic. Most of what decides that is out of sight once it's poured, so that's where I put my attention.
- Base before finishIf the budget's tight, trim the finish, not the base, because the base is hidden on day one and the whole slab rests on it for years.
- Water runs awayWe check where water runs before we form, so the patio falls away from your house instead of toward the back door.
- Pour timed to weatherAt the same temperature, a sunny, windy day is harder on fresh concrete than a calm, humid one, so we plan the pour's protection around it.
- A proper cureCuring shields the new slab from dry air, wind and big temperature swings, because a poor cure can leave shrinkage cracks and a flaking top.
How a patio job goes
You call, I come out
Call or send the form, and I come out to look at the yard, the drainage and any old slab with you.
Options and your estimate
I go over finishes and layout with you, say which fits better and why, then leave an estimate. We also check with your city's building office about permits.
Pour, checks and walk-through
Our crew handles the prep, forms, pour and finish while I check the work at the key steps, then we walk the finished patio together.
Why homeowners hire us for patios
I care most about the parts of a patio you can't see once it's poured, the base, the joints and the cure, because they decide how it holds up. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job. Call (949) 619-8295 or send the form below.
The owner comes out
I see the yard and write the estimate myself, and our own crew does the work while I check it at the key steps.
Explained before it's priced
I want you to understand your patio well enough to ask good questions, whether you're asking us or anyone else you get a bid from.
Taught the strict way
I learned under a boss who made me redo forms and joint lines until they were right, and I still hear him every time I check a grade.
Patios in Lake Forest and nearby cities
After a pour, the concrete truck has to rinse out, and Orange County's construction guidance says that washout belongs in a set spot, not a storm drain, the street or bare ground. We plan where it goes before the truck arrives, so nothing runs down your gutter or into your yard.
We're based in Lake Forest and build patios across Orange County, including Mission Viejo and Irvine. A lot of the yards we see have an older slab out back that's settled or holds water by the house, so tear-out and drainage get a hard look on these visits. If your city isn't listed here, call and ask.
Tell us about your patio
Send the rough size, the finish you like and whether an old slab comes out. We reply within one business day to set up a free estimate at your property, with no obligation.
Call (949) 619-8295Concrete patio questions
How much does a concrete patio cost in Lake Forest, CA?
A concrete patio in Orange County usually costs about $6 to $18 per square foot, and that's a county-wide figure, not our quote. Where yours lands depends on the size, finish and prep covered above. The estimate gives you our own price for your yard.
Will a new concrete patio crack like my old one did?
Concrete can't be kept from cracking entirely, but well-planned joints control where cracks show up and keep them small. Wire mesh won't stop cracking either, though it tends to keep cracks from opening up. That's why the joint layout gets settled with you before the pour.
What is the best finish for an outdoor concrete patio?
A broom finish is the standard for outdoor home concrete and a sound default for most patios. We drag a stiff broom across the fresh surface, which leaves a texture that sheds water and gives your feet some grip. Stamped is the other common pick, with the resealing noted above.
Does a concrete patio contractor in California need a license?
Yes, unless the whole job is minor work up to $1,000. California's contractors board licenses concrete contractors to form, pour, place and finish flat concrete, and even a small job needs a license if it requires any permit or the person hires workers. We're fully licensed and insured.