A concrete patio is one of the best upgrades you can make to a backyard. It gives you a clean, solid place to grill, eat, relax and entertain, and in North Texas you can use it for most of the year. The key to a patio you will love is planning it around how you actually want to use your yard.
Start with how you will use it
Before you think about shapes and finishes, make a list of what you want to do on your patio. Some common goals:
- A grilling area close to the back door
- An outdoor dining table for family dinners
- A seating area with outdoor sofas or chairs
- A fire pit area
- Room for kids to play
- A future outdoor kitchen, pergola or covered roof
Each of these needs a different amount of space. A small bistro set and a grill can fit on a modest patio, while a dining table for eight plus a seating area needs a lot more room.
Sizing your patio
One of the most common regrets homeowners have is making a patio too small. Furniture always takes up more space than you think, and you need room to walk around it.
A few simple guidelines:
- Dining tables need space on every side so people can pull their chairs back and stand up without stepping off the patio.
- Seating areas need walking room between pieces of furniture.
- Grills need clearance around them, and you want a clear path between the grill and the back door.
A practical trick: set your furniture, or a few lawn chairs and a table, out in the yard where the patio will go and walk around it. Then outline the shape with a garden hose or rope. It is much easier to picture the final size when you can stand in it.
Choosing a shape
A rectangle is simple and efficient, but it is not your only option.
- Curved edges soften the look and flow nicely around trees and flower beds.
- L-shaped patios can wrap around a corner of the house and create separate areas for dining and lounging.
- Connected walkways link the patio to the driveway, side gate or garden.
Think about the view from inside, too. Your patio is something you will look at from the kitchen and living room every day.
Sun, shade and wind
Texas summers are hot. Pay attention to where the sun hits your yard in the afternoon, and where shade falls from the house and trees. A patio on the shady side of the house can be much more comfortable on summer evenings. If you plan to add a pergola or covered roof later, plan the patio size and layout with that in mind now.
Drainage is not optional
Your patio needs to slope slightly away from the house so rain runs off instead of pooling against the foundation or the back door. North Texas storms can drop a lot of water quickly, and the clay soil here swells when it gets wet. Proper grading and a compacted base protect both your patio and your home.
Picking a finish
- Broom finish: clean, simple, slip-resistant and the best value.
- Stamped concrete: the look of stone, slate, brick or wood, with color.
- Decorative border: a stamped or colored border around a broom-finished patio, a good balance of style and budget.
Plan for the future
If you think you might add an outdoor kitchen, a fire pit, a hot tub, a pergola or a covered roof someday, tell your contractor up front. Planning for those features now can save you from cutting into a finished patio later.
Caring for your new patio
You can usually walk on a new patio after a day or two. Wait about a week before setting heavy furniture or a grill on it. After that, concrete patios need very little maintenance: sweep it, rinse it, and clean up grease or spills quickly. Stamped patios look their best when they are resealed every few years.
Common patio planning mistakes
- Making it too small. Furniture and walking space add up fast. If you are torn between two sizes, the bigger one is usually the one you will be happier with.
- Forgetting about drainage. A patio that slopes toward the house can send water to your foundation or back door.
- Ignoring the sun. A patio in full afternoon sun can be too hot to use for much of a Texas summer without shade.
- No path to get there. If people have to cross wet grass to reach the patio, a connecting walkway is worth adding.
- Not planning for later. A future pergola, outdoor kitchen or hot tub is easier to plan for now than to work around later.
A simple planning checklist
- List everything you want to do on the patio.
- Set out furniture or chairs to test the size.
- Outline the shape with a garden hose or rope.
- Watch where the sun and shade fall during the afternoon.
- Decide on a finish: broom, stamped or a stamped border.
- Note any future features you might add.
- Schedule a free on-site estimate.
Bring your list and ideas to the estimate, and we will help you turn them into a patio plan that works for your yard.
Ready to plan your patio?
We build concrete and stamped patios across Dallas–Fort Worth, and most patios take 1–3 days, depending on the project and the weather. Call DFW Solid Concrete at (972) 922-8156 or send us the form, and we will come out to measure and give you a free written estimate.
