New patios and extensions
Concrete Patios & Extensions in Las Vegas
Water sitting at the slider, a crack along the house wall, a slab too small for the table. We pour new Las Vegas patios and extensions, and check slope and the joint at the foundation first.
Call us(725) 502-1499
Mon to Sat, 7am to 7pm. Closed Sunday.
What goes into a new patio
While we're out we check the fall away from your back wall, any old slab you want to keep, and where Las Vegas downspouts and sprinklers actually drain.
Layout and fall set
Forms are set so the finished slab drops about a quarter inch per foot away from the house.
Compacted base underneath
Roughly 4 to 6 inches of compacted aggregate base, lighter than a driveway needs.
Mix sized for foot traffic
Patios commonly run 2,500 to 3,500 psi concrete, since they carry chairs and people, not cars.
Isolation joint at the wall
A separating joint where the slab meets the foundation, so house and patio move independently.
Clean tie-in to old concrete
On an extension, a joint where new meets old keeps one slab from cracking the other.
Finish of your choice
Broom, stamped or colored, picked before the pour so the crew is ready for it.
Why do back patios here settle toward the house?
Many rear patios that look like they've settled will simply not have been pitched away from the house. The amended residential code in Clark County asks for hard surfaces within 10ft of the foundations to be sloped away from the building by at least 2%. This is around 1/4-inch per foot. If the slab wasn't pitched or was pitched back toward the wall water will pool at the threshold every monsoon in Las Vegas. This adds moisture to the foundations over time. The second reason is if the slab is stuck to the house. If there isn't an isolation joint the patio and foundations will transfer cracks and settling stresses. If a section has genuinely settled it's a repair.
Puddles at the slider
July and August downpours on a flat patio, where water stops at the door instead of running off.
Crack along the back wall
Patios poured hard against the foundation with no isolation joint, cracking along the line where they meet.
New patio or patio extension: which do you need?
Stand on the old slab after a hose test. If it's solid, uncracked and water runs away from the house, extend it. If not, start fresh.
| What to compare | New patio | Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Bare dirt, lawn, or an old slab removed | A sound existing slab that stays in place |
| Slope | Set fresh at about 2 percent away from the house | New section follows the old slab's fall, if it's right |
| Joints | Isolation joint at the foundation, control joints across | Isolation joint where new concrete meets the old slab |
| Base work | Compacted base under the whole footprint | Compacted base under the added area only |
| Best when | The old patio is cracked through or drains backward | You like the slab you have and just need more |
Patio questions from Las Vegas backyards
Asked on most patio calls. Text a photo of the yard from the back door and rough measurements.
How much is a 10x10 concrete patio in Las Vegas?
It depends more on the yard than the square footage. Caliche in the dig, breaking out an old slab or lawn, how far the concrete has to travel through a side yard, and the finish all move the number. Text us a photo and measurements and we'll quote from that.
Which way should a patio slope away from the house?
Straight away from the wall, about a quarter inch per foot. Clark County's amended residential code uses 2 percent for hard surfaces within 10 feet of a foundation. That's a rule for building the house, not a patio permit rule, but it's the right target for any back slab.
Do I need plastic sheeting under a patio slab?
Usually no. The local code requires 10-mil poly underneath heated floor slabs, however patios and other flatwork that aren't likely to be enclosed and heated are exempt. If you may want to turn this into a room in the future lay the poly now. If you wait you'll have to lay a new slab.
Can I swap my back lawn for a patio and keep the SNWA rebate?
Not for the concrete part. SNWA excludes concrete and other impermeable surfaces from the Water Smart Landscapes rebate, though the rest of the converted yard may still qualify. Get SNWA's pre-conversion inspection before any lawn comes out; starting without approval can make the whole conversion ineligible.
How do you tie a new extension into my old patio?
With an isolation joint where the two slabs meet, so old and new concrete can move without cracking each other. The new section gets its own compacted base and carries the old slab's fall away from the house, assuming that fall was right to begin with, which isn't a given on older Las Vegas patios.
What is the cheapest way to fix up an old patio slab?
If the slab is solid and drains away from the house, a cleaning plus a stain or a fresh sealer coat costs far less than tearing it out. If it's cracked through or tips toward the wall, cosmetic work won't last. Send a photo and we'll say which camp it's in.
Is water pooling by your back door?
Push the water off the threshold, make sure no sprinkler is spraying the slab, and photo the puddle after the next rain. A call or text gets us looking.
Call us(725) 502-1499