Concrete patio construction in Dickinson ND - a slab sloped so rain runs off
What goes into building a concrete patio in Dickinson?
Vertex Dickinson Concrete builds concrete patios in Dickinson as a slab poured on a dug-out, packed base, sloped so rain runs off and jointed so cracks land where we planned them. I come out to look first, and our own crew does the work with me there running it.
Most folks call because the old patio has sunk, cracked or holds puddles by the back door, or because there's only grass where they'd like a table and grill. Either way the job is a slab poured on the ground, and how well it holds up gets decided underneath it, in the dirt we dig out and the base we pack hard.
Before anyone digs, we call in the locates and ask about your own lines, like sprinklers, power you've run past the meter or a line out to the fire pit, since the free utility marking skips those and finding them falls to you as the owner. Then we lay out where the joints will go and set the forms so rain drains off the slab, away from your house.
Size and the work your yard needs set the price, the weather mostly sets the date, and you'll get your own number when I come out to look. A lot of people tie in a concrete sidewalk out to the driveway while we're set up.
What a patio takes
- Locates called and private lines found
- Old slab or sod dug out
- Base packed hard, not just raked
- Forms set to slope off the house
- Joints laid out before the pour
- Broom finish for grip when wet
What to weigh before booking a concrete patio
What sets the price
Getting a truck close to the back yard, curves or steps in the shape, tearing out an old slab and the finish you choose all move the number.
What the date turns on
Weather sets most of it, since we'd rather not pour into a hard freeze or midday heat. After the pour, you stay off it while it cures and hardens enough to take weight.
Base before finish
Put the money in the packed base first, because a fancy top can't save a slab that settles. A broom finish grips when wet, and stamped concrete adds a pattern.
Patio questions from Dickinson homeowners
How much does a concrete patio cost in Dickinson, ND?
I give you a real number once I've seen your yard, because size, access and base work change more from one back yard to the next than anything else. A broom finish keeps the price lower than a stamped or decorative top. Call (701) 495-9954 and I'll come take a look.
What is the best concrete for a patio that freezes and thaws in North Dakota?
Air-entrained concrete, a mix full of tiny air bubbles that give freezing water somewhere to go, is what national concrete guidance calls for wherever moisture and freeze-thaw are expected, and that fits a Dickinson winter. The same guidance says fresh concrete should be kept from freezing until about two days after it's placed, so a late-season pour needs a plan to cover it. If a quote doesn't say whether the mix is air-entrained, ask.
What causes a concrete patio to crack, and will a new one crack too?
Most slabs crack a little as concrete shrinks and moves with the cold, so the industry standard for slabs on the ground calls for contraction joints, planned grooves that give those cracks a straight line to follow instead of wandering across the middle. I'll show you where the joints fall on your layout before the pour. The ugly cracks usually come from a base that was only raked flat and then settled, or from joints cut late or skipped.
How do I find buried lines before digging a patio in Dickinson?
You or your contractor call 8-1-1 at least 48 hours before digging, as North Dakota law requires, and the utilities mark their lines at no cost. We make that call on our jobs and time it to the dig, because the marks are only good for 21 days, and your own private lines are the ones we ask you about.
Does a patio contractor need a license in North Dakota?
Yes, once a job's cost, value or price is over $4,000, whoever does the work has to be licensed as a contractor in North Dakota. You can check any contractor's standing in the state's registered contractor search, and we're licensed and insured.
Who issues concrete permits for a patio in Dickinson, ND?
The City of Dickinson issues concrete, excavation, driveway and stormwater permits for work in the City's right-of-way or on other City property. That doesn't settle every backyard patio, so we check with the city on each job before we start, take care of the permits that fall to us as the contractor and help you with any that fall to you.
Concrete patios near you
We're based in Dickinson and build patios there and in the cities around it, so pick your area below or call (701) 495-9954 if yours isn't listed.
Other concrete work
- Concrete driveway building
- Stamped concrete services
- Concrete sidewalk building
- Garage floor concrete
- Decorative concrete
- Concrete retaining walls
- Concrete floor installation
- Concrete pool decks
- Concrete steps construction
- Slab foundation building
- Foundation installation
- Concrete parking lot building
- Concrete footings
- Foundation raising
- Concrete cutting
Get a free on-site patio estimate
Send the patio's size, its spot and your hoped-for pour date. We'll get back to you within one business day, then I'll come out, no pressure to book.