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7 Factors That Impact the Cost of a Concrete Patio

7 Factors That Impact the Cost of a Concrete Patio

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Concrete is a classic choice for building patios and is known for its affordable cost, easy maintenance, and versatility. But exactly how much do concrete patios cost?

Ideally, a typical concrete patio should cost you anywhere between $1,500 to $4,500, with a national average of around $3,000, including labor and materials. However, the exact cost may vary depending on several factors.

In today’s guide, we’ll take a closer look at the pricing of concrete patios, so you can have a better estimate depending on your needs. Let’s dive in!

How Much Does a Concrete Patio Cost per Square Food?

The square footage of a concrete patio is the primary factor affecting its cost. For that reason, it’s usually easier to estimate the cost of a patio per square foot.

Concrete patios usually cost around $5 to $15 per square foot, which includes both the materials and labor.

This price range covers anything from a plain patio with no decorations to a patio with simple decoration, such as adding one color variation.

However, a high-end concrete patio could easily cost you up to $25 per square foot or even more, so you have to keep that in mind if you’re looking for something a bit more elaborate.

The average size of a concrete patio is around 300 square feet. For that reason, a typical patio should cost around $1,500 to $4,500.

Factors That Can Affect the Overall Cost of Concrete Patios

In this section, we’ll have an in-depth look at some of the most influential aspects when it comes to concrete patio pricing along with the expected costs in those situations.

1 – Labor Rates in Your Area

The labor costs and rates in your area are among the major reasons why the price of a concrete patio may vary from one location to another.

This factor is mainly tied to the economical status of a certain area. For instance, if you live in an urban area or a big city with a large economy, the cost of a concrete patio will be on the higher end of the scale.

This is because professional patio builders have to cover the costs of higher standards of living and higher taxes within the city, which reflects on the rates.

Additionally, depending on where you live, you may need certain permits or pay some fees to build a patio, which adds up to the final cost of the project.

2 – The Thickness of the Concrete Layer

Another factor that can greatly impact the cost of a concrete patio is how thick it is. As a general rule, the thicker the concrete slab, the more durable it’s going to be.

The sturdiness of the concrete patio is a critical aspect that affects its longevity and how much weight it can support without cracking.

For example, a typical concrete patio is around 4 inches thick. This should be enough for hanging out and placing some light furniture.

However, if you want to install heavy items like hot tubs or outdoor cooking stations on the patio, you should increase the thickness to around 6 inches.

A basic 4-inch thick concrete slab will cost around $5 per square foot. On the other hand, the concrete patio would cost $6 to $6.2 per square foot if it’s thicker.

3 – Grade of Concrete Installed

Concrete comes in a variety of grades, and each one of them has its unique quality and durability level.

The common grade for concrete patios is C10, but you can opt for C20 or C30 if you want something sturdier.

Of course, choosing a higher-grade concrete usually costs a higher price, especially for larger projects, as the difference could be negligible for an average-sized patio.

Yet, it’s a great long-term investment and saves you a lot in maintenance costs in the long run.

4 – Reinforcements and Insulations

Besides the concrete grade, adding reinforcements to strengthen the concrete slab will also add to the price to cover the extra materials.

For example, adding a wire mesh is a great way to reinforce the patio without increasing the layer thickness. This may add up to $0.4 per square foot

You can also add a layer of styrofoam for insulation for added protection against the elements, which bumps up the rate by as much as $1.5 per square foot.

A vapor barrier is another way to insulate the concrete slab and protect it from water damage due to soil underneath. This addition can ramp up the price by up to $0.5 per square foot.

As you can see, some of these additions could really add up if you’re installing a large concrete patio, although they’re worthy investments.

5 – Where You’re Installing It

This factor is often overlooked while planning a concrete patio, but it could cause an uncalculated increase in the overall price of professional patio installation.

If you’re installing the concrete patio over uneven terrain, it will take the laborer extra work hours to grade the land so that the concrete slab sits on flat terrain.

Other problems like poor foundation and installation in inconspicuous areas could also hike up the price.

6 – General Shape

Rectangular and square-shaped concrete patios are easy to build, so they’re typically the cheapest.

However, if you want a unique shape for the patio, whether you’re adding curves or extra sides/angles, it’ll cost you a bit more.

This could typically add up to $1.5 per square foot. Multiple-level patios could even cost up to $5 increase per square foot.

7 – Visual Enhancements

Besides the general shape of the concrete slab, you can also personalize the concrete patio and make it more attractive using a variety of ideas. Here’s a quick look at the typical markup of these different methods:

Stamping

Stamping is a technique used to add texture to concrete slabs by creating patterns on the surface.

These patterns could be in the shape of cobblestones, bricks, tiles, grids, or even custom textures like leaves, flowers, initials, etc.

Depending on the complexity of the pattern, stamping could add anywhere between $9 to $25 per square foot alone.

Despite that, it’s still a remarkably common choice because it can massively improve the look of the patio.

Staining and Painting

You can use different types of stains and paints to change the color of concrete patios and add a decorative contrast (if you’re using multiple colors).

These methods are considered great value for money because they’re long-lasting and massively improve the look of a patio while staying relatively affordable.

Ideally, staining using one color costs around $2 to $5 per square foot, but the price may increase if it’s done by a professional.

Polishing

This method is used to hide slight imperfections in the concrete and makes it lustrous and more attractive.

The cost of polishing/waxing varies significantly depending on the material used. Some could add as little as $2 to $3.5 per square foot while others may add up to $30 per square foot.

How Much Does a Concrete Patio Add to Home Value?

Building a patio is one of the most popular additions that homeowners build to increase their property value.

Although building a typical concrete patio would cost you around $1,500 to $4,500, it alone can boost your house market value by up to 8% to 10%. For a typical household, this may amount to around 30% to 60% return on investment.

For that reason, if you’re considering a patio for the sole purpose of increasing the resale value of a property, we recommend that you invest in repairing the existing patio.

It can be a lot cheaper unless your patio is far too old or damaged beyond repair (around $500 to $1,000 for an average-sized patio).

How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Concrete Patio?

An average concrete patio is expected to keep its pristine condition and luster for around 5 to 7 years.

However, you can easily extend the patio’s life to up to 25 years with proper maintenance and care.

One of the essential investments to maintain the concrete patio’s shape is to have it sealed and polished every 2 to 3 years.

This should take care of any cracks and minor imperfections that arise with regular wear and tear. Ideally, this should cost you around $3 to $5 per square foot.

Does a Concrete Patio Increase Property Taxes?

Although a concrete patio usually increases your property value, it rarely leads to an increase in property tax.

This is because the increase is usually limited to under 10%, which is not to put most properties in a new tax bracket.

With that being said, if your house is on the higher margin of a certain property class, the new assessed value of the property could put you in a new tax bracket, so you have to keep that in mind.

Can You Build a Concrete Patio on Your Own?

If you know your way around mixing and pouring concrete, you can actually build your own concrete patio and save a lot of money.

However, the project needs a lot of careful planning and preparation because some errors and mistakes could be irreversible.

Final Thoughts

Building a concrete patio is a great way to utilize the outdoor space on your property. As you can see, a professionally built one should cost you around $2,975 if you opt for classic options.

However, if you’re looking for something special, or you’re an extraordinarily big patio, it can cost you up to $8,000.

In addition to concrete, you can also use pavers, gravel, tiles, and wood to build a patio, but concrete remains one of the cheapest among them.

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