Patio
Concrete, paver, and stamped-concrete patios built to Houston-code with proper drainage.
Materials
What we install vs. what corner-cutters use.
Slab thickness
4" concrete with #3 rebar on chairs.
3" slab with wire mesh on dirt.
Why it matters: 3" cracks; 4" with rebar holds for decades.
Drainage
Minimum 1/4" per foot slope away from house, channel drains where needed.
Flat pour that ponds against the slab foundation.
Why it matters: Ponded water rots your slab and feeds mosquitos.
Coloring
Integral pigment plus release powder, sealed with siloxane.
Surface acid stain, no sealer.
Why it matters: Integral color lasts 20+ years; surface stain fades in 3.
Process
A predictable path — with real durations.
Design & layout
1 dayStake out patio, confirm elevations and drainage plan.
Excavation & base
2 daysDig to depth, compact 4" crushed stone base.
Forms, steel & pour
2 daysSet forms, tie rebar, pour and finish.
Stamp/pattern (if selected)
1 dayStamp mats applied during finish, release powder rolled off next day.
Cure & seal
7–28 daysWater cure 7 days, sealer at 28 days.
Why us
Why homeowners pick Modern Builders for patio.
Every patio we pour slopes 1/4" per foot away from the house — code minimum, and the reason your foundation isn't sitting in a puddle every rain. Control joints are saw-cut at proper spacing (roughly the slab thickness in feet) within 18–24 hours so cracks land in the joints, not across your patio. For pavers, the bedding sand is 1" of concrete sand — not fill sand, not stone dust — and every perimeter gets a spiked steel edge.
FAQs
Answers before you ask.
Do I need a permit for a new patio?+
In most Houston jurisdictions, ground-level patios don't need a permit if they don't attach to the house or exceed setback lines. We handle permitting when needed.
Stamped concrete vs pavers?+
Stamped is seamless; pavers take more effort but let you replace individual units and add strong visual texture.
Will you cover my patio?+
We build the slab; covered patios are a separate scope (roof structure, columns, drainage). We often do both together.
How do I keep pavers from shifting?+
Steel edge restraints and polymeric joint sand. We include both in every paver install.
Related reading
Go deeper before you decide.
Get a quote — we do it right.
Fixed-price proposals, real timelines, no corners cut. Tell us about your patio project.
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