Learning Center · Patios
Patio & Outdoor Living
Sizing, finishes, drainage, and design decisions for outdoor spaces you'll actually use.
The most common regret we hear about a patio isn't the finish or the color. It's the size. People build to a number that sounded generous on paper and discover that once a table, six chairs pulled out, and a walking route are on it, there's nowhere left to stand.
These guides start from how the space will actually be used and work backwards to dimensions, finish, and cost. They also cover the thing nobody thinks about until it rains: where the water goes, and why a patio that drains toward the house is a foundation problem waiting to happen.
Decorative finish options are covered in more depth under Decorative Concrete.
Every guide in Patios
Most readHow much does a patio cost?
Bay Area square-foot ranges by finish, what's actually in the price, and where the money is best spent.
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Most readHow big should a patio be?
Sizing from furniture and circulation rather than from a number that sounded generous — with real dimensions for real layouts.
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Best patio finishes
Matching finish to how the space gets used — barefoot comfort, wet traction, heat, glare, and how much upkeep you'll really do.
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Patio drainage
The fall, the finished level against the house, and why a patio that drains the wrong way becomes a foundation problem.
Read the guideConcrete Patios: Size, Finish, Drainage, and Cost
A good concrete patio starts with how you'll use it. A six-person dining set needs roughly 12 x 14 feet; a lounge area about 14 x 16; a patio doing both 16 x 20 or more, with three feet of clearance around furniture and walkways. Sizing from the furniture rather than a round number is what makes a patio feel right.
Drainage is the part people overlook. A patio should fall 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot away from the house and sit at least two inches below door thresholds, so water leaves the slab at its outer edge instead of collecting against the foundation. Finish matters too: a light broom or textured stamp gives grip when wet without being rough barefoot, exposed aggregate is best around pools, and lighter colors stay cooler in summer sun.
In the Bay Area, a broom-finished patio typically costs $10–$16 per square foot installed and a stamped, colored patio $16–$26. A common 16 x 20 foot patio lands around $3,200–$5,100 plain or $5,100–$8,300 stamped. The guides here walk through sizing, finishes, drainage, and cost in detail.
Patio & Outdoor Living: Common Questions
More guides beyond Patio & Outdoor Living
All topicsPlanning patios?
Free written estimates across San Jose & the greater Bay Area — with the specification stated, not just a price.