Planning to put a concrete patio in your Novi home’s backyard? Concrete patio installation must follow certain steps to ensure proper drainage and keep the foundation strong for years to come.
Professional concrete patio contractors must prepare the sub-base, calculate the correct slope, and provide proper curing and long-term protection.
At Rea & Sons Cement, we’re one of the top cement patio companies near you in Novi, MI, and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to discuss your project.
What are Critical Steps for Proper Drainage for a Concrete Patio?
In Novi and other Southeast Michigan communities, heavy rains, melting snow, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles can place strain on concrete. To keep your concrete patio in top shape, it’s essential to factor in water management.
If you ignore drainage, it can cause your patio to crack or sink, and even cause foundation damage to your home.
The non-negotiable steps for protecting your concrete patio from water damage are:
1. Preparing the Sub-Base
Before adding any concrete slabs, you’ll have to address soil instability and excavate the topsoil to create a sub-base. The sub-base is the hidden foundation that supports the entire patio.
Michigan soil is often heavy in clay, depending on the area. This means the soil expands and contracts and offers little support. If you were to pour your concrete patio directly on the earth, it would cause the concrete to settle, crack, and sink.
Before you get started, it’s essential to excavate the topsoil and add in a compacted layer of gravel or crushed stone to act as the sub-base. This layer:
- Provides uniform support
- Minimizes moisture damage
- Allows for better drainage
- Prevents air pockets
- Reduces future settlement and structural cracks
2. Calculating Slope
It’s also crucial for a concrete patio to have proper drainage away from the home’s foundation. Industry standards require a slope of at least ⅛ to ¼ of an inch per foot, starting closest to the house.
Without the right slope, the concrete patio will collect standing water, resulting in pools, moss growth, surface saturation that can lead to damage from freeze-thaw cycles. On top of that, a slope leading toward the house can cause weather to damage the home’s foundation or basement.
When creating the concrete patio and the slope, it’s important to ensure a small gap is maintained between the home’s foundation and the patio. The gap should be filled with a flexible material such as a backer rod or foam expansion joint.
This buffer is important so that the patio slab has room to move independently during freeze-thaw cycles without putting stress on the home’s foundation.
3. Following the Curing Process
To ensure your concrete patio stays durable over the long-term, it’s essential to follow the curing process and add control joints. Following these steps will prevent premature cracking and protect the concrete’s surface quality.
Professional concrete contractors ensure your concrete patio cures slowly and for the maximum amount of time. A slow, steady curing process maximizes the concrete’s strength and hardness.
After curing, control joints must be added to control where the concrete cracks. Cracks are inevitable, even with the best care. By adding control joints, you can ensure any cracks happen along those lines and not across the visible surface.
Contact Our Cement Patio Builders in Novi, MI, Today
At Rea and Son Cement, we have over 49 years of experience as professional concrete patio contractors serving Novi, MI, and communities across Metro Detroit.
Based in Livonia, our family-owned company prioritizes expert craftsmanship in everything we do, including outdoor concrete patios. We provide a quality guarantee and warranty with all our work, so you can be confident it stands the test of time.
Ready to get started on your concrete patio? Call (734) 425-7966 or contact us online to discuss your project.