Concrete patio construction in Richland WA - rain that runs away from your house
Patio cracked, sunken or holding puddles by the door? We pour a new concrete slab built to shed rain and stand up to Richland winters.
R&S Richland Concrete Construction is a small concrete company based in Richland. I spent my school summers pouring slabs and setting forms, and now we build driveways, steps, foundation work and concrete patio construction for homeowners here and in the cities around it. I'd rather explain why we do something than ask you to take it on faith.
- Plain answers to every question
- Drainage planned before forms go in
- Clean site when we're done
What building a concrete patio involves
Most calls about concrete patio construction in Richland start with an old patio that's cracked, sunk or holding puddles by the back door, or with bare dirt where a patio should be. A patio is a slab, a hard surface rain runs off instead of soaking into, so much of the job is deciding where that water goes. Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the state, and we're licensed and insured.
The price comes down to the size and shape, whether an old slab has to come out first, how close a truck can get, and the finish, from a plain broom finish, lines brushed in for grip, to stamped concrete. The schedule turns on the weather and on how long the new concrete needs before you use it, and your written estimate spells out what's included.
- Breaking out the old slab. If a cracked or sunken patio is there now, we break it up and haul it off so the new slab starts fresh.
- Layout and forms. We stake out the size and shape you picked and set the forms, checking the height against your door and yard.
- Slope away from the house. The slab is set to fall gently away from your walls, so rain heads out to the yard instead of the foundation.
- Control joints. Control joints, grooves cut into the slab, give cracks a chosen place to form, and we show you where they'll go before the pour.
Patio work we take on
Most patio jobs are a new slab out the back door, but we also replace worn patios, add onto old ones and tie patios into the walks around them.
New patios
A fresh slab where there's lawn or dirt now, laid out to the size you'll actually use and sloped to drain away from the house.
Patio replacement
We break out a cracked or sunken patio and pour a new one, with a fresh look at where the water was going and why.
Patio extensions
More room for a table or grill, added onto the slab you have, with a joint where old meets new so each part can move on its own.
Walks and steps
A concrete sidewalk or a step down that links the patio to the driveway or yard, so it all works as one job.
If your patio idea isn't on this list, like an odd shape around a tree or a slab under a cover, ask and we'll talk it through.
Why a concrete patio is worth doing right
A patio done well stays flat, sends water away from your walls and wears in instead of wearing out. Most of what makes that happen is hidden once the concrete sets, so it's worth asking about before the pour.
- Money spent where it's hiddenI'd rather trim a fancy finish than the slope or joints, since a plain slab can be dressed up later and a badly drained one can't.
- Pours out of the midday heatConcrete finished in the hottest part of a summer day can end up weak and dusty on top, so we aim for cooler hours.
- A cure that isn't rushedCuring, keeping moisture in the fresh concrete, is what lets the surface harden properly, so we don't let the sun bake it dry.
- Water with somewhere to goIn a tight side yard with little room for runoff, a swale or a drain can carry water off where slope alone can't.
How your patio job runs
I come out and measure
You call, and I come out myself to look at the spot, measure it and talk through sizes, finishes and where the water should go.
Written estimate and pour plan
You get a written estimate that spells out what's included, and we plan the pour around what your job and the season call for.
The pour and the walk-through
I'm on site with our crew for the work, and before we leave I walk you through caring for the new patio while it cures.
Why homeowners call us for patios
I'd rather answer one more question than leave you guessing, because a homeowner who knows why we slope a slab or cut joints where we do can judge the work for themselves. Call (509) 581-2407 or use the form below to set up a visit.
You talk to the owner
I do the estimate visit myself and work alongside our crew on pour day, so the person who planned your patio is there building it.
Every line explained
I walk you through each line of the estimate, so you know what you're paying for and why it's there before you decide.
Satisfaction guaranteed
That's our promise on every patio we pour, and if something doesn't sit right with you, I want to hear about it before we pack up.
Patios in Richland, Kennewick and West Richland
A soil survey of this area notes that silt and very fine sand are the soils most prone to frost action, while coarse soil is only slightly affected, and that keeping water out of the ground helps stop ice forming under a slab. Those are general notes, not a reading of your yard, but they're why we work so hard at sending water off the patio.
We're based in Richland and build patios in the cities around it too, including Kennewick and West Richland. We see everything from new builds with bare dirt out back to older homes with a tired slab by the door, and on every one we look at where the water goes first.
Tell us about your patio
Send the patio's rough size and how far it'll sit from the house, or call (509) 581-2407. We'll reply within one business day to set up your free, no-obligation estimate on site.
Call (509) 581-2407Patio questions we hear most
What does a concrete patio cost in Kennewick?
A concrete patio in Kennewick usually costs about $8 to $18 per square foot, so treat that as a planning figure for the area. Where yours lands depends on the size, the finish and whether an old slab has to come out, and your own figure comes from the on-site estimate.
Which way should my concrete patio slope?
It should slope down and away from your house. Building guidance says patio slabs within 10 feet of the foundation should fall away from it, so rain doesn't collect against your walls. We set that slope before we pour, and you're welcome to ask how we'll do it on your job.
How will a concrete patio hold up to freezing and winter salt?
A patio handles freezing best when the mix has entrained air, tiny bubbles spread through the concrete that give freezing water room to push into. Flaking of the top layer is the most common frost damage and is linked to de-icing salt, so it's worth weighing how you'll clear ice before you reach for salt.
Will my new patio crack like the old one did?
Most concrete cracks somewhere as it shrinks, and the joints we mark out with you before the pour are where those cracks are meant to land. A crack sitting in a joint is the slab doing its job, and one wandering across the middle is what the layout is there to prevent.
How long before I can use a new concrete patio?
The first stretch is curing, and in hot weather that runs at least 3 days, with the slab usually kept under wet burlap and plastic, coated with a curing compound or kept wet. When it's ready for chairs and a grill depends on that week's weather, so I'll tell you on the walk-through.
How do I check a concrete contractor in Washington?
Look the business up with the state Department of Labor & Industries, which shows whether its registration is active and its workers' comp account is paid up. The same check shows safety violations and lawsuits against its bond, and contractors have to put their registration number on estimates and bids so you can look it up.