We want to have a concrete patio put in that is 40' x 16' although it will be sort of free form, rounded so not quite that big. Strictly concrete as I plan on acid staining it. The first bid we got was $4750 that seems a bit high to me. I have never had concrete poured before and am wondering if this amount is what I should really be expecting to pay.

Concrete, the forms and finishing are all fairly expensive. The only way to find out if you have a fair bid is to have a couple of other local contractors bid the same job.
It really does not sound that bad to me.

Some variables are often how accessable the area to be poured is, and whether they can dump close from the truck or have to haul it far in wheel barrows. Also just how busy they are, in general.

Unfortunately I fear that they are approaching the very busy time of year, we live in the Pacific NW so there are only about 4 months out of the year, without rain everyday and we are just now (hopefully) getting into the somewhat dry season. Here is the real scoop...we are 1st time homeowners, we don't know anything about anything (seriously). I have a budget of about $2000 to get my patio put in. We have toyed with the idea of putting in rock (slate or flagstone maybe even brick), but thought that concrete would be cheaper.

Perhaps have some more estimates done? And if you would rather have a different surface, have estimates for that too. Nothing good about settling for concrete if you wish you would have put in a different surface.

Some of the dry stone pack or brick may also be easier to add onto, as you can afford to do so? It is less successful to try adding onto existing concrete. So for now a smaller patio space may fit your budget better?

I just finished my patio with an acid stain. It's 17' x 37' and the whole patio has curves - no staight edges. The contractor did a smooth finish because it takes the acid stain better than broom finish and we had to wait 30 days for it to cure before we could acid stain.

The cost was $4150 and that included the removal of an existing slab that was 12' x 15'. I had called around and got quotes ranging from $4000 - $7000. I just went with the contractor that I liked best and the price was good. I used www.angieslist.com to get a list of contractors.

The acid stain was super easy and the materials cost about $120. Sealig it was a must and made it look so much better and that was easy as well - about another $120.

Good Luck!

Probably not a bad price, but do get more estimates. 10 yrs. ago when we had our sidewalk poured. A large expance at front & side steps about 12X6 and then the path is 4' wide & runs about 60' peegravel-$3500. We are looking to redo our porch floor & considering brick or concrete. Brick is more expensive. But you may try brick or concrete pavers in sand, like one person recommended. My sister did a small patio with concrete pavers in sand, did it all by herself, and she saved a lot of MONEY. It's not hard, just takes time. Good Luck!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 4FABKIDS,

Can you acid stain aggrigate concrete? We have several concrete areas (the front walk, the driveway, etc...) that are aggrigate and I hate the look of it.

You can stain it but it will only stain the concrete not all the exposed rock. We had thought about that too but decided it wasn't worth it that's why we tore out the original smaller slab.

My neighbor uses a colored sealer - it always looks wet and has a cedar color to it but it's very slippery when wet. Our smooth finish patio is very slippery too when wet that's why people do the broom finish.

Im looking to do a concrete patio to but was quoted $9500 for all the patio and walkway with color. The patio includes a concrete bench and firepit, patio will be about 500sqf. Iv included a plan image, is this overpriced?

http://img360.imageshack.us/my.php?image=landscape1ue8.jpg

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mudslag,

quote:

Originally posted by gardeninggal:

My neighbor uses a colored sealer - it always looks wet and has a cedar color to it but it's very slippery when wet. Our smooth finish patio is very slippery too when wet that's why people do the broom finish.

If you or your neighbor ever seal or reseal your patios, look into a product additive called "Shark Skin" from Sherwin Williams. I added that to my concrete stain since that was one issue we had, concrete slick when wet! It's a really tiny round grit that you mix into stain or sealants and adds just enough roughness to keep it safe. Inexpensive, does not cut through materials or rough on bare feet like sand grit.

Thanks for the tip! I'm going to share that with my neighbor.

shark's grip is finely ground polycarbonate,,, you can receive the same benefit by using clean sand or aluminum oxide

Definately get at least 5 estimates. Don't tell the others what kind of bid you got, the more estimates you get, the more information you will learn from each. Don't tell them what the other contractors told you, that they have to do. Price may depend on what all has to be done, will the contractor be able to get a concrete truck close enough that he can dump the wet concrete and have people smoothing out as they pour. If the truck can't get close, will that contractor have to mix the concrete by hand or rent a concrete mixer to do it. Not every contractor would have access to a concrete mixer, so he'll have to rent it. Will they haul the crecrete from the old patio away for you? He has to build that cost in. He may have to build in cost of getting rid of that concrete, usually a dump fee. Ask people that have hired a contractor recently; don't always take fly by night contractors. Check the contractors out through Better Business Bureau and your states home improvement licensing bureau. A contractor that is licensed through the state or county has a license # usually printed on their vehicle or business card. That is another way of checking them out. The person's suggestion about Angie's list is a good way of finding contractors.

I don't think you mentioned why you want to replace your existing patio or did I miss that part? If you or your neighbors or friends are handy, you can build your own forms, rent a jackhammer and break up the old concrete, but that's hard work, plus handhauling it into a truck and getting rid of it. Mixing concrete isn't hard to do, getting it the correct consistency is a skill. You've got to know what you are doing. My suggestion is hire somebody that does this for a living, no fly-by-night handyman.

Be sure they speak and understand Englsih well and you can communicate with them!