Serving San Francisco, CA and surrounding areas. (628) 895-9470
A muddy backyard, cracked slab, or uneven pavers make your outdoor space unusable for months at a time. We build concrete patios on San Francisco lots - tight access, clay soil, and all - with the base prep and drainage that keeps them flat and solid for decades.
Concrete patio construction in San Francisco involves digging out the area, compacting a gravel base to handle the city's clay soils, pouring and finishing the slab with drainage slope, and cutting control joints - most residential jobs take one to three days on-site with a one-week wait before you can put furniture on the surface.
San Francisco's clay-heavy soil is the biggest variable on patio projects here. Clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, and without a properly compacted base and gravel layer, that seasonal movement is what causes patios to crack and tilt. We address the base first - before a drop of concrete is poured. If you want a more decorative surface finish, stamped concrete services can give your patio the look of stone or brick without the maintenance demands of natural materials.
A permit is required for most concrete patio projects in San Francisco, particularly where the work changes drainage patterns or is attached to the structure of the home. We handle the permit application with the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection from start to finish. According to the American Concrete Institute, proper base preparation and control joint placement are the two most critical factors in how long any concrete flatwork project lasts.
Small hairline cracks in concrete are normal and usually cosmetic. Cracks wider than a pencil, or ones that seem to be growing, suggest the base beneath your patio is shifting - a common issue in San Francisco's clay-heavy soil. At that point, patching is a short-term fix.
If puddles sit on your patio after San Francisco's drizzle or winter rains, the surface has lost its drainage slope. Standing water is a slip hazard and accelerates surface wear. A new patio can be graded correctly from the start so water drains away from your home.
Many San Francisco homes built in the early-to-mid 1900s have backyards that were never properly finished. If your outdoor space is muddy in winter and dusty in summer, or old pavers are sinking and uneven, a concrete patio gives you a stable, usable surface year-round.
If one section sits higher than another or you feel a slope walking across it, the ground underneath has shifted. This is especially common in San Francisco neighborhoods built on filled land. An uneven patio is a tripping hazard and usually requires full removal and a new base to fix.
We build standard and decorative concrete patios for San Francisco residential properties. A standard broom-finish patio is the most cost-effective and durable option - textured for grip on wet mornings, graded to drain, and designed for decades of outdoor use without the annual maintenance a wood deck demands. For homeowners who want something more distinctive, we offer stamped finishes that mimic stone, slate, or brick and can be coordinated with concrete pool decks or other outdoor concrete surfaces as part of a single cohesive project.
Every patio project includes site clearing, excavation to the right depth, gravel base installation and compaction, forming, pouring, finishing, and control joint cutting. We handle permit applications and city inspection scheduling. If your backyard is only accessible through a narrow gate, we plan for that in the original estimate - whether that means pumping concrete in or staging the pour differently - so you are not surprised by add-ons once work begins.
Practical, durable, and drains correctly - the right choice for most San Francisco backyards that need a low-maintenance outdoor surface.
Decorative finishes that mimic stone or brick, suited to homeowners who want a patio that complements older San Francisco architecture.
Full removal of the cracked or shifted slab, clay-soil base correction, and a new pour - for patios that have settled beyond repair.
For backyards accessible only through a narrow gate or side passage, we use a concrete pump so the project moves forward without compromise.
San Francisco's clay soils and tight urban lots are the two factors that make patio construction here different from most of the country. Clay soil is expansive - it moves with moisture, and that movement is what causes patios to crack and tilt over time. A contractor who knows San Francisco soil conditions spends extra time on the base: digging deeper, compacting more thoroughly, and using a thicker gravel layer. The city's mild climate - foggy summers, wet winters, almost no freezing - is actually favorable for concrete longevity, as long as drainage is built into the project from the start. The USGS San Francisco Bay Region geology research documents the clay soil conditions that affect flatwork across the Bay Area.
Homeowners across the Bay Area face similar site challenges. In Daly City and Oakland, many residential lots share the same clay soil and access constraints as properties in San Francisco proper. We work across the entire region and understand what each project needs before we ever submit a permit application.
We respond within 1 business day. We will ask a few basic questions about the size of the area, access to your backyard, and what kind of finish you have in mind. No obligation at this stage.
We schedule a visit to measure the space, check your soil and drainage situation, and confirm access. You receive a written quote breaking out labor, materials, access logistics, and permit fees - no surprises after you sign.
For most San Francisco patio projects, we submit the permit application to the city before work begins. This can take a few weeks - we factor it into the project timeline so it does not delay your start date unexpectedly.
We excavate, compact the base, pour and finish the concrete, and cut control joints. You can walk on the surface within 48 hours. Keep furniture and heavy items off for at least a week. We walk through the finished patio with you before we leave and explain how to care for it.
We respond within 1 business day. There is no obligation - just a conversation about your project. After you submit, someone from our office will call to schedule a free on-site estimate at a time that works for you.
(628) 895-9470We carry the California contractor license required for concrete flatwork plus full liability and workers compensation insurance. If something goes wrong on your property during the project, you are protected - not left managing a claim on your own.
We have built patios across San Francisco's neighborhoods - on fill soil, clay hillsides, and tight urban lots. That experience means we know how to prepare a base that handles local ground conditions, not just what the textbook recommends. The California Contractors State License Board verifies our credentials at cslb.ca.gov.
We visit your site before quoting. If your backyard is only accessible through a gate, we account for pumping or hand-carrying concrete in the estimate you receive - not as a surprise add-on once work has started. What you agree to is what you pay.
San Francisco patio permits can feel like a project in themselves. We handle the application, coordinate with the city's reviewers, and give you the permit close-out paperwork at the end. Your project is fully legal, fully inspected, and fully on record for when you sell.
San Francisco outdoor space is genuinely valuable - the city's mild climate means a well-built patio gets used most of the year. We build to a standard that matches what that space is worth to you, with the permit record and base quality to back it up for decades.
Upgrade your patio surface with stamped patterns that mimic stone or brick, finished to complement the character of your San Francisco home.
Learn MoreExtend your outdoor project with a pool deck that matches your patio finish and holds up to moisture and heavy foot traffic.
Learn MoreOur schedule fills up during the dry season - call now or submit a request and we will respond within 1 business day to set up your free on-site estimate.
