Concrete patio construction in Bothell WA - a strong surface that keeps its grip
A cracked, sinking slab or a muddy spot out back? We build a concrete patio that's cured with care and keeps its grip when wet.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We reply within 1 business day.
What does it take to build a concrete patio in Bothell?
Concrete patio construction in Bothell means building a new outdoor slab beside or behind your house, from digging out and packing the ground to pouring, finishing and covering it while it cures, so you end up with a hard, even surface outside.
Most calls start with a strip of lawn that turns to mud every winter, or an old slab that has cracked, sunk or tipped toward the house. The price mostly turns on the patio's size, how much ground has to come out and be rebuilt underneath, how easily we can get concrete to the spot and the finish you choose. The schedule turns mostly on the weather and on whether the job needs a permit, which we look into when I come out, and the written estimate I give you after that visit puts your own figure on it.
How do you know it's time for a new patio?
Water pooling by the house
If rain sits in puddles on your old patio or runs back toward the wall, the slab was usually poured without enough fall away from the house, or part of it has settled. Every storm then sends water toward your siding and foundation, and the low spot tends to grow as the ground under it softens.
Cracks that keep spreading
A few hairline cracks are normal, but cracks that widen, wander in odd directions or leave one edge higher than the other usually mean the base underneath moved or the joints were cut late or skipped. Waiting lets the pieces shift further until they catch a toe or a chair leg.
A flaking, dusty surface
When the top of the slab turns powdery or peels away in thin flakes, the surface was usually weak from the start, often because it dried too fast or went in during the heat of the day. Once it starts, it tends to keep wearing back each winter, and patches rarely hold for long.
How our concrete patio construction works
I start by laying out the patio with you and checking where the water runs, so the finished slab falls away from your house rather than toward it. Our crew then digs down to the subgrade, the firm ground the slab will sit on, and packs a solid base over it, because a base that's only raked level settles with the dirt and takes the patio with it. We set the forms and schedule the pour away from midday heat, since concrete placed in the hottest part of the day tends to end up with a weak, dusty top. We'll usually suggest a broom finish, fine ridges drawn across the surface, or a float finish, a smoother texture, because either one grips better outdoors than a slick top. We cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a planned place to crack, while the concrete is still young, and then we cover the patio and let it cure, the protected wait while the concrete gains strength, so the surface comes out strong. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather trim the finish than the base, because the base is hidden on day one and it's what decides whether the patio stays flat.
A patio often connects to other work. If you'd like a pattern instead of a plain texture, our stamped concrete services press a stone or brick look into the slab, and if you need a path from the driveway or back door, our concrete sidewalk building lets us plan the walk and the patio so they meet cleanly.
Broom finish
This is the finish we suggest most often, because the fine ridges give shoes and bare feet something to grip on a wet morning. It suits families, outdoor dining spaces and any patio that sits next to a door or steps.
Float finish
A float leaves a smoother, sandy texture that's easier on bare feet and simple to sweep, while still gripping better than a slick troweled top. It suits covered patios and anyone who wants a plainer, cleaner look.
Request a written estimate for your patio
Send the form and we'll reply within 1 business day to set up a visit. I'll come out to your property and give you a free written estimate, with no pressure to book.
- Based in
- Bothell, WA 98011
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
What happens after you call us about a patio in Bothell?
From your first call to the final walk-through, here's how a patio job runs with us and who you'll be dealing with at each step.
Call or send the form
Phone (425) 384-1147 or use the form, and we'll get back to you to set a time for me to come out. Mornings, evenings and weekends all work for a call.
I visit and write the estimate
I look at the site, ask what you want the patio to do, whether that's a table, a grill or a few chairs, and check how the ground and the water behave. Your written estimate spells out what's included and what isn't, so you know exactly what you're paying for.
We settle permits and a date
Once you're ready, we sort out any permit questions and pick a start date that works around them. If a permit is needed, the date is planned to follow it.
Our crew builds, then we walk it
Our own crew does the work, with me leading it on site from the dig through the pour and the cure. When it's done, I walk the finished patio with you and go over how to look after it.
Why Bothell homeowners call C&S Bothell Concrete Contractors for a patio
Planned and led by the owner
I write your estimate myself and lead our own crew on site, so the plan we talked through at your house is the one that gets built. You don't have to explain your patio all over again to someone new on pour day.
In business since 2017
I learned concrete on flatwork crews around here, the crews that pour driveways, patios and walks, before starting this business. We're best known for patios, driveways, steps and slabs that get careful planning before any concrete goes in.
Licensed and insured for your job
We're licensed and insured, so you aren't carrying the risk of an accident while we're working on your property. The questions below show how to look up any contractor in Washington before you sign.
On a patio, the ground under it matters more than anything on top, so the first step is a visit. Please get in touch or call (425) 384-1147, and I'll come take a look.
Patios, walks and wet weather in Bothell
Permits are the first local question on a patio here. The City of Bothell exempts some work from building permits, and its list names sidewalks, decks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade, but it doesn't name patios, so that list alone doesn't settle whether yours needs one. Please put that question to the city, and we'll look at it with you at the estimate. When a permit is needed, we can prepare and file it with the right city or county office and plan the start date around it. Bothell's code also counts patios among the hard surfaces that keep rainwater from soaking into the ground, so we pay close attention to where the runoff from your new slab will go.
Rain can damage fresh concrete, and cool, wet weather makes curing take longer, so we keep covers ready and allow extra curing time on a patio here. The gravel base matters more in a climate this wet, because it drains water away from under the slab, and we plan for the same wet winters on jobs in Kirkland and Woodinville.
Questions about concrete patios in Bothell
How much does a concrete patio cost near Bothell?
A standard concrete patio in the Seattle area usually costs about $4,300 to $5,400 per job, which is the going range around here, not a quote from us. Where yours lands depends mostly on its size, the digging and base work the ground needs, access for the concrete and the finish. Your own figure comes from the written estimate after I've seen the site.
How do I keep a new concrete patio strong after it's poured?
Keep the surface from drying out for the first few days, because curing compounds or plastic sheeting held down over it let the concrete gain its full strength, and a surface that dries early ends up weak. It's fair to ask any crew how they plan to cure your patio. One Midwest ready-mix supplier adds that cooler weather slows strength gain later in the year and that the right concrete temperature is essential for the first 7 days, so a fall pour needs a plan for that week.
What is the best finish for an outdoor concrete patio?
A broom or float finish usually suits an outdoor patio better than a steel-troweled one, according to one concrete maker's guide. Steel troweling lowers the air in the surface, while broom and float finishes keep the tiny air bubbles that relieve pressure as concrete freezes, which matters for a patio that sits out all winter.
How can I check a concrete contractor in Washington before hiring?
Look them up with the state's Verify a Contractor tool, which shows whether a business has an active contractor registration and a paid-up workers' comp account covering any employees. Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the Department of Labor & Industries, and state law requires them to be bonded and insured. The same tool shows safety violations and any lawsuits against a contractor's surety bond, which is worth seeing before you sign a contract.
Do I need to seal a new concrete patio?
Sealing is worth planning for, because one maker's guide says a penetrating sealer soaks into the concrete, cuts how much water it absorbs and keeps its natural look and grip. The guide says it typically protects for 5 to 10 years when properly applied, so plan to reseal within that span. It also says cure-and-seal products help early on but don't replace that longer protection against moisture and chloride, the salt in common deicers.
Can I use deicing salt on a new concrete patio in its first winter?
It's best not to, because one maker's guide advises skipping deicing salts such as sodium chloride or calcium chloride in the first winter, since they speed up scaling, the flaking of the top layer, and wear on the surface. Sand gives you traction on ice without harming the new concrete.
Other concrete work that pairs with a patio
Stamped concrete services
If you want the look of stone or brick without laying pavers, a stamped surface gives your patio a pattern on a single poured slab.
Concrete sidewalk building
A solid walk from the driveway or back door lets guests reach the patio without crossing wet grass, and it can often be poured alongside it.
Cities where we build concrete patios
C&S Bothell Concrete Contractors is based in Bothell, WA, and works across the cities around it. The 12 cities below each have their own page, Kirkland and Shoreline among them, and if yours isn't listed, please just ask.
Book a visit to plan your patio
If you have the patio's rough size, its spot on your lot and a finish in mind, the first call gets us most of the way to your estimate.