Concrete Patios in Medford, OR

Concrete Patios get more use in Medford than in most of Oregon. The Rogue Valley sits in a rain shadow, and Wikipedia's figures for the valley put Medford at about 175 sunny days a year, compared with 80 in the Willamette Valley. July brings only about a quarter inch of rain on average. That makes a backyard patio a real outdoor room from May through September. We build new patios, extend small ones, and replace cracked slabs that came with the house.

Plan the patio around how you will use it

Before we talk finishes, we talk about what will sit on the slab. A table and chairs need far less than a hot tub, which can weigh several tons full. An outdoor kitchen needs a slab that will carry masonry and appliances, and often gas or electrical lines run underneath before the pour. A shade cover or pergola needs footings in the right place. HomeGuide notes that standard residential patios are four inches thick, and heavier uses call for six inches and more reinforcement. Planning this before the pour costs far less than cutting into a finished slab later.

Heat and shade

Medford averages 61 afternoons above 90 degrees and 11 above 100. A dark, smooth patio in full western sun gets hot to bare feet and glares in the late afternoon. Lighter natural gray concrete, a broom texture or exposed aggregate, and a shade structure all help. If you want color, lighter earth tones stay cooler than dark ones. We also look at where the sun falls in the evening, since that is when most people use their patio here.

Rain, slope and the house

Winter is when patio problems show up. Medford gets most of its 18.43 inches of rain a year between November and February. A patio that slopes toward the house sends that water against the foundation, and a flat one holds puddles that freeze on cold mornings. We set a gentle slope away from the house, keep the slab below the siding and door thresholds, and plan where runoff goes in the yard.

How a patio is built

• Mark the layout and check the slope and drainage.
• Strip sod and topsoil, dig to firm ground and compact a gravel base.
• Set forms, add rebar or mesh, and place any sleeves for future lines.
• Pour air-entrained concrete and finish it the way you chose.
• Cut control joints in a pattern that fits the shape.
• Cure the slab and seal it once it is ready.

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Finish choices

• Broom finish: Simple, low cost and good traction when wet.
• Exposed aggregate: A pebble surface with good grip and a natural look.
• Colored concrete: Integral color mixed through the slab, so chips do not show gray.
• Stamped concrete: Stone, slate or wood patterns. See our stamped concrete page for details.
• Smooth troweled: Clean and modern, suited to covered areas since it is slick when wet.

Signs it is time for a new patio

• Cracks that have opened, shifted or grown weeds
• A slab that has sunk or tilts toward the house
• Surface flaking and pitting after winters of frost
• A patio too small for the table or cover you want

If the slab is solid but small, an extension can be tied in with dowels. If it is failing, we remove it and start fresh.