Concrete Patios in Thornton, CO
We pour new concrete patios and replace old ones behind homes in Thornton, Colorado.
- Quotes in writing
- 18 areas covered
Thornton Concrete Driveway pours concrete patios for homes across Thornton. We mark out the shape with you in the yard, and you get a written quote before any digging starts.
What we mean by a patio
When we say patio, we mean a flat slab of concrete on the ground next to your house, with no roof over it, where you put a table, chairs or a grill. We don't build decks, the raised wooden kind.
How we build a patio
First we stake out the shape and the size with you, and check where the back door, the steps and the pipes that bring rain down off the roof sit. If an old patio is there, we saw it at clean lines, break it out and haul it away. Then we dig out soft ground, lay a new base and pack it down hard.
Next we set the wooden boards that hold the wet concrete in shape, pour the slab and finish the top so it is not slick when wet. We cut lines across it as we go, so that when the concrete cracks, it cracks in the line.
OSHA, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, says cutting, sawing and crushing concrete creates very small particles of crystalline silica. It says workers who breathe them in are at higher risk of serious diseases, including silicosis, an incurable lung disease. We keep kids and pets well back while we saw out the old patio.
Permits for a patio in Thornton
The City of Thornton keeps a list of outside projects that need a building permit. Patio covers and awnings are on it, and so are patio enclosures and screened porches. Pools, hot tubs and spas are on it too.
If you plan a roof over the patio later, or a hot tub on it, we tell you up front which parts of the plan the city wants to see.
The city says its list is not a complete list of all types of projects, and its Building Inspection Division can give you information about your own project. The number it gives is 303-538-7250. We check your patio with the city before we pour.
Where the rain goes
We slope each patio so rain runs off into the lawn or the beds, not back toward your house. We also stop our wash water and spare concrete from running into the gutter. The City of Thornton says runoff picks up oil, grease, litter and chemicals as it flows over the ground and carries them to creeks like Big Dry Creek without treatment, and all of them flow to the South Platte River. The city also says it is against the law to put anything into its storm drains that is not just stormwater.
What to get in writing
Ask for these in writing, whoever you hire:
- The shape and the size of the patio, drawn on a sketch.
- How thick the concrete will be and what goes under it.
- Which way the slab slopes, and where the water goes.
- The finish on top, and where the cut lines go.
- How the new patio meets your back door, steps or walkway.
- Who checks with the city, and who calls in the buried lines.
- Where the old concrete is going.
Questions about concrete patios in Thornton
Can I build a low wall around the patio without a permit?
The City of Thornton says a retaining wall more than 48 inches tall, measured from the bottom of its footing, needs a building permit and an engineer. It says one that is 48 inches or less does not need a permit.
Can you join the patio to a path or my driveway?
Yes, we can pour a concrete walkway from the patio to the driveway or the front of the house in the same visit, and we price it on the same quote.
Who marks the pipes and cables under the yard?
The City of Thornton says all requests to have buried utility lines marked should go through Colorado 811. The city marks its own lines, such as water, sewer and fiber, in the right-of-way, which we'd describe as the public land along the street.
What happens to the old patio concrete?
The EPA says old concrete, brick and masonry can be recycled right on site as fill or as bedding for a driveway. We tell you on your quote where the broken concrete is going.
What should I put on the patio when it ices over?
Connecticut's Department of Energy & Environmental Protection lists calcium magnesium acetate, a de-icer with no salt in it, as safer for concrete and plants, though it can still harm life in streams and lakes.
Does my HOA have a say?
The City of Thornton says it does not enforce HOA covenants, and it says to contact your HOA property management company to find out which ones apply to you. Check with them before we pour.
How should I pay for a patio?
The City of Thornton says never to pay in full before the job begins. It says to hold back 15 to 20 percent of the total price until you are happy with the job and all inspections have been approved.
How many quotes should I get?
The City of Thornton says to get several written bids, and that 3 is the usual number. We give you ours in writing after we look at the yard.
Get a quote for a concrete patio
Call us, or send the quote form with your ZIP code and a note about the patio you want. We'll come out and look at the yard with you, go through the options, and give you a written quote. To see the other work we do, go to the Thornton Concrete Driveway home page.
Ready to talk about your concrete driveway job?
Send the quote form with your ZIP code and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.