Concrete patio construction in McAllen TX - a finish picked for how you'll use it
Bare dirt or a cracked old slab out back? We pour a new patio with a finish that suits grip and summer heat.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What goes into building a concrete patio in McAllen?
Concrete patio construction in McAllen means we pour a new slab where you want to sit, finish the top to suit how you'll use it and keep it covered while it cures, the stretch when the concrete holds its water and hardens instead of drying out.
Most people call with bare dirt that turns to mud by the back door, or an old slab that's done its time. The price moves with the patio's size, the finish you pick, whether there's an old slab to break out and how hard it is to get concrete into your backyard. The schedule turns on the weather, the days the slab needs to cure and any city paperwork, and your written estimate puts your own price and plan on paper.
How can you tell it's time for a new patio?
Cracks across the slab
When cracks wander across the middle instead of sitting in the cut lines, the slab either had no joints or the ground under it moved. Pieces start to lift and tip at the edges, and every rain pushes more water into the gaps.
Water sitting by the house
If rain pools against the wall or runs toward the back door, the patio slopes the wrong way. That water ends up at your foundation every storm, and patching the surface doesn't change where it goes.
A top that dusts or flakes
A surface that rubs off on your hand or chips under chairs usually got poured in the midday heat or finished with water worked into the top. It keeps wearing, and thin patches over it tend to come loose.
How our concrete patio construction works
I start by asking how you'll use the patio, like bare feet, a grill or a sprinkler that hits it, because that picks the finish more than looks do. Then we mark out the shape, check where the water runs so the slab falls away from your house, and set the forms. We pick the pour time with you, finish the surface and cut control joints, shallow lines that give the concrete a planned place to crack as it shrinks, so any cracks land in the lines instead of across the middle. After that the slab stays covered while it cures.
Most patios connect to something else. If you want the surface to look like stone or tile, our stamped concrete services handle the pattern and color, and concrete sidewalk building gets you a walk from the driveway or gate to the new slab, poured to match.
Broom finish
A broom finish is a light brushed texture dragged across the wet concrete so shoes and feet have something to hold. It suits patios that get wet from rain, a hose or a sprinkler, and it's the plainest, lowest-fuss choice.
Exposed aggregate
Exposed aggregate means we wash back the top layer to show the small stones in the mix, which gives a pebbly look and feel. It suits families who want more than a broom finish without going to a full pattern.
Stamped and colored
The slab is pressed with a pattern and colored to look like stone, brick or tile. It suits patios used for entertaining that you want to look finished, and the color you pick matters once summer hits.
Get a free written estimate for your new patio
Once you send the form, we get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The estimate is free, done at your property and comes with no obligation.
- Based in
- McAllen, TX 78501
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
What happens when you call about a patio in McAllen?
Here's how a patio job goes from your first call to the final walk-through, and who you'll deal with at each step.
Call or send the form
Tell us roughly where the patio goes and what you're picturing, and we set a time for me to come out. If there's an old slab to come out, mention it so I know what I'm walking into.
I measure and ask questions
I look at the spot, ask how you'll use it and take my own measurements, and you get a written estimate so the price is on paper before anything is poured. If the job needs city paperwork or inspections, we help you line them up.
Pick a time and pour
We choose the pour time with you, and our crew does the work with me on the job. The slab stays covered while it cures, so leave the covers in place until I say otherwise.
Walk the finished patio together
When we're done, I walk the patio with you and look over the finish and the joints. I'll tell you when it's ready for furniture and the grill.
Why McAllen homeowners call Craftsman McAllen Concrete Construction for patios
I measure and stay on site
I'm the one who comes out to look at your job, and I'm on site with our crew when we pour. The person who heard what you wanted is the one watching it get built.
Pouring concrete here since 2017
I learned concrete on a crew here in McAllen, pouring flatwork, the driveways, patios and walks that lie on the ground, and foundations, before starting this business in 2017. That's 9 years of watching how our own slabs hold up through the summers here.
We're licensed and insured
We're licensed and insured. That matters when a crew, forms and a concrete truck are working on your property, so ask me about it when I come out.
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job. When you're ready, send us your patio details or call (956) 331-0213 and I'll come take a look.
Building a patio in McAllen, from city permits to the ground
The city of McAllen issues building permits through its permit portal, and as a rule you need one to build, alter, repair or improve. The city's list of exempt work names finish work, not patios, so I won't tell you yours is exempt until it's been checked. When a permit is needed, the site plan has to show the patio's size along with your property lines, easements and building setback lines, which is why we settle where the patio sits on your lot before we set a form. We help you line up the permit and any inspection and plan the pour around them, and if you're not sure about yours, we'll check with the city office that covers your address. You can also ask the city about your own project at 956-681-1300. We're based in McAllen and work in McAllen and the cities around it.
One of the soils around here is deep and well drained, so water moves through it at a moderate rate. That helps, but it won't save a slab that falls toward the house, so we check where the water runs on every patio, the same as we do on jobs in Pharr and Edinburg under the same subtropical sun.
Questions about concrete patios in McAllen
Which concrete patio finish gives the best grip?
A broom finish is the common practical pick where grip matters. Smooth concrete can get slick when it's wet, dusty, sealed or growing algae, so how often your patio gets wet should decide it, and a sprinkler that hits the slab usually settles it for me.
Will a stamped concrete patio get too hot for bare feet in McAllen?
A dark stained stamped patio can, because in direct summer sun it can get hot enough to burn bare skin. Lighter exposed aggregate stays cooler, so if kids or swimmers will be barefoot out there, I'd lean toward a light finish.
What causes a new concrete patio to crack in hot weather?
Fast drying is the usual cause, because high heat, strong wind and low humidity pull water out of fresh concrete and can leave shrinkage cracks before it sets or soon after. One concrete trade group advises placing and finishing outside the hottest part of the day when you can, so we pick the pour time with you around the heat. That group also advises finishing without sprinkling water on the surface, which is worth watching for if you're out there on pour day.
How long does a new concrete patio need to cure in the heat?
Plan on at least 3 days of curing, because the same trade group advises starting the cure as soon as finishing ends in hot weather and keeping it going at least that long. We keep the slab covered through it and work those days into your schedule. If you're comparing crews, ask how they'll cure it, whether with wet burlap under plastic sheeting, a liquid curing compound or water.
Does a stamped concrete patio cost more than a broom finish?
Usually yes, because stamping and coloring take more hands and more time on pour day, and a stamped slab usually gets sealed afterward. If you're torn, I can price it both ways on your estimate so you can weigh them side by side.
How do I get a permit for a concrete patio in McAllen?
You apply through the city's permit portal with a site plan showing the patio's size and where it sits on your lot, as covered above. Once a permit is issued, the city takes inspection requests at 956-681-1328, and I'll tell you at the estimate which steps your job looks like it needs.
Related services that often go with a patio
Stamped concrete services
When you'd like the patio to look like stone or tile, stamping and coloring the concrete gets you there, with the same care on the pour underneath.
Concrete sidewalk building
A new patio often needs a walk to reach it from the driveway or the side gate, and pouring both together keeps the levels and finish matching.
Tell us about the patio you want
Have the patio's rough size, the finish you're leaning toward and any lot survey handy when you call or send the form, because the survey shows your property lines before we plan where the patio goes.