Off the back door
A slab at the slider or kitchen door gives you a clean landing, and we set it to fall away from the house so rain doesn't sit against the foundation.
Concrete patio construction in Marshalltown IA - a patio on a solid, well-drained base
Old patio cracked, sinking or holding water by the back door? We build a new one on a packed base, sloped to shed water.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We reply within 1 business day.
What building a new patio here involves
Concrete patio construction in Marshalltown means building a slab on firm, well-drained ground and a packed gravel base, with reinforcement inside and a slope that sends rain away from your house. Most of the work happens below the surface, before the concrete truck ever shows up.
Most calls start with a patio that's cracked, sunk toward the house or holding water after a storm, or with a back door that opens onto mud. The price turns mostly on the patio's size, how much digging and base the ground needs, how easy it is to get concrete to the spot, and whether you want a plain finish or a stamped one. The schedule turns on the weather and on what the city needs for a permit, which we check before we set a date. After I look at your yard, the estimate I write up gives you the number for your patio and the order the work will go in.
One person plans it and builds it
I come out, look at your yard and write the estimate myself, then lead the small crew that builds it, so the person who planned your patio is there when it's poured.
Work done in the right order
I ran schedules for a busy construction company before doing the work myself, so you get a plan from first visit to last pour, and I'll tell you early if a date has to move.
Based here, working nearby too
We've been in business since 2023, based in Marshalltown and building in Newton, Grinnell, Nevada and other cities around it for homeowners, builders and business owners.
How we build a patio, from dirt to cure
A patio is only as good as what's under it, so the base work is part of our quote, not an add-on. We mark out the patio with you and check where water runs now, then dig down to the subgrade, the firm soil the slab sits on, and pack a gravel base on top in layers. That matters here because soils across Iowa range from fine sands and silts that heave with frost to clays that swell and shrink, and a base that's only raked level moves right along with them. We set the forms with a slope away from the house and place the reinforcement, and before we pour, we'll show you where the joints go and which way the patio sheds water. On pour day we work around the hot hours so the top doesn't dry out weak and dusty, give it a broom finish, a light texture so it isn't slick when wet, and cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a planned place to crack. Then it cures, the stretch where we protect it and keep you off it so it hardens evenly. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather trim the finish than the base, because a weak base can't be fixed later without starting over.
Most patios connect to something else in the yard. A concrete sidewalk out to the driveway or a gate is easy to plan alongside the patio, since the layout and base work are already underway. If you'd like color or a pattern, stamped concrete goes on the same packed base, and I can price it both ways at the estimate.
Where a concrete patio makes sense at your house
Room for the table and grill
Tell us about the table, the chairs, the grill and any planters, and we size the patio and place the joints around how you'll use it, not just the yard's shape.
A yard spot that holds water
If a low corner stays muddy, we look at where that water comes from first, because a patio set into a wet spot needs its slope and base planned around it.
Tied into a walk or steps
Many patios connect to a walk, the driveway or back steps, and planning them together keeps the heights matched so the edges line up where two slabs meet.
Get a free estimate for your patio
Send the patio's size, spot and timing by form or to support@marshalltownconcrete.com. We reply within one business day, then I come out, look at the yard and write up a free estimate, with no obligation.
Size and spot in the yard
A rough size and where it goes, say off the back door or out by the garage, lets me plan the visit and bring the right questions about grade and access.
When you'd like to use it
Tell us your target date. If it lands near the cold months, we'll talk through pouring before the freezes or waiting, and you'll know which before anything is booked.
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job
That's our promise on your patio, from the first stake in the ground to the last joint cut, and I'm on the job with the crew to see it through.
Patio, walkway and stamped concrete examples
These sample photos show broom finishes, stamped patterns and patio shapes you can point to when we talk through your layout and joints.
Questions about building a patio in Marshalltown
Here are straight answers to what Marshalltown homeowners ask most about timing, cracks, winter care, permits and who should build the patio.
When is the best time to pour a concrete patio in Marshalltown?
Pick a stretch when freezing nights aren't likely right after the pour, which here usually means late spring through early fall. A concrete industry group urges caution with late fall, winter and early spring pours, because fresh concrete can freeze soon after while it's still saturated. If a cold snap shows up in the forecast, I'd rather move the date than rush it.
Will my new concrete patio crack?
It may get a few small cracks, because most concrete shrinks as it dries and some cracking from that is normal. Enough reinforcement and well-placed control joints keep large, visible cracks in check, so the better question to ask any contractor is where the joints will go. That's why we walk you through the joint layout before we pour.
How do I take care of a new concrete patio in its first winter?
Skip deicing chemicals the first winter and use them in moderation after that, because they raise the chance of scaling, where the top layer flakes off. Dense concrete with entrained air, tiny bubbles mixed in, plus good placing and curing also lower that risk. If you want it sealed, sealer goes on 28 days after the pour unless it was mixed in at the plant.
Do I need a building permit for a patio in Marshalltown?
We check that with the City of Marshalltown before we set a date, since the city issues building permits, typically for new construction, alterations, additions and accessory buildings. If a permit or inspection is part of your patio, we handle the paperwork. The city's review can take 2 to 3 weeks depending on the project, so we build that into the schedule.
Does a concrete contractor in Iowa have to be registered with the state?
Yes, Iowa requires construction contractors who earn at least $2,000 a year from construction to register with the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. Owners who only work on their own property don't have to register. Marshalltown Concrete is fully licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask me about it when I come out for the estimate.
How thick should a concrete patio be?
About 4 inches is generally enough for a patio, according to a residential concrete guideline, unless heavy trucks will park on it regularly. The same guideline calls fiber reinforcement the more common choice, with rebar, steel bars set on small supports called chairs, as another, and it highly discourages wire mesh. We'll go over which fits your patio at the estimate.
Get your patio on the spring schedule
Call (641) 354-2469 or use the form now, and we can plan any permit and a spring pour date before the season fills up.