A backyard project often mixes a patio, a walkway, a pad for a shed or grill, and sometimes pool deck work. This guide shows what to look for in concrete backyard contractors in San Antonio, what that work typically costs, how the job runs, how long it takes, when the City needs a permit, and the red flags to walk away from.
- What do concrete backyard contractors do?
- What should I look for in concrete backyard contractors?
- How much do concrete backyard contractors charge in San Antonio?
- What should a backyard concrete quote include?
- What is the process when you hire a backyard concrete contractor?
- How long does backyard concrete work take?
- Do I need a permit for backyard concrete in San Antonio?
- How do I protect myself when hiring a contractor in Texas?
- What are red flags with concrete backyard contractors?
- Where do we work?
- What else are homeowners asking?
Hire concrete backyard contractors who plan drainage away from the house, prepare the base for our clay soil, and itemize every slab in writing. A broom-finish patio typically runs $6 to $12 per square foot in San Antonio. Call a pro before a patio cover, pool deck, or retaining wall enters the plan.
What do concrete backyard contractors do?
Concrete backyard contractors plan and pour the flatwork behind your house, such as patios, walkways, pads, and pool deck surfaces. The work covers layout, drainage, base prep, forming, steel, the pour, finish, joints, and cleanup.
- Patios: Broom, stamped, colored, or stained slabs for outdoor living. See our concrete patio service.
- Walkways: Paths that connect the patio, gate, driveway, and side yard.
- Pads: Slabs for a shed, grill area, hot tub, or parking.
- Pool decks: Repair, resurfacing, and new deck sections. See our pool deck repair service.
- Refresh work: Staining or an overlay on a sound existing slab instead of a tear-out.
Plan drainage and base before the finish
What should I look for in concrete backyard contractors?
Look for concrete backyard contractors who can show finished San Antonio backyards, explain how water will drain, prepare the base for clay soil, carry liability insurance, and itemize each slab in writing. A crew that only talks about the finish is skipping what keeps it from cracking.
- Local backyard work: Photos or addresses of patios, walks, and pads they have poured here, ideally a few years old.
- Drainage plan: Every slab should slope away from the house, and water should have somewhere to go.
- Soil awareness: San Antonio clay swells and shrinks, so ask how they build the base and where the steel goes.
- Access plan: How concrete gets to the backyard through a gate or side yard, and how they protect the lawn and fence.
- One plan for the whole yard: Patio, walk, and pad heights that line up with doors and each other.
- Insurance: A current certificate of insurance before work starts.
More hiring tips: what to look for in a concrete contractor and how to choose a concrete patio contractor in San Antonio.
How much do concrete backyard contractors charge in San Antonio?
A broom-finish backyard patio typically runs about $6 to $12 per square foot in San Antonio, and stamped or colored work about $12 to $25. A 300-square-foot plain patio comes to about $1,800 to $3,600 before tear-out.
| Backyard work | Typical cost in San Antonio | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Patio, broom finish | About $6 to $12 per sq. ft. | 300 sq. ft. is about $1,800 to $3,600 |
| Patio, stamped or colored | About $12 to $25 per sq. ft. | Pattern and colors set the price |
| Walkway, broom finish | About $6 to $10 per sq. ft. | A 4-foot by 40-foot walk is about $960 to $1,600 |
| Single-car pad, about 10 by 20 feet | About $1,500 to $3,000 | A smaller shed slab uses the same cost factors |
| Old slab tear-out and haul-away | About $1.50 to $3.00 per sq. ft. | When old concrete comes out first |
| Overlay on a sound slab | About $3 to $6 per sq. ft. | Instead of tear-out and a new pour |
Typical estimates as of November 2026 from our concrete patio cost guide, walkway guide, and parking pad guide. They are not a quote. Your price is set in writing after a free look at your yard.
What should a backyard concrete quote include?
A backyard concrete quote should list each slab with its size, thickness, base, steel, finish, joints, drainage, tear-out, access, cleanup, and payment terms. If a line just says patio and walk, ask what is inside it.
| Quote item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Each slab | Square footage and thickness for the patio, walk, and any pad |
| Base and steel | Compacted base depth and rebar or mesh, see rebar or wire mesh |
| Drainage | Slope away from the house and where the water goes |
| Finish | Broom, stamped, colored, or stained, named in writing |
| Tear-out and access | Removal of old concrete and how the crew gets into the yard |
| Payment | A deposit and the balance after the walkthrough, never the full price up front |
What is the process when you hire a backyard concrete contractor?
The process usually runs from a site visit and written estimate to utility locates, tear-out, base prep, forming, the pour and finish, then joints and a final walkthrough. A clear process in writing is a good sign you picked the right contractor.
- Call back and site visit: Measure, check drainage, access, and any old concrete.
- Written estimate: Each slab, finish, schedule, and payment terms, before anyone forms or pours.
- Utility locates: 811 is called before any digging.
- Prep: Tear-out if needed, base prep, forms set to the planned slope, and steel placed.
- Pour and finish: Place, finish, and cut control joints, often in cooler morning hours.
- Walkthrough: Check the finish, drainage, and cleanup with you before final payment.
- Water already pools against the house or on an old slab
- The yard slopes and may need steps or a retaining wall
- You plan a patio cover, outdoor kitchen, or pool deck work
Call (713) 504-2341 or request a free quote.
How long does backyard concrete work take?
A typical new patio or walkway takes about 1 to 3 working days to form and pour once the site is ready, with extra time for tear-out, multiple slabs, and cure. Weather can move the pour day.
- Before digging: Texas law requires a call to 811 at least two business days ahead.
- Several slabs: Patio, walk, and pad are often poured together or on back-to-back days.
- Before furniture: Keep grills, planters, and furniture off until the contractor says the slab is ready.
Do I need a permit for backyard concrete in San Antonio?
It depends on what you build. The City No Permit Required List names sidewalks and driveways inside your property line, storage sheds up to 300 square feet, and retaining walls under 4 feet, but not patios, so call Development Services at 210-207-1111 to confirm.
- Patio slab: Not named on the list. Confirm with Development Services before you pour. See our patio permit guide.
- Patio cover: A cover over 300 square feet or attached to the house needs a permit.
- Shed slab: Sheds up to 300 square feet are on the no-permit list. See our shed slab guide.
- Historic and conservation districts: Design and material rules can apply even when no permit is needed.
- HOA: Check finish, color, and setback rules before you sign.
How do I protect myself when hiring a contractor in Texas?
Get several written estimates, never pay the full price up front or in cash, and keep copies of everything you sign. Texas Law Help says a written estimate should describe the work, materials, completion date, and price.
- Three-day right to cancel: If you sign at home, the contract should state your right to cancel within three business days.
- Pay as work is done: A deposit at signing and the balance after the walkthrough.
- Homestead jobs over $5,000: Texas Law Help notes the contractor must deposit your payments in a construction account. Ask for written proof.
- Warranty: Get what the workmanship warranty covers in writing.
What are red flags with concrete backyard contractors?
The biggest red flags are no written quote, no drainage or base plan, a price far below other bids, and pressure to pay in full or in cash. Any one of these is a reason to keep looking.
- No photos of finished backyard work
- A quote with one total and no sizes, thickness, or finish
- Plans to pour over sod, roots, or soft soil without base prep
- No mention of 811 before digging
- Cash only, or the full price up front
- No certificate of insurance, or pressure to sign on the spot
Planning a backyard patio, walk, or pad? Start with our concrete patio service, request a free quote, or call (713) 504-2341.
Want your backyard concrete priced in writing?
Free site visit and a written, itemized price before any work starts. Insured, with $2,000,000 liability coverage. Father-son owned in San Antonio.
Where do we work?
Affordable Concrete San Antonio works across San Antonio and nearby areas from our shop at 1247 W Thompson Pl, San Antonio, TX 78226.
We give free backyard concrete estimates in San Antonio and these nearby areas: Helotes, Leon Valley, Shavano Park, Terrell Hills, Alamo Heights, Converse, Universal City, Schertz, Boerne, Cibolo, Fair Oaks Ranch, Bulverde, Spring Branch, New Braunfels, Pleasanton, Floresville, Castroville, Lytle, and Von Ormy. Not sure about your address? Call (713) 504-2341.
What else are homeowners asking?
These are the short answers people want before they book a quote.
What do concrete backyard contractors do?
They plan and pour backyard flatwork such as patios, walkways, pads, and pool deck surfaces, including layout, drainage, base prep, forming, steel, the pour, finish, and joints.
How much does a backyard concrete patio cost in San Antonio?
A broom-finish patio typically runs about $6 to $12 per square foot, and stamped or colored work about $12 to $25. A 300-square-foot plain patio is about $1,800 to $3,600.
How much does a backyard concrete walkway cost?
A broom-finish walkway typically runs about $6 to $10 per square foot in San Antonio. A 4-foot by 40-foot walk is about $960 to $1,600.
Do I need to call 811 before backyard concrete work?
Yes, if anyone is digging. Texas law requires a call to 811 at least two business days before excavating, even in your own backyard.
How long does a backyard concrete project take?
A typical new patio or walkway takes about 1 to 3 working days to form and pour once the site is ready, plus time for tear-out and cure.
Do I need a permit for a backyard patio in San Antonio?
Patios are not named on the City No Permit Required List, so call Development Services at 210-207-1111. A patio cover over 300 square feet or attached to the house needs a permit.
Sources used in this article:
- Affordable Concrete San Antonio, concrete patio service page, checked November 4, 2026, affordableconcretesanantonio.com
- Affordable Concrete San Antonio, concrete patio cost guide, checked November 4, 2026, affordableconcretesanantonio.com
- Affordable Concrete San Antonio, sidewalks and walkways guide, checked November 4, 2026, affordableconcretesanantonio.com
- Affordable Concrete San Antonio, concrete parking pad guide, checked November 4, 2026, affordableconcretesanantonio.com
- Affordable Concrete San Antonio, concrete patio permit guide, checked November 4, 2026, affordableconcretesanantonio.com
- City of San Antonio, No Permit Required List, checked November 4, 2026, sa.gov
- Texas Law Help, Hiring a Contractor, checked November 3, 2026, texaslawhelp.org
This article is general information for San Antonio homeowners. Prices are typical estimates as of November 2026 and are not a quote. It is not legal advice. Confirm City rules with Development Services before you build.
What should I read next?
Start with our concrete patio service page, or keep reading before you hire.