Concrete Patio Ideas that Win in Texas Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor construction issues in Texas are just like the state itself — a little bit bigger. 

National articles about concrete patio ideas don’t always work in the Lone Star State. Their content doesn’t take into account local issues like expansive clay soil, excessive UV and heat, and the damage caused by oppressive humidity.

You need concrete patio solutions that offer strength, style and long-term durability where you live — moisture solutions for Houston, soil stability in Austin, and UV protection in San Antonio.

Allied Outdoor Solutions has transformed over 25,000 Texas backyards into dream outdoor living spaces for homeowners. Our expert concrete contractors and outdoor living designers collaborated on this guide to winning concrete patio solutions.

What Makes a Great Texas Concrete Patio Idea?

Texas patio construction requires thoughtful consideration of 4 major issues that affect the performance of outdoor concrete. Find a winning strategy for each of them, and you’ll elevate your patio idea into a solution that lasts decades.

Solutions to Stabilize Our Clay Soil

Texas rests on a bed of expansive clay soil. Soil that’s rich in clay is dramatically affected by moisture. 

When it rains, your backyard swells, expands and occasionally floods. A stretch of hot days dries your yard out until it shrinks and cracks. 

Smart Texas solutions: Start with a reinforced concrete foundation underneath your patio. Properly grade and level the property, especially in areas with sloped yards like Austin. Compact the subgrade for optimal drainage and support.

Your contractor should offer reinforcement options like rebar and fortified concrete. Areas with significant moisture concerns (like Houston) may require a slightly thicker slab.

Superb Heat Resistance = Outdoor Comfort

Dallas suffers through 100 days of 100°F+ heat every year. San Antonio feels the burn of extreme UV radiation. And when you get hot, your patio gets even hotter.

You also need smart ventilation solutions for the outdoor grill and barbecue station on your patio. Cook up that brisket without sweating through the afternoon!

Smart Texas solutions: Start with a shade structure. Whether it’s a gabled patio roof, attached roof structure or a solid patio cover, you’ll protect every design element from heat damage and fading.

Patio covers also protect your appliances from accelerated wear and degradation. Install a smart overhead fan on your patio ceiling to improve ventilation when grilling.

Light colored concrete absorbs less heat from direct sunlight. Choose creams, light tans and off-whites to keep your patio flooring cool underneath your feet.

Proper Sealing Against Moisture Damage

Successful hardscaping maintenance depends on a quality sealer. Even high-performing products like Carvestone require regular sealing (once every 2 years) for optimal performance.

Regular sealer application is crucial in areas with heavy rainfall, high humidity and salty air. Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston residents should take extra care to seal their patios.

Smart Texas solutions: The “best sealer for concrete” depends on where you live, and the type of finish you want to achieve.

Houston homeowners benefit from a marine-type sealer to mitigate salt air and heavy rainfall. In San Antonio, high UV protection is more important in a concrete sealer product.

If you want a less glossy finish on your patio, choose a penetrating sealer. 

Save Your Patio: Enhanced Pressure Resistance

Sure, you and your family don’t weigh enough to damage a patio. But what happens when you invite the neighborhood over for a BBQ, or all your buddies over to watch the game?

Add on all the weight of outdoor kitchen appliances, a custom bar island, outdoor furniture and a custom fire pit — high pressure resistance becomes very important, very quickly.

Smart Texas solutions: Carvestone is a modified concrete overlay that’s fortified with quartz and limestone. The result is a durable material that withstands nearly twice as much pressure as standard concrete.

A great bonus: Carvestone can be formulated to mimic brick, flagstone and other building materials. Get the look you want with the extra durability your space requires.

5 Questions to Ask Your Texas Concrete Patio Contractor

Any outdoor builder with a marketing budget can look great online. But how can you tell if a concrete contractor actually knows what they’re doing?

Use these 5 questions to gauge the expertise, experience and local knowledge of your patio construction team.

How do you fortify your concrete patio foundations?

Patio builders must provide unique foundation strategies for different areas of Texas. Austin patio foundations must mitigate sloped yards. Houston foundations must be cured for longer periods of time to account for concrete’s interaction with humidity.

All Texas patio foundations must offer stability to the surrounding clay soil. Expansion and contraction joints, spacers, and rebar may all be utilized to offset the natural swelling and settling of local soil.

Do you offer modified concrete overlays?

Carvestone is a modified concrete overlay product that adds greater strength and stability to your patio flooring. It’s rated to withstand up to 6,000 PSI of pressure — heavy foot traffic and the weight of outdoor kitchen appliances are no concern.

Carvestone’s unique formulation of concrete, limestone and quartz looks naturally beautiful within Texas landscapes and outdoor living areas. 

Can you customize my patio concrete flooring?

Experienced concrete contractors can modify the color, texture and pattern of concrete overlay materials to match your home’s existing architecture and your personal aesthetic preference.

Products like Carvestone can be blended to seamlessly integrate with existing brick, natural stone and wood elements in your home and outdoor living areas.

Can I see what my project looks like before construction begins?

Quality outdoor contractors offer 3D renderings of your space before formal work begins. You’re able to take a virtual walk through the space to ensure the look, style and material selection meet your standards.

Allied Outdoor Solutions outdoor living designers use 3D renderings to guide you through the finished product before it even starts. 

What concrete sealer do you recommend?

This question reveals whether your contractor cares about the long-term durability of your patio. A thoughtful builder provides tips and product options to make ongoing maintenance a breeze.

Different sealers work best in different Texas locations. For example, Houston concrete patios are exposed to greater humidity and moisture, while San Antonio projects require greater durability against UV radiation.

Ask your Allied Outdoor Solutions professional which sealer is best for your outdoor concrete.

Real Texas Homeowners Review Allied Outdoor Solutions

We’re proud of the A+ rating we hold with the Better Business Bureau, and the decades of quality service we’ve provided to homeowners in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

Here’s what real homeowners have to say about our concrete patio projects:

"WOW, that's literally all I can say about our experience with this incredibly professional, customer and quality oriented team at Allied Outdoor Solutions! We had a complete patio addition and extension in our backyard, also build and install outdoor kitchen, and leveled out the current patio to one even level with Carvestone overlay. We are beyond thrilled with the end product.” – Benita F.

"After many years of dealing with the blazing hot Texas sun while trying to grill, we decided it was time to build a true outdoor kitchen. We chose Allied Outdoor Solutions because they had already done a wonderful job of resurfacing our patio space. The process was easy … and when we saw the computer renderings of what our space could become … we couldn’t wait to get started!” – Bill S.

Inspired to Build the Concrete Patio of Your Dreams?

Smart concrete patio ideas reflect your home’s architecture and provide lasting solutions to local design challenges. Trust Allied Outdoor Solutions — our locally-based design-build teams have the experience to deliver an enduring patio that you’ll love for decades.

Custom hardscaping, thoughtful craftsmanship, and a seamless design-build experience are all part of what makes us Built Different. 

Talk to us — we’re here to transform your ideas into a new, improved outdoor lifestyle.