Most Plainfield backyards start the same way: a slider or a deck door, two steps down, and grass that turns to mud by June. A concrete patio fixes that for good. We pour concrete patios in Plainfield, IL in broom, exposed aggregate, colored and stamped finishes, from a simple grill pad to a large entertaining space with steps, a fire pit area and a pad for the hot tub.

The two decisions that shape the job are how big it can be and what the surface should look like. The first one is partly decided for you by the village, so that is where we start.

How Big Can a Concrete Patio Be in Plainfield?

Bigger than most people plan, usually, but not unlimited. Three things set the outer edge of a patio on a typical Plainfield lot.

Easements. The village's patio packet is blunt: a patio cannot be placed inside any easement. Village subdivision rules call for a continuous utility and drainage easement along rear lot lines, and nothing that blocks water is allowed in it, because runoff from the neighboring yards flows through that strip. On many lots the easement line on your plat of survey, not the yard you see, decides how far back the patio can go.

Setbacks. An uncovered patio has to stay at least 4 feet from the side property lines. A covered patio has to sit at least 15 feet from the rear line. Front-yard patios are limited to 100 square feet and 8 feet out from the house, and none are allowed in the side yard facing the street on a corner lot.

Lot coverage. In most single-family neighborhoods the village caps impervious surface at 45 percent of the lot and requires at least half of the lot to stay open space. A patio does not count as open space even if it is built from pavers. Lots that are already at the limit may still be allowed up to 200 square feet of patio or deck, and the village engineer can tighten the limit where drainage problems are known.

None of this needs to be a surprise. We start the estimate with your plat of survey, mark the easement and setback lines in the yard, and size the patio inside them.

Which Concrete Patio Finish Fits Your Yard?

  • Broom finish. Clean, slip-resistant and the least expensive. It wears evenly and forgives the occasional salt from a back door.
  • Exposed aggregate. The top paste is washed away to show the stone in the mix. Textured, good traction around a pool, and it hides dirt and leaves. Stone choices and where it falls short are on our exposed aggregate concrete page.
  • Colored concrete. Integral color mixed in the truck gives an even tone through the slab. Tans, terra cotta and charcoal tie a patio to brick and stone on the house.
  • Stamped concrete. Pressed with a slate, stone, brick or wood plank pattern while it is wet. The most decorative choice, and the one that needs its sealer renewed every two to three years. Patterns and upkeep are on our stamped concrete page.

A broom-finish patio with a colored or stamped border is a common middle ground: most of the look at the edges where it shows, plain concrete in the middle where the table sits.