A Phoenix-area patio should sit on compacted soil and an aggregate base, slope slightly away from the house, and have control joints plus an isolation joint at the foundation. Keep irrigation off the edges, plan footings for any future cover, choose lighter colors for heat, and check HOA and city rules first.
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Many Phoenix-area homes were built with a small covered patio slab off the back door, and extending it is one of the most common concrete requests we see. Valley homeowners use patios for most of the year, so it pays to plan for heat, shade, irrigation and how water drains before anyone sets forms.
Planning the patio
- Heat and shade. A west- or south-facing slab gets very hot on summer afternoons. Lighter colors, textured finishes and shade structures all make a difference.
- Covered patios. If you plan a roof, pergola or ramada, say so first. Posts generally need footings, and roofed structures generally need a building permit.
- Access. Backyards surrounded by block walls often have one narrow side gate. Concrete may need to be pumped over the wall or wheeled in, which affects cost and scheduling.
- Outdoor kitchens and fire features. Gas, electric and water lines are easier to run before the pour, in sleeves or conduit.
Drainage and irrigation
A patio should slope slightly away from the house. In the Valley, also think about the landscaping that will border it. Sprinkler spray and drip emitters right at the slab edge keep the soil underneath wet, and on moisture-sensitive clay that can lead to edges that rise or drop. Move emitters a little away from the concrete and avoid directing roof or patio runoff toward the foundation. In flood-irrigated neighborhoods, make sure the new slab doesn't block the path water takes across the yard or sit below the flood level without a plan.
Base, thickness and joints
Patios are commonly about four inches thick over compacted soil and an aggregate base. Soil disturbed during home construction, especially along the foundation, can be loose fill that settles if it isn't compacted. Control joints divide the slab into roughly square panels, and an isolation joint where the patio meets the house lets each move on its own. When extending an existing patio, ask how the new slab will connect to the old one; many contractors dowel them together or separate them with a joint.
Finish options
- Broom finish: simple, slip-resistant and economical.
- Salt finish or light texture: a common Valley look that adds grip.
- Exposed aggregate: shows the stone in the mix and hides dust well.
- Stamped, colored or coated: see our stamped and decorative concrete page, including pool deck coatings.
HOAs and permits
Many Valley HOAs review patio additions, covers and colors, and some limit how close hardscape can come to side walls. Whether a ground-level slab needs a city permit varies, so check with your city and get HOA approval in writing.
Questions to ask
- How will the slab drain, and what will you do about nearby irrigation?
- How will you tie into the existing patio?
- How will you get concrete into the backyard?
- What time of day will you pour, and how will you cure it?
Ready to plan it? Request a patio contractor and share a photo of the space, including the side gate.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I keep a patio from getting too hot?
Lighter colors and textured finishes stay cooler than dark, smooth ones, and shade from a cover, pergola or trees helps the most. Textured cement-based coatings are also common around Valley pools.
Can I extend my existing patio slab?
Usually. The contractor will either dowel the new slab to the old one or separate them with a joint. The two won't match exactly in color, so some homeowners add a border or coating over both.
Do I need a permit for a covered patio?
Roofed patio covers and ramadas generally need a building permit, and posts need proper footings. Requirements for a plain ground-level slab vary by city. Check with your city and HOA before you build.
Sources and further reading
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- Portland Cement Association (PCA)
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: Managing Caliche in the Home Yard (AZ1281)
- ASCE study: residential foundations and expansive clay in the Phoenix Valley
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)
- Arizona Revised Statutes 32-1121 (contractor license exemptions)
- Arizona Administrative Code R4-9-103: residential license classifications
- City of Phoenix: Driveway Policy for Single Family Development
- City of Phoenix Street Transportation: special permits
- City of Scottsdale: Environmentally Sensitive Lands Ordinance
- SRP: residential irrigation basics
- Arizona 811: call before you dig