ServicesConcrete Courtyards
Concrete Courtyards in Buena Park
A courtyard is boxed in by walls, so water has nowhere to go unless the concrete sends it there. We tear out old or damaged courtyard slabs and pour new ones with real slope, working drains and clean joints, so the space stays dry and easy to use.
What a Concrete Courtyard Needs to Get Right
Courtyards sit between walls, doors and windows. That makes them a nice private space, and it makes drainage the whole job. A patio in an open yard can shed water off the edge. A courtyard can't. Every drop has to slope to a drain or out through a gap, and the slab has to stay below your door thresholds while it does it.
We get calls after a hard winter storm when water sat against a slider for hours, or after roots lifted a section and the old slab started holding puddles. In most of those cases the fix is a new slab, not a patch. We break out the old concrete, regrade the base, set the drains, and pour new concrete pitched away from your home.
If you also want a color or pattern, we can do the courtyard as stamped concrete. If the courtyard connects to a walkway or side yard, we can plan those pours together so the grades line up.
What Your Courtyard Job Includes
Tear-out and haul-away
We saw-cut along walls and edges, break out the old slab, and haul off the debris. Nothing gets left in a pile by your gate.
Base prep and compaction
We dig to the right depth, clear out soft soil and roots, and compact a gravel base. A good base is what keeps a slab from settling and cracking later.
Slope and drain layout
We set the fall so water moves away from your foundation and doors, toward a drain or an outlet. Area drains and pipe runs go in before the pour, not after.
Reinforcement and joints
We place rebar or wire as the slab needs and cut control joints where cracks would want to form. Joints near corners and doorways get extra thought.
Finish and cleanup
You pick a broom finish, a smooth trowel edge, or a decorative finish. When we're done we wash down the walls and windows we worked near and clear the site.
Signs It's Time for a New Courtyard Slab
Water pools after rain
If puddles sit for a day or more, the slope is wrong or the drain is buried. Standing water near walls can work its way into stucco and wood.
Water runs toward the house
A slab that tips toward a door or wall sends storm water right where you don't want it. This one is worth fixing before the next rainy season.
Heaved or sunken sections
Tree roots and washed-out base lift or drop slabs. Uneven edges trip people and trap water.
Wide or spreading cracks
Hairline cracks are normal. Cracks that keep widening or have one side higher than the other usually mean the base has failed.
Drains that don't work
Old drains clog, crack or were never tied into anything. When the drain is the problem, the slab around it often has to come out to replace it right.
How a Courtyard Job Runs
- 1
Look and measure
We come out, look at the slab, check where water goes now, and measure. We'll tell you plainly whether a new slab makes sense.
- 2
Written estimate
You get a line-item estimate covering tear-out, base, drains, concrete and finish. If the job needs a permit, it's listed and we pull it.
- 3
Demo and prep
We protect walls, doors and plants, then break out and haul away the old concrete. Base, forms, drains and steel go in next.
- 4
Pour and finish
Pour day usually runs one morning. We place, level and finish the concrete, then cut joints once it's firm enough.
- 5
Cure and walk-through
Stay off it for a couple of days and keep heavy furniture off for about a week. We walk the finished courtyard with you and run water to show you how it drains.
What Moves the Cost of a Courtyard
Courtyard pricing comes down to size, access and what's under the old slab. We give you a written number before any work starts, so you know what you're paying for. Here is what changes it most.
- Access
- Many courtyards can only be reached through a side gate or the house. If we can't get a truck or pump close, we wheel concrete in or use a line pump, and that adds labor.
- Tear-out
- Thick old slabs, extra layers, or tile glued over concrete take longer to break out and haul away.
- Drainage work
- New area drains, longer pipe runs, or a tie-in to an outlet add material and digging. In an enclosed courtyard this is often money well spent.
- Base condition
- Soft soil, roots, or washed-out fill under the old slab have to be dug out and replaced with compacted gravel.
- Finish choice
- A broom finish costs the least. Color, stamping or exposed aggregate add material and time on pour day.
Courtyard Concrete Questions
Something not covered here? (714) 410-2675
Our courtyard flooded in the last storm. Can you fix it before next winter?
Usually, yes. Most courtyard jobs take a few days of work plus curing time. Call during the dry months and we can schedule it well before the rains come back.
Will the new slab be higher than my door?
No. We set the finished height below your thresholds and slope it away. If the old slab was poured too high, we dig down further so the new one sits right.
Do you have to go through my house?
We try hard not to. Most courtyards can be reached through a gate or with a pump line. If the only way in is through the house, we talk it over with you first and protect the floors along the path.
What happens to my plants and walls during the pour?
We cover walls, windows and doors with plastic and keep a buffer around planters. Plants right against the slab edge may need to be moved, and we'll point those out before we start.
Can you add a drain if there wasn't one before?
Yes. We place area drains at the low points and run pipe to a safe outlet before the concrete goes in. Putting drains in during the pour is far easier than adding them later.
Get Your Courtyard Draining Right
Tell us what happened in the last rain and what you want the space to be. We'll come look, measure, and give you a written estimate.