What a 12x16 patio runs
A 12x16 patio is the size we get asked about most. It is 192 square feet, enough for a table, chairs, and a grill without everyone bumping elbows. Here is how it prices out by finish:
- Broom finish: $1,550 to $2,300, based on $8 to $12 per sq ft.
- Exposed aggregate: $2,300 to $3,450, based on $12 to $18 per sq ft.
- Stamped: $2,700 to $4,200, based on $14 to $22 per sq ft.
If an old patio is in the way, add removal. Taking out a patio that size typically runs $600 to $1,350. Add sealing at $1.50 to $3 per sq ft if your finish is not already sealed as part of the job. Stamped concrete includes its sealer, but it needs a refresh every 2 to 3 years.
The reason broom finish stays cheapest is simple: less labor. Stamped work needs color, release agent, stamping mats, and a crew that moves fast while the concrete is still workable. For more on that look, see our stamped concrete page, or our decorative concrete page for exposed aggregate and saw-cut patterns.
Sizing a patio for furniture and a grill
The most common regret we hear is that the patio came out too small. Concrete is cheap to make bigger on paper and expensive to add later, because you end up with a cold joint and a seam that never quite matches.
Here is how we think about space:
- A bistro set for two: about 8 by 8 feet.
- A table with four to six chairs: 12 by 12 gives you room to pull chairs out without sliding off the edge. 12 by 16 is more comfortable.
- Dining plus a grill: keep the grill off to one side with a few feet of clearance. A 14 by 20 patio works well if you want a seating area and a cooking area.
- Fire pit seating: a circle of chairs around a fire pit needs about 12 feet across, and the pit itself needs clearance from the house and from overhanging branches.
Mark the footprint with a hose or spray paint on the lawn, then set your furniture out on it. If it looks tight, it will feel tight. Going from 192 square feet to 240 only adds a modest amount at the per-foot ranges above, and you only pay for the extra yardage once.
Extras that change the number
The table covers the slab. Most backyards have something else going on.
Steps
If the patio sits more than a few inches above the yard, you will want a step down. Steps are priced per step at $250 to $500 per step, and they need proper footings and a uniform riser height so nobody trips in the dark. Our concrete steps page covers the details.
Seat walls and borders
A low seat wall around part of the patio adds seating and gives it a finished look. It is extra formwork and extra concrete, so it is quoted as its own line.
Retaining or grade changes
If your yard slopes, you may need a retaining wall to level the patio area. Under the International Residential Code that most Colorado cities adopt, walls over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing, or walls holding back a surcharge like a slope, typically need a permit and often an engineered design. Confirm with the City of Aurora Building Division.
Color and borders
A colored border or a saw-cut pattern on a broom patio is a mid-priced upgrade, and it lets you get some of the stamped look for less.
Drainage away from the foundation
This is the part nobody photographs and everybody should care about. A patio should slope away from the house at about a quarter inch per foot. If it slopes toward the foundation, every rain and every snowmelt puts water against your wall, and on Aurora clay that is a real problem. Clay swells when it gets wet, and that movement shows up as cracked basement walls and heaved slabs.
We set the slope with the forms, before the pour, and we check where downspouts and sprinklers discharge. A downspout dumping at the edge of a new patio will undermine it in a few seasons. If your yard has a low spot, we add a drain or regrade the area so water has somewhere to go.
A good base matters too. We dig out the soft stuff and compact road base before pouring, because a patio sitting on loose fill will settle in the first wet spring. Skip that step and you will have cracks by next year.
HOA approval and permits
A lot of Aurora neighborhoods have an HOA, and many of them have opinions about what goes in your backyard. Some only care about what is visible from the street. Others ask for a drawing, a color sample, and the size before they sign off. Stamped and colored concrete is more likely to need approval than a plain gray slab.
Get approval in writing before the pour date. We can provide measurements, materials, and finish details to include in your request. If you are adding a seat wall or a retaining wall, the HOA and the city may both want to see plans.
As a general rule, a ground-level patio does not need the same permit as a structure, but rules vary by property and by what you are building around it. When in doubt, confirm with the City of Aurora Building Division before work starts. You can also read our broader guide to concrete patios in Aurora.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a concrete patio cost in Aurora?
A broom-finish patio typically runs $8 to $12 per sq ft. Stamped runs $14 to $22 per sq ft and exposed aggregate runs $12 to $18 per sq ft. A 12x16 patio (192 sq ft) lands at $1,550 to $2,300 in broom finish.
Is stamped concrete much more expensive than plain concrete?
Yes, because it takes more labor and materials. A 12x16 stamped patio typically lands at $2,700 to $4,200, against $1,550 to $2,300 for broom finish. See our stamped concrete page for what you get for the difference.
How thick should a concrete patio be?
Four inches is standard for a patio with foot traffic and furniture. If you plan to park a heavy vehicle or put a hot tub on it, tell us so we can thicken the slab.
How long until I can use a new patio?
You can walk on it the next day. Wait about a week before setting heavy furniture or a grill on it. Seal it after about 30 days of cure.
Do I need to remove my old patio first?
If it is cracked, sunken, or sloping toward the house, yes, and removal runs $3 to $7 per sq ft. If it is solid, a new surface or a decorative overlay may work instead.
Does a patio need a permit in Aurora?
A simple ground-level slab often does not, but steps, walls, and anything near a utility easement can change that. Confirm with the City of Aurora Building Division, and check with your HOA as well.