Start With How You Will Use It
The best patio design starts with the life you want on it: morning coffee for two, big cookouts, kids and a dog, a fire pit circle. Size and shape follow the use. A dining set needs about 12 by 14 feet minimum; a fire pit conversation area wants a 10-foot circle of its own. Plan the furniture first, then the concrete.
Finishes That Fit Fairfax Homes
- Broom-finish. Clean, classic, lowest cost. Disappears behind the landscaping and lets the yard do the talking.
- Stamped stone or slate. The most popular upgrade — flagstone and ashlar slate patterns that look like natural stone at a fraction of the cost. Our stamped concrete page shows the options.
- Stamped brick. Matches the brick fronts on Fairfax colonials — the patio looks original to the house.
- Exposed aggregate. Natural stone texture with real grip — good around pools and on slopes. See exposed aggregate.
- Colored concrete. Integral color or stains in earth tones that warm up gray concrete without a pattern.
Shapes Beyond the Rectangle
Concrete forms can curve. A patio that follows the back of the house, wraps a bay window, or flows into a walkway looks designed rather than dropped in. Curves cost a bit more in forming labor and are worth it on visible backyards.
Outdoor Living Add-Ons
- Fire pit pad. A dedicated circle or square, often in stamped concrete, sized for chairs around the fire.
- Outdoor kitchen base. A thicker, level pad for a grill island or full outdoor kitchen — plan utilities before the pour, not after.
- Seat walls. Low concrete walls around the patio edge double as seating and define the space.
- Connected walkways. A walkway from the patio to the driveway or gate ties the whole yard together.
What Patios Cost Here
Most Fairfax County patios land between $5,000 and $15,000 depending on size and finish — plain broom-finish on the lower end, large stamped designs on the upper. As always, the written estimate after a site visit is the real number.
Design Yours
Tell us what you want the patio for and we will sketch the size, shape, and finish that fits your yard and budget.