Patio tear-out and rebuild in Houston is for the homeowner whose back patio is cracked, tilted toward the house, too small, or all three. Instead of patching a slab that was built wrong, we break it out, fix what is underneath, and build a new patio that is larger, flat where it should be, and pitched to move water away from the foundation.
The tear-out is the easy part. What matters is what we find once the old slab is gone: soft fill, no base, a downspout that has been washing out soil for years, or a slab that covered the Weep holeA small opening near the base of a wall that lets trapped water escape. In practice: A retaining wall that cannot drain is a wall that will eventually move. TUE details always show how water leaves the back of the wall. in the brick. A rebuild is the chance to correct all of it at once and to plan the space for how you actually want to use it now.
What's under it · tap a layer
Concrete slab. The poured slab, reinforced and cut with control joints so the cracks concrete always makes form in straight, planned lines.
01
When Tearing Out Your Patio Makes Sense
A rebuild is the right call when the patio's problems come from how it was built, not from a single event. Watch for:
If only a corner or one section has failed, concrete repair may be enough. We will tell you which way we would go and why.
- A slab that tilts toward the house or traps water at the back door
- Multiple cracks with uneven edges across the slab
- A patio poured over the brick ledge or weep holes
- Settlement at the outer edge, leaving a step down into the yard
- A layout too small for the furniture, cover, or kitchen you want
- Old FlagstoneFlat, irregular or cut slabs of natural stone used for patios, walks and wall caps. or tile set in mortar over a cracking slab
02
What Goes Wrong Under Houston Patios
Most failing patios we remove share the same story. A thin slab was poured on fill that had been pushed back against the foundation and never compacted. Over a few years, that fill settled and the clay underneath cycled through wet and dry seasons. The outer edge dropped, the slab tipped back toward the house, and roof water started running toward the door instead of away.
Once the slab is out, we see the cause directly. We dig out soft material, moisture-condition and compact the SubgradeThe native soil beneath a paving or structure after it has been excavated and prepared. In practice: Houston clay subgrades move with moisture changes, which is why base preparation and drainage underneath matter., and rebuild the base. If a gutter has been dumping water at the patio edge, we tie it into a buried line. If the yard beyond the patio sits higher than the slab, we regrade so the new patio is not a bowl.
Elevation at the house is the detail that makes or breaks a rebuild. The new surface has to stay below the brick ledge and weep holes, with an Expansion jointA gap filled with compressible material that lets slabs or walls expand and contract without cracking or pushing against the house. at the foundation, while still having enough height to pitch away. On some lots that means lowering the yard rather than raising the patio.
03
Our Patio Tear-Out and Rebuild Process
Each rebuild follows the same order, with room to adjust once we see what is under the old slab.
- Site visit: a Home Scout measures the patio, checks foundation height, gutters, and grade, and talks through how you want to use the space.
- Plan and proposal: new size, shape, finish, drainage, and any FootingThe widened base at the bottom of a wall, column or structure that spreads its load into the ground. for covers are itemized.
- Protection and demolition: doors, walls, and lawn are protected, the old slab is broken out, and debris is hauled away.
- Subgrade correction: soft soil is removed, the subgrade is compacted, and grade is adjusted.
- Drainage: downspouts and low spots are tied into buried pipe or surface drains as planned.
- Base, forms, and steel: base is CompactionMechanically pressing soil or aggregate to make it dense and stable so it does not settle later., forms are set to pitch, rebar is placed, and footings are poured if needed.
- Pour, finish, and cure: concrete is placed and finished, joints are cut, and the slab is cured.
- Walkthrough: we return 72 hours after completion.
04
Patio Rebuild Options: Bigger, Better, Different
A rebuild does not have to match the old footprint. Most clients go bigger, often extending the patio along the back of the house or wrapping it around a corner. Some switch materials entirely. You can rebuild in broom or exposed aggregate concrete, choose stamped concrete for a stone look, or move to pavers on a compacted base.
This is also the moment to plan for shade and cooking. Footings for a PergolaAn open overhead structure of posts and beams that frames a space and supports shade or climbing plants. Smaller cousins include the arbor (an arch over a path or gate) and the trellis (a lattice panel for climbers). or cover, a sleeve for a future gas line, and conduit for lighting all cost far less to place before the pour than to cut in later. If you want to see the full layout before deciding, our 3D landscape rendering upgrade is $497 and is credited toward the build.
05
Patio Tear-Out and Rebuild Cost Factors
A rebuild has two halves, removal and new construction, and both are priced from your site:
Our ballpark price tool gives you a starting range, and financing is available for projects from $5,000 to $250,000, subject to approval.
- Size and thickness of the old slab, and whether it contains rebar
- Access for demolition equipment and haul-off
- Amount of soft soil to remove and base to add
- Downspout and drainage work
- New patio size, shape, and finish
- Footings, conduit, and sleeves for future features
06
Rebuild Shortcuts to Avoid
The biggest shortcut is pouring new concrete over the old slab. It raises the patio closer to the weep holes, traps the old cracks underneath, and those cracks come right back through. Another is replacing the slab without touching the gutter or grade that caused the damage, which repeats the failure on a shorter clock.
Watch for bids that skip demolition details. Removing a patio next to a house takes care around doors, foundation edges, and buried lines. A bid that does not mention haul-off, base, or pitch is probably leaving one of them out.
07
Pairs Well With a Rebuilt Patio
Since the ground is already open, rebuilds pair naturally with seamless gutter installation on the back roofline, a buried downspout line, and fire pit area design at the edge of the new slab. We can also lay out new beds and sod around the finished patio so the yard and the hardscape look like one project.
08
Why Texas Urban Elements for Your Patio Rebuild
Tear-outs reward contractors who handle every trade. Our one team does the demolition, grading, drainage, base, and concrete, so there is no gap between the crew that finds a problem and the crew that fixes it. As a concrete contractor in Houston serving the metro since 2016, from Spring to Missouri City, we have seen what sits under a lot of failed builder patios.
A Home Scout visits before any proposal is written. The proposal is itemized, the price we quote is the price you pay, and hardscape is backed by our structural warranty.
Patio Tear-Out and Rebuild Questions
Can you pour a new patio over my old one?
We do not recommend it. Pouring over an existing slab raises the surface toward your weep holes and back door, and the cracks and movement in the old slab telegraph up through the new one. It also leaves whatever caused the failure, usually soft fill or water, right where it is. Removing the old slab is more work up front but is the only way to fix the base.
How long does a patio tear-out and rebuild take?
Most rebuilds take about a week of site work, depending on size and drainage. Demolition and haul-off usually take a day, subgrade and base another day or two, then forming, steel, and the pour. Rain can add days, since we do not pour on saturated ground. Light foot traffic is fine within a couple of days, and furniture can go back in about a week.
Will the new patio be at the same height as the old one?
Not necessarily. Many older patios sit too high against the house, covering weep holes or sitting right at the door threshold. We set the new height from the foundation details and the pitch the slab needs. Sometimes that means lowering the surface and regrading the yard a little so water still runs away from the house.
What happens to my lawn during demolition?
We protect what we can, but some lawn near the patio and along the equipment path will be disturbed. We plan the access route during the site visit to keep that area as small as possible. After the pour, the edges are backfilled and graded, and new sod or beds can be added as part of the same project.
Related Services in Houston
- Patio Design Houston
Outdoor living surfaces designed with proper grading, drainage, and material selection for Houston's climate.
- Patio Paver Installation Houston
Paver patios set on a compacted base with proper pitch, edge restraint, and polymeric joint sand.
- Surface Water Drainage Houston
Channel drains, catch basins, and swale systems that capture and redirect sheet flow across flat Houston lots.
- Concrete Driveway Installation Houston
New driveways built on compacted base with proper reinforcement and pitch so water drains away from the garage.
- Stamped Concrete Houston
Decorative, colored, and textured concrete with stone, brick, or wood patterns, fiber-reinforced and properly jointed for Houston's heat. Includes stained and colored finishes that elevate standard slabs.
- Concrete Patio Construction Houston
Poured concrete patios with integrated drainage pitch and finish options from broom to exposed aggregate.
Patio Tear-Out and Rebuild is part of our Concrete Contractor Houston services. Texas Urban Elements is a Houston landscape designer that designs and builds every part of the yard.
Need an Assessment?
We assess your yard and provide a permanent solution. Professional project consultation. A Home Scout personally visits every property.
What you get
- A Home Scout on siteA trained scout walks and measures every property before a proposal is written.
- Itemized written proposalPriced line by line, and we price what we quote.
- One team, every tradeNo subcontractor hand-offs between drainage, base and finish.
- 72-hour walkthroughWe come back after completion to check the work with you.
- Backed by guaranteesDrainage Performance Guarantee and a structural warranty on hardscape.
Texas Urban Elements job photos
Patio Tear-Out and Rebuild jobs in Houston
Photos from our own projects, edited for the web. Tap a thumbnail to see it larger.
Let's Get Started
Don't wait until the problem gets worse. Schedule your professional project consultation today.
For a full overview of concrete contractor options in Houston, see our Concrete Contractor Houston page.