Patios
Paver patios that stay flat
A patio carries tables, chairs, a grill and the occasional hot tub pad. It doesn't carry a truck, so the base is sized for foot traffic and the weight on it.
We dig out the sod and topsoil, build a stone base in compacted lifts, screed an inch of bedding sand, set the pavers and lock them with edge restraint and joint sand. The slope is written on the estimate so the water goes away from the house.
What's included
Sitting walls and fire-pit pads on the same base
Pavers chosen at the visit from physical samples
Edge restraint on every side
Haul-off and cleanup included
How it works
From a bare lawn to a locked patio
- 01
Measure and plan
We mark the shape, set the slope and agree the pattern and the borders.
- 02
Dig and compact
Out comes the sod. The soil underneath is shaped and compacted.
- 03
Base, in lifts
Stone goes down about 4 in. at a time, with the plate compactor over each lift.
- 04
Bed, lay, lock
Sand, pavers, edge restraint, joint sand, and a last compaction.
What decides the cost
What changes the price of a patio
The estimate shows each of these as its own line, so you can see where the money goes.
Size and shape
Square feet, and how many curves and cuts the shape needs.
The dig
How deep we go and where the spoil goes. A yard we can reach with a skid steer costs less to dig than one we load by hand.
The base
Soft clay or a wet corner calls for more stone, and sometimes fabric.
The paver and the extras
Brand, thickness, pattern, borders, seat walls and a fire-pit pad.
Questions
Patio questions
How much does a paver patio or driveway cost?
It depends on the area, how deep we dig, how much stone the soil calls for and which paver you pick. We don't give a number for a yard we haven't seen. At the visit we measure and probe the soil, and the written estimate lists every line. The section on how pricing works explains what moves it.
What should I do before you arrive?
Clear the area of furniture and planters, and tell us about anything buried that isn't on the public map: an irrigation line, a dog fence, low-voltage lights. We call 811 before we dig, and public utilities are marked for free. Mark sprinkler heads you want to keep.
Do I need a permit?
Work in the public right-of-way, such as a driveway apron, and some walls and steps need one in most Columbus-area cities. We tell you at the visit whether your job does and who applies. The permit fee is not in the estimate unless the estimate says it is.
Will weeds and ants come up through the joints?
Some will try. Joint sand locks the pavers and slows both. Sweep it, top it up when it drops, and pull anything that sprouts early. A tight base and tight joints do more than any sealer.
Patios
Get the base depth in writing
Send us a photo of the yard by text, or fill in the form.