Why can paver patio proposals vary so much in price when everything else appears to be the same?
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Two contractors can propose the same size patio using the same—or very similar—pavers, yet the proposals can vary considerably.
So why can the proposals be so different?
With a paver patio, much of the difference is underneath the pavers.
Excavation depth, the amount of gravel used, how that gravel is compacted, edge restraint, bedding material, drainage and even the sand between the pavers can all affect the amount of material and labor that goes into the project.
Once the patio is finished, almost none of those differences are visible.
At Wall & Company, we believe the parts of your patio you can’t see deserve just as much attention as the parts you can.
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Wall & Company vs. Common Shortcuts
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| Construction Detail | Wall & Company | Common Shortcuts |
|---|---|---|
| Excavation | Excavated sufficiently to accommodate the complete patio base | Reducing excavation to save labor and hauling |
| Gravel Base | Minimum 6″ compacted gravel base | Using a thinner gravel base |
| Compaction | Gravel compacted in multiple lifts | Placing thicker layers and attempting to compact them at once |
| Bedding Layer | Properly prepared bedding layer for consistent paver installation | Using the bedding layer to compensate for an inconsistent base |
| Edge Restraint | Secured with 10″ spikes every 6″ | Wider spike spacing to reduce materials and installation time |
| Joint Sand | Quality polymeric joint sand | Lower-cost joint sand or less thorough installation |
| Drainage & Grade | Finished elevations planned to move water appropriately | Addressing grade primarily at the finished surface |
| Finish Work | Careful cuts, patterns, transitions and details | Prioritizing installation speed over construction detail |
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What You’ll Never See
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When your patio is complete, you’ll see the pavers, borders and finished outdoor living space.
You probably won’t see:
• The minimum 6 inches of compacted gravel underneath
• The individual compacted gravel lifts
• Most of the bedding layer
• The preparation beneath the edges
• The 10-inch edge spikes installed every 6 inches
Yet those hidden details help determine whether the patio remains flat, tight and attractive over time.
They’re also some of the easiest places to reduce the cost of an installation.
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We Start with a Minimum 6″ Gravel Base
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The pavers aren’t really the foundation of a paver patio.
The gravel underneath them is.
Wall & Company installs a minimum 6-inch compacted gravel base beneath our paver patios and walkways.
Minimum is important.
Site conditions can require more. We don’t reduce the base simply because six inches isn’t visible when the project is complete.
A deeper base requires more excavation, more material removal, more gravel and more labor. A thinner base can therefore make a meaningful difference in a proposal price.
Unfortunately, it’s also a difference you won’t be able to see after the pavers are installed.
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We Compact the Base in Multiple Lifts
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Six inches of gravel only provides the foundation we want if it’s properly compacted.
Wall & Company uses multi-lift compaction.
Rather than placing the entire base and attempting to compact it from the surface, gravel is installed in manageable layers. Each layer is compacted before the next is added.
This requires additional equipment passes and additional time.
But the goal isn’t simply to have six inches of gravel underneath the patio. It’s to have six inches of properly compacted gravel underneath the patio.
That’s an important distinction.
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Edge Restraint: A Small Detail That Makes a Big Difference
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The outside edges of a paver patio need to stay put.
Wall & Company secures our edge restraint using 10-inch spikes spaced every 6 inches.
Increasing that spacing uses fewer spikes and takes less time. It’s a simple way to reduce the cost of installation.
It’s also not how we choose to build a patio.
Strong edge restraint helps prevent the outside pavers from gradually moving outward. Once the perimeter begins spreading, joints can widen and movement can work farther into the patio.
A few extra spikes aren’t expensive individually.
Installing them every six inches across the perimeter of an entire patio takes more material and labor.
We believe it’s worth doing.
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The Bedding Layer Has a Specific Job
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Above the compacted gravel base is the bedding layer that allows the pavers to be installed at consistent elevations.
That layer isn’t intended to compensate for poor base preparation.
Wall & Company builds the structural base first, then properly prepares the bedding layer for the pavers.
It’s another part of the installation that disappears completely once the patio is finished.
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The Sand Between the Pavers Matters
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The material between the pavers may seem like a finishing detail, but it’s part of the paver system.
Wall & Company uses quality polymeric joint sand.
When properly installed and activated, polymeric sand helps stabilize the joints while resisting washout and reducing opportunities for weeds to establish within them.
Using less-expensive joint material can reduce the initial cost.
We prefer to finish the patio with a joint material consistent with the quality of everything underneath it.
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Drainage Begins Before the Pavers Go Down
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A patio needs to move water in the right direction.
That means finished elevations and slope need to be considered during excavation and base preparation—not after the pavers have already been installed.
Wall & Company plans grades around the property, home and surrounding landscape so water can move appropriately.
This becomes particularly important in Spokane, where the patio has to deal with rain, irrigation, snowmelt and freeze-thaw cycles.
Good drainage isn’t something you should notice.
Water should simply go where it’s supposed to go.
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The Details You Do See Matter, Too
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Building a strong foundation doesn’t excuse mediocre finish work.
Wall & Company also pays attention to:
• Consistent paver patterns
• Accurate cuts
• Clean borders
• Consistent joints
• Smooth curves
• Finished elevations
• Transitions to steps and walkways
• Integration with fire features, outdoor kitchens and surrounding landscaping
The hidden construction helps the patio last.
The craftsmanship is what you get to enjoy every day.
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Where the Wall & Company Difference Shows Up
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This is what makes paver patio proposals difficult to compare.
Two proposals may specify the same square footage and even the exact same paver.
But one installation may include substantially more excavation, gravel, compaction, edge restraint and attention to the details underneath.
Those differences require additional material and labor.
Then the pavers go down—and almost all of the evidence disappears.
Wall & Company’s approach is straightforward: a minimum 6-inch compacted gravel base, multi-lift compaction, 10-inch edge spikes every 6 inches, quality polymeric joint sand and attention to the details that will eventually be hidden.
The objective isn’t to build the cheapest or the most expensive paver patio. Our objective is to build a paver patio that will stand the test of time.
At Wall & Company, we aim to build you a paver patio that you, your family and friends can enjoy for years to come.