Pavers and patios in Charlotte, NC

Pavers in Charlotte, NC: patios, walkways and fire pit areas

We build with pavers in Charlotte, NC for homeowners who want an outdoor floor that stays flat and looks right for years. Most of our paver work falls into three kinds of project: a patio off the back of the house, a walkway that ties the yard together, or a fire pit area with room for chairs around it. Many jobs combine two or all three.

Marcus Hale, the owner, is on every job, and one crew handles yours from the first dig to the final sweep. You deal with the same people the whole way through, so nothing gets lost between a salesperson, a designer and a crew you have never met.

We work across south Charlotte, Ballantyne, Myers Park, Dilworth and SouthPark, and out to Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Huntersville, Cornelius, Indian Trail and Fort Mill. Whether the yard is a flat lot or a steep older garden, the process below stays the same, and so does the crew.

• Back patios sized for a dining table, a lounge set or both
• Front and side walkways from the driveway to the door or gate
• Fire pit areas with a seating circle around them
• Steps and landings where the yard changes level

Pavers or poured concrete: how they compare

Poured concrete is one solid slab. It goes down quickly, but clay soil swells when wet and shrinks in dry spells, and a slab has no give, so cracks are common after a few seasons. Pavers are hundreds of separate units locked together by sand joints and an edge restraint. They flex slightly as the ground moves instead of cracking, and if one is ever stained or chipped it can be lifted out and replaced without breaking up the rest.

Pavers cost more up front than a basic slab. What you pay for is a surface that is easier to repair, comes in far more colors and textures, and can be laid in a pattern that suits the house.

Pavers can also take foot traffic as soon as the last joint is compacted. A new slab needs time to cure before furniture goes on it, and it has to be cut with control joints to steer where it cracks. With pavers there is no curing wait and no saw lines across the surface.

Get a free estimateor call (704) 555-0142

Choosing a paver, a pattern and a border

We bring samples to the estimate so you can see them against your brick, siding and lawn in real daylight. These are the choices that make the biggest difference to how the patio looks and wears.

• Size and shape: larger pavers read calm and modern, smaller ones suit older homes and curves
• Surface: smooth faces sweep easily, textured faces give better grip when wet
• Color: blended tones hide pollen, leaves and dirt better than one solid shade
• Pattern: herringbone locks together tightly, running bond and basketweave give a quieter look
• Border: a contrasting row around the edge frames the patio and firms up the outside line

How much does a paver patio cost in Charlotte?

Our paver patios start at $6,500. Where your project lands above that depends on a handful of things we measure on the estimate visit.

Your written estimate lists each part separately, so you can see where the money goes and adjust the size or the extras before anything is signed.

If the figure comes in above what you planned, we show you where to trim: a smaller footprint, a simpler pattern, or leaving the fire pit for a later phase. We would rather build a smaller patio properly than a larger one on a thin base.

• The size of the patio or walkway in square feet
• The paver you pick, and how many cuts the pattern and shape need
• How much digging and grading the site needs, especially on a slope
• Access for equipment and hauling away excavated soil
• Extras such as a fire pit, steps or a low seating wall

Get a free estimateor call (704) 555-0142

Why the base matters on Charlotte red clay

Red clay holds water after a summer storm, then shrinks and cracks when it dries out. Lay a patio straight on top of it and you get dips, rocking pavers and puddles within a couple of years. So we dig below the topsoil, lay crushed stone in layers and compact each layer before the next goes down. The base is pitched slightly away from the house so rain runs off instead of pooling against your foundation.

A rigid edge restraint pins the outside row in place, and the joints are filled with sand and compacted so the pavers lock together. On sloped lots we may add a step or a low wall so the patio can sit level without a tall drop along one side.

Included work, the warranty and patio care

Every patio includes the layout, excavation and removal of spoil, the compacted base, edge restraint, pavers, joint sand and a clean-up of the work area. We walk the finished patio with you, and it carries our 2-year workmanship warranty: if something we built settles or shifts because of how we installed it, we come back and fix it.

While we work, expect compact digging equipment, a trailer for soil and some noise during working hours. We will not compact a soaked base, so a rainy week can move the schedule. Afterwards, sweep leaves off regularly, rinse the surface once or twice a year, and top up the joint sand if you see gaps opening.

Before we dig, underground utility lines are marked through the free 811 locate service, and we agree where pavers and stone will be dropped. On the last day we sweep, haul away leftover pavers and debris, and point out anything worth watching in the first few months.