The base is the whole job
Pavers and flagstone almost never fail. What fails is what's under them: a hole dug too shallow, base material dumped in one lift instead of compacted in layers, or no edge restraint, so the outside row slides and the joints open up for weeds. That work is most of the cost and none of the photographs, which is exactly why it's the first thing cut from a cheap quote.
Where the water goes
Water moving through the base is what lifts and settles a patio over a few wet winters. Every surface we build is pitched to shed water, away from the house rather than toward it, and if the ground behind a wall holds water we put drainage behind it before the face goes up. A retaining wall with nowhere for water to escape is carrying a load it was never designed for.
How to judge a hardscape quote
Ask four things: how deep are you digging, what's the base material and how thick, is it compacted in layers, and where does the water end up. A quote that names the paver and the square footage and stops there is hiding the half of the job that decides how long it lasts. You get a fixed price and a start date from us in writing, with the base spelled out.
How It Works
- 01
We Walk It With You
What you want it to look like, what you actually enjoy doing yourself, and what has never worked in that one wet corner.
- 02
A Written Price And A Day
For maintenance, the visit price and the day of the week you are on. For a project, a fixed price and a start date — not a range.
- 03
The Same Crew Every Time
People who learn your garden, know which shrub you are protective of, and notice when something has changed.
- 04
We Tell You When A Week Slips
Weather moves schedules and anyone who says otherwise is guessing. You get a message, not a mystery — and the visit gets made up.
- 05
Left Tidy, Every Visit
Edges cut, hard surfaces blown clean, gates shut and nothing on the drive. The last two minutes are the ones people remember.
Patios, Walls & Paths: common questions
Why do patios sink or go uneven?
Usually a base that was too thin or never properly compacted, and sometimes water running under it with nowhere to go. Once it settles, relaying the surface alone just buys a season. We'd rather dig it out and fix the cause.
Can you build on a slope?
Yes, and most gardens worth rebuilding have one. It normally means a retaining wall or a step or two to get a level surface, plus drainage behind the wall. We walk the levels with you first so you can see where the ground has to move.
How long does a patio take?
It depends on the size, the access for machinery and materials, and the weather while we're digging. We give you a start date and tell you honestly what the run of work looks like, rather than a number that ignores a wet week.
Gardens throughout inner southeast Portland
We route by neighborhood rather than scattering across the metro, which is how the same crew reaches you on the same day every week. Most of our rounds are in inner southeast Portland; if you are just outside one, ask — sometimes a street is a short hop from an existing route and sometimes it honestly is not.