The part you never see

Pavers get all the attention, but they're only the top layer. What holds a patio flat for decades is the base underneath it. When a patio sinks, shifts, puddles or grows weeds between the joints, the problem almost always starts with a base that's too thin, wasn't compacted, or doesn't drain.

That's why we spend most of our time on a paver job on the parts you'll never see once it's done.

Step 1: Excavation

We dig out the grass, topsoil and any soft or organic material, down to firm ground and to the depth the base, leveling layer and pavers need. The ground is graded so the finished patio pitches away from your house and water has somewhere to go.

Step 2: The base: 3/4 stone or DGA

The base is built from crushed stone, either 3/4 stone or DGA (dense graded aggregate), depending on the site.

How deep: at least 4 inches of base for patios and walkways, and 7 inches for driveways, which have to carry the weight of cars.

The stone is spread and compacted with a plate compactor so it's solid and won't settle later. A thick, well-compacted base spreads the load and holds up through New Jersey freeze-thaw winters.

Step 3: 1 inch of 3/8 chip stone to level

On top of the base goes the leveling layer the pavers sit on. We use 1 inch of 3/8 chip stone.

For years the standard was concrete sand. Sand works, but it's older technology: it holds water, and water trapped under a patio is what leads to soft spots, settling and heaving when it freezes. 3/8 chip stone lets water drain down through the base instead of sitting under the pavers, so the whole area drains better and the patio stays flat.

Step 4: Pavers, edging and joints

The pavers are laid on the leveled chip stone, cut to fit, and held in place with edge restraint so they can't spread apart over time. Then the joints are filled and the surface is compacted again to lock everything together.

Questions to ask any contractor

Before you hire anyone for a paver patio, walkway or driveway, ask: How deep is the base? What stone do you use? Is it compacted? What do you level on? If the answer is a couple of inches of base and sand on top, expect problems down the road.

Every patio we build starts with a custom 3D design in Vip3D, so you see the finished patio on your property, and it's built on a base made to last. See our paver patios and walkways page.