Paver Patios & Walkways in Clark County, WA
Interlocking paver patios, walkways and driveways built on an open-graded base that survives Clark County winters.
Get a Free EstimateA paver patio is only as good as what is underneath it. Most of the failed patios we get called out to repair in Clark County look fine the day they were finished — they sank two winters later because somebody laid pavers on four inches of loose sand over clay. We build the base first and the pretty part second.
How we build a patio that stays flat
We excavate to subgrade, which in most Clark County yards means digging out 8 to 12 inches of native clay for a patio and more for anything a vehicle drives on. That clay is then compacted and, on wet sites, separated from the new base with a woven geotextile so the two never mix.
Base rock goes in as compacted lifts rather than one deep dump, because a plate compactor only densifies the top few inches at a time. We screed a thin bedding course, lay the field, cut the perimeter with a saw rather than a guillotine for clean edges, and lock the whole thing in with a spiked edge restraint. Joints get polymeric sand, compacted and set.
The finished surface is pitched away from your foundation — usually around a quarter inch per foot. That slope is not optional here. Water that cannot leave a patio will get under it, and in a freeze it will lift it.
What we install
Patios and seating areas, front entries and walkways, driveways and RV parking aprons, pool surrounds, seat walls and steps, tree rings and border banding. We work with standard concrete pavers, large-format slabs, permeable systems and natural stone.
What drives the price
Square footage matters less than people expect. The bigger cost drivers are access (whether a machine can reach the back yard or everything moves by wheelbarrow), how much material has to be hauled off, base depth for the intended load, cuts and curves, and whether the job includes steps or walls. We walk all of that with you and put a fixed number in writing.
What is included
- Excavation to proper subgrade for the intended load
- Geotextile separation fabric on clay and wet sites
- Compacted base in lifts, not a single deep pour
- Saw-cut perimeter and spiked edge restraint
- Polymeric jointing sand, compacted and set
- Positive drainage pitched away from the house
Every quote is fixed and in writing. We walk the site, tell you what the job actually needs, and price it. If we find something during the walkthrough that changes the scope, you hear it then — not as a change order halfway through.
Paver Patios & Walkways: common questions
How long does a paver patio take to install?
A typical 400 to 600 square foot residential patio runs three to five working days once we start, assuming reasonable access and no weather delays. Larger builds with walls, steps or an outdoor kitchen run one to three weeks.
Pavers or stamped concrete — which is better here?
Pavers, in most Clark County yards. Our clay soil moves seasonally, and a poured slab is one rigid piece that cracks when the ground under it shifts. A paver field is thousands of small pieces that flex with the ground and can be individually lifted and reset. Stamped concrete looks great and costs less up front, but it is far harder to repair.
Do I need a permit for a patio?
A ground-level patio usually does not require a building permit, but jurisdictions in Clark County differ, and impervious surface limits, setbacks, easements and HOA rules can all apply. If your project touches any of those we will tell you during the walkthrough so you can confirm with your city or the county before we start.
Will weeds grow through the joints?
Not from below, if the base is built right. What people see is windblown seed germinating in the top of the joint sand. Polymeric sand, kept topped up every few years, handles almost all of it.
Can you install pavers over an existing concrete slab?
Sometimes. If the slab is structurally sound, drains properly and the added height does not create a problem at doors or thresholds, an overlay can work and saves demolition cost. If the slab is already cracked or holding water, we take it out.
Paver Patios & Walkways by city
Local conditions change what this job takes. Pick your area for the specifics.
Need paver patios & walkways?
Free on-site estimates across Clark County. We walk the property with you, tell you what it actually needs, and put a fixed price in writing.