Comparing the Cost of Installing Pavers, Concrete and Natural Stone.
A patio project is more than just a collection of pavers, concrete or natural stone. It's about creating beautiful and functional spaces for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Whether it's a morning retreat with your favorite coffee, a place to relax around your swimming pool or an elegant space to enjoy a meal with friends.
The design and sales team at North Point Outdoors has built a reputation for trust and transparency when it comes to planning, budgets and investments into our design/build projects. Whether you want to call it 'the million dollar question', or 'the elephant in the room' we aren't afraid to educate our customers and answer the question. How much does a patio installation cost?
There is no magic answer to this. Believe us, we wish there was! We rely on our design sales team to walk our customers through our design process and most importantly, listen to your individual wants and needs. Our process starts with an on-site meeting and the development of a custom design. From there, our estimates are created using a time and material based proposal that shows you everything from estimated labor, material costs and quantity as well as equipment and deliveries. It' s no different than seeing your Amazon shopping cart. If you are buying it, we want you to know how much it costs and exactly what you are purchasing.
Remember when we said that we are a different kind of landscape company? That's because our quotes are detailed to show every item you need. We like transparency. By using a custom estimating program to calculate the exact materials needed for your project we are able to dial in the exact price for your project. But why? Because we don't think it's fair to guess when it comes to your hard earned money. We would rather be as accurate as possible in our estimation and value. Our proven process of estimation allows us to custom design, value engineer and price your project. We put time into calculations and measurements to tailor fit the project to your unique property. We make sure we cover all anticipated expenses to minimize surprises. A square foot price is too vague for us. We like cold hard transparent facts. Numbers... Calculated Quantities... Labor...and Equipment needs. It allows us to be accurate, precise and efficient. This is a big investment. You need it to fit your needs and budget because at the end of day we understand that your happiness is our goal.
Concrete
Poured concrete is the least expensive patio option. It's a great solution if you want to put your budget elsewhere. Customers have found value in saving on a concrete patio to open a budget for landscape lighting or water feature.
We will design the size, shape and layout of a concrete patio to the same beautiful curves or linear lines that we do for any other patio.
Go ahead and ask...What's is the problem with a concrete patio? Cracks, plan and simple, it's what concrete does. The solution, we install expansion joints and strategic cuts to minimize the impact and direct the cracks right where we want them.
Alright...Alright...How much is a concrete patio? For the concrete material only you can expect $6 - $10 per foot before excavation, base preparation and landscape repair for site access. We suggest you budget $9,000-$15,000 for an average sized concrete pool walkway and patio area.
Stamped Concrete
Stamped concrete gained tons of popularity 8-10 years ago. It's a 'good' patio option (more on that later). It's available in lots of colors and patterns and can be used to create any style look from modern to rustic.
This method is used to create the look of pavers without the price, it can be made to look like clay brick, pavers, or natural stone.
Unfortunately for stamped concrete we feel like the problems outweigh the benefits in some situations. Was that too harsh? Maybe, but at least it's honest. Stamped concrete requires sealing, is prone to cracking and chipping. Like we said, thats what concrete does. The issue with stamped concrete is that its very hard to match the color and patterns for repairs. They tend to stand out like a sore thumb. For the price point, we usually recommend making some other changes and upgrading to pavers.
Typicall material costs ranges from $10 to $16 per square foot depending on color and patterns. The installed cost of a stamped concrete patio typically range from $14,000 to $20,000 all said and done.
Pavers
Pavers, Pavers, Pavers. The go-to material for our design team. They come in a wide range of materials, colors and sizes - vintage clay, tumbled concrete, large slab. We use them for walkways, patios, coping and outdoor kitchens. They are the Rob Gronkowski of versatility. They can be laid out in endless patterns, shapes and styles. They won't crack like concrete and can be easily maintained.
Paver installation costs are usually twice as much as a poured concrete patio. Why? Because they are more labor intensive to install. The base preparation needs more finesse and perfection. Pavers need to be cut, trimmed and hand laid. If you want a complex design and inlays it takes even more time, and we all know that time is money. So what's in it for you? A gorgeous hardscape element that will last you for decades when installed and maintained correctly.
The major benefit to using pavers in a design/build project is the easy of maintenance and their ability to move and shift without cracking. Repairs are often made to the base layer or joint fill using the same pavers. This means that they will blend right back in to their existing place. No bright patch or off-color patch to drive you crazy.
Typically, paver materials cost anywhere from $3.00 to $14.00 per foot. Remember when we talked about our designers asking your questions and being open about budget? This is exactly why. We will help choose a material that will fit the needs of your design and wallet. The installation costs typically range from $20,000 - $35,000 for an average pool surround and patio area.
Natural Stone
For all of you nature lovers out there, Natural Stone is the granddaddy material of a custom design/build hardscape project. They are timeless, natural, gorgeous and interesting focal points of any project. Whether we are using them for a patio, walkway, stepping stones, water feature, or focal point there is no going wrong.
A patio made of natural stone is a sure to turn heads and make you the talk of the neighborhood. The most common natural stone products we use are bluestone, brownstone, granite, cobble, travertine and flagstone. These materials can be either dry-set into a gravel base with gravel or polymeric joint fill or can be wet-set into a bed of mortar. Natural stone is the most expensive patio to install and for good reason. It takes significant effort to source, transport, and layout. It can take a highly talented mason hours to set even one large stone.
How much does a natural stone patio cost? Typically twice as much as pavers for the material and even more for labor. The average cost of a natural stone material will range from $40.00 to $70.00 per square foot. The average cost to install a custom natural stone pool patio is $35,000 to $60,000.
Leave Patio Installation To The Pros
Don't believe HGTV. Laying your own patio can become a logistical problem where the materials alone can weight over 50 tons. Our hardscape installation teams understand the importance of excavation, compaction, grades, drainage, and logistics needed to maneuver 3,000lb pallets of pavers and stone.
We highly recommend leaving this backbreaking task to the professionals. Professionals have the equipment, trucks, tools, compactors, and decades of experience to get it done right and make it last a very long time.
If you've seen a patio with uneven pavers, loose stepping stones, settling and pooling areas, it simply wasn't installed properly. We live in New England, and that means winter freeze thaw cycles. Rain and snow are a part of a patios life, if it isn't installed properly the problems will show up very quickly. We know that the long term success of any hardscape project lives within the materials and effort that is never seen under the beautiful paver top.
You've now seen behind the scenes of what has made North Point Outdoors design/build division one of the most trusted and professional patio installation teams in the area. This article doesn't cover everything you need to know about patios and there is plenty more information out there. We wanted to show you the good, the bad and the ugly of different patio materials and choices. We appreciate the opportunity to educate you and make your purchasing process a little more transparent. Our design sales staff is always available to answer questions and give answers to the things that other companies might not want you to know.
Trust Your Patio To North Point Outdoors
At North Point Outdoors, we follow a proven process to design and install dream patios all over New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Our design team will work with you to choose materials, layouts, features, furniture and elements to suit your needs and budget.
After our hardscape crews are done with their work, our talented team of softscape, irrigation and lighting installers and put the finishing touches on your project. From re-establishing the lawn, re-configuring the landscape and irrigation system to decorative the patio with potted plants, annuals and landscape lighting.
These projects need a plan. We would love to help with yours.
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