The Ultimate Homeowner’s Guide to Pavers: Everything You Need to Know

A deep dive into materials, costs, and design—designed to help Ohio homeowners choose a patio that survives the freeze-thaw cycle and lasts a lifetime.

Investing in a new patio, walkway, or driveway is a big decision. At Enhanced Homescapes, we believe the best customer is an informed one. This guide is built to help you understand hardscaping from every angle—durability, design, and cost—so you can choose the right solution for your property without the pressure of a sales pitch.

1. Why Choose Pavers Over Concrete?

In Northeast Ohio, our soil and weather are "paver-perfect." Because our ground freezes and thaws constantly, solid surfaces like concrete are guaranteed to crack eventually.

• Durability: Pavers are "interlocking," meaning they can move slightly with the earth and return to their original position without cracking.
• Repairability: If a paver is stained by oil or damaged, we can pop out that specific unit and replace it. With concrete, you’d have to jackhammer the entire slab.
• Resale Value: Real estate data consistently shows that high-quality paver installations offer a higher Return on Investment (ROI) than standard poured or stamped concrete.

2. Quality Matters: Thru-Mix vs. Face-Mix

Not all pavers are created equal. When browsing catalogs from brands like Oberfields, Unilock, or Belgard, you will see two main types of manufacturing:

• Good (Thru-Mix): The color and large aggregate are mixed throughout the entire block. These are durable but can look "pebbly" or faded over time as the surface wears down.
• Best (Face-Mix): These pavers feature a high-strength, concentrated layer of fine minerals and intense pigment on the top 1/2 inch. This results in much more vibrant colors and a smoother, denser surface that resists wear and fading.
• The Enhanced Standard: We prioritize Face-Mix pavers because they stay looking "new" significantly longer than the budget options found at big-box stores.

3. Five Key Decisions for Your Project

When we sit down for your consultation, we will walk through these five choices:

1. Material: Concrete pavers (versatile), Natural Stone (timeless luxury), or Clay Brick (classic).
2. Shape & Pattern: From modern large-format slabs to traditional "random ashlar" or herringbone patterns.
3. Color: We recommend choosing a "base" color that complements your home’s siding and an "accent" color for borders.
4. Borders & Inlays: * Soldier Course: Pavers laid vertically (like soldiers) around the edge.

• Sailor Course: Pavers laid horizontally (long side to long side).

1. Intended Use: A driveway requires a much deeper gravel base (10–12") than a simple backyard walkway (4–6").

4. The Biggest Mistake: Ignoring Drainage

The number one reason patios fail in Ohio isn't the stone—it’s the water. Poor drainage leads to "heaving" (pavers popping up) and "settling" (sinking).

The Enhanced Difference: We don't just "lay stone." We evaluate your yard's slope, downspout locations, and soil type. We integrate French drains and proper grading into our builds to ensure water moves away from your foundation and your patio.

5. What Affects the Cost?

Hardscaping is a significant investment. Several factors influence your final quote:

• Site Access: Can we get a skid-steer into the backyard, or is it a narrow 36" gate?
• Base Prep: The amount of "spoils" (old dirt) we have to haul away and the amount of crushed stone we bring in.
• Material Choice: Premium large-format pavers cost more to purchase and more to install (due to weight) than standard 4x8 bricks.

6. Maintenance & Longevity

A professionally installed paver system can last 30 to 50 years.

• Sealing: We include professional sealing with our installations. We recommend re-sealing every 3–5 years to keep the colors vibrant and protect against salt and oil.
• Polymeric Sand: We use high-tech joint sand that hardens like mortar. This prevents weed growth and keeps ants from nesting between your stones.

7. Red Flags When Hiring a Contractor

If you’re getting multiple quotes, watch out for these "short-cuts" that lead to project failure:

1. No Geotextile Fabric: If they don't put a professional fabric layer between the dirt and the gravel, your patio will sink into the mud within 3 years.
2. No Written Warranty: A "handshake" won't fix a sunken patio. Insist on a written workmanship guarantee.
3. The "Low-Ball" Quote: If a price seems too good to be true, they are likely cutting corners on the base depth or using inferior "thru-mix" materials.

8. What It’s Like Working With Us

We follow a strict 7-step process to ensure your project is seamless:

1. Site Walk & Planning: We measure and check your elevations.
2. Estimate & Agreement: A clear, itemized scope of work.
3. Scheduling: We keep you updated on lead times and weather delays.
4. Excavation: We dig deep and remove all unstable organic soil.
5. Base Construction: 90% of the work is what you can't see—compacted stone and fabric.
6. The Build: Precision cutting and laying of your chosen design.
7. The Finish: Final compaction, joint sand, sealing, and a walkthrough to ensure you're 100% satisfied.

Ready to Build for a Lifetime?

If you're in the Uniontown, Canton, or Akron area, we’d love to help you navigate these choices. Our goal is to build you a space that isn't just a "patio," but an "Enhanced Homescape."