Paver walkways and patios
Front walks, side paths and back patios on a compacted base with edge restraint and swept joints.
Hardscaping, Pavers & Concrete Steps in Chicago & the Suburbs
Paver walkways and patios, concrete steps and stoops — the ground the fence stands on.
Hardscaping is on the logo because it has always been half the work. A fence closes a yard in; the walkway, patio and steps are what make the yard usable once it is closed. We pour concrete steps and stoops, lay paver walkways and patios, and do the grading and base prep underneath them.
In Chicago that base is the whole job. Clay soil holds water, water freezes, and anything set on a thin bed of sand moves the first winter. We dig to depth, compact in lifts, and pitch the surface so water runs away from the foundation instead of standing against it.
Options & styles
Ways we build hardscaping and paver work
Concrete steps and stoops
Poured steps, landings and stoops — often the same job as the railing that goes on top of them.
Aprons, pads and parking
Garage aprons, alley pads and parking surfaces built for the weight of a vehicle rather than foot traffic.
Grading and drainage
Base prep, pitch and surface drainage so the new work sheds water instead of collecting it against the building.
What to expect
How the job runs
The same sequence on every project, from a forty-foot back-yard run to a commercial lot.
- 01
Measure and free estimate
We walk the property with you, measure the run, talk through height, material and where the gates want to go, and put a written price in your hands. No charge and no obligation.
- 02
Material and layout
You pick the material and style. We mark the line you want the fence to follow, and utility locates get called before anyone puts a shovel in the ground.
- 03
Posts and footings
Posts set to depth and plumbed, below the frost line where we are digging, or anchored to base plates where we are working on concrete. This is the part nobody sees and the only part that decides whether the run is still straight in five years.
- 04
Panels and fabrication
Panels are hung to the grade of your yard rather than dropped flat on top of it, and steel work is fabricated to the measurements we took on site.
- 05
Gates and hardware
Gates hang on their own reinforced posts. Hinges, latches and drop rods get adjusted until the gate swings clean and closes on its own line.
- 06
Cleanup and walkthrough
Old fence and debris hauled out, the work area swept, and a walk of the finished job with you before we leave.
Material notes
What to know before you buy
- Base depth and compaction decide how flat a paver surface is in five years. Everything above it is finish work.
- Freeze and thaw is the enemy. Water that cannot drain gets under the surface and lifts it.
- Pavers can be lifted and reset if a section settles, which concrete cannot — that flexibility is worth something in this climate.
- Pitch every surface away from the foundation. It is the cheapest waterproofing there is.
Why people choose it
What you get out of it
- One contractor for the fence, the gate and the ground between them
- Base built for Chicago clay and freeze-thaw, not for a catalog photo
- Steps and railings designed together, so the anchors land where they should
- Surfaces pitched to drain away from the building
FAQ
Hardscaping & Pavers: common questions
Pavers or poured concrete?
Pavers flex with the ground and can be lifted and reset if a section settles; poured concrete gives you an uninterrupted surface but cracks where it moves. For steps and stoops we usually pour. For walks and patios, either can be right, and we will tell you which we would choose for your yard.
Why do walkways sink?
Almost always because the base under them was too thin or was never compacted properly. Digging deeper and compacting in lifts costs more on day one and is the only thing that prevents it.
Can you tear out the old concrete first?
Yes. Demolition, haul-away and disposal of the old surface can be part of the same job and the same estimate.
Can hardscaping be done at the same time as the fence?
That is the ideal way to do it. Grading, footings and paving get sequenced in the right order, and you deal with one crew and one schedule instead of two.
Free estimates
Get a price for hardscaping and paver work
Send us the details and we will arrange a time to come measure. No charge and no obligation — and if you would rather talk it through, the phone is faster.
Other services
What else we build
Where we build it
Hardscaping & Pavers across Chicagoland
We install hardscaping and paver work throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Pick your town for what the work usually looks like there.
- Chicago
- Cicero
- Berwyn
- Oak Park
- Oak Lawn
- Burbank
- Bridgeview
- Evergreen Park
- Orland Park
- Tinley Park
- Palos Heights
- Oak Forest
- Blue Island
- Alsip
- Chicago Ridge