Most pavers & hardscape projects don't fail because a contractor made one dramatic error — they fail because small, cheap-looking decisions stack up.
These are the mistakes we see most often on Houston jobs, and the ones we vet every scope against before we start.
1. Thin base
2–3" of base is what fails. 6" of compacted base plus 1" of setting sand is correct.
2. No fabric between clay and base
Without geotextile fabric, clay migrates up into the base. The patio sinks.
3. No edge restraint
Free edges spread and the whole install unravels.
4. Regular sand in joints
Washes out and grows weeds. Polymeric sand locks up.
5. Wrong sealer
A film-forming sealer on the wrong stone traps moisture and destroys the surface.
How to vet your contractor
Read your pavers & hardscape bid line by line and ask which of these mistakes are being avoided — in writing. A contractor who welcomes the question is the one you want; a contractor who deflects is the one to walk away from.
If you'd like a second set of eyes on a scope of work or an existing bid, we're happy to walk through it with you.
