Paver installation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering paver installation

Paver work is judged on how level it stays and how tight the joints look after the first year of use, so customers remember the pros who built the base right. Win the job by explaining the base and the edge restraint in terms the customer can see and touch.

What customers ask

  • Will the pavers settle or crack over time?
  • Can you do a herringbone or border pattern on my patio?
  • How do you keep the joints from washing out?
  • Will the surface be slippery when wet?
  • Can you drive on pavers in the driveway?
  • How do I repair a paver if one breaks or shifts?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask what the surface is for, who will walk or drive on it, and how the water moves across the area now.
  • On site, check the grade, the soil and any drainage issues, and dig a test hole to confirm the base depth you will need.
  • Show a pattern layout on a sketch or a sample board, so the customer picks the look with a clear view of the cuts and borders.
  • In the quote, list the base, the sand, the edge restraint and the joint sand as separate lines, so the customer sees the build.
  • Explain how you will set the grade and the slope in plain words, and tell the customer where the water will go.
  • Give a joint sand and sealer plan in writing, with the schedule for topping up the sand over the first seasons.

What to put on your profile

  • Close-up photos of finished patterns and borders, shot in good light with the joint lines visible
  • Paver types and colors you install, such as concrete, clay and natural stone
  • Surfaces you have built, including patios, walks, drives and pool decks
  • Your service area and whether you also handle retaining walls, steps and drainage

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a joint sand top-up and a check of the surface after the first season, explained as routine care
  • Suggest a sealer schedule that suits the pavers and the use of the surface
  • Mention paver resetting or a repaired border as information when you see movement nearby

Licenses and permits

Whether paver work needs a contractor license varies by place and by job size, and larger drives, retaining elements and drainage changes are commonly done under a contractor license. Confirm what applies where you work with your state or local licensing agency and local building department, and keep your insurance current.

Questions

What do I do when the customer wants pavers over a poor base to save time?

Refuse to set pavers on a base that cannot carry the load, and explain why the base is the part that holds the surface. Put the base recommendation and any decision to change it in writing.

Should I cut every edge on the job by hand?

Use a masonry saw for clean cuts on every edge, since rough cuts can open the joints and show poor work. Show the customer the cut edges and the border layout before you start cutting.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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