7 PAVER INSTALLATION MISTAKES SAN DIEGO HOMEOWNERS SHOULD AVOID
Choosing a beautiful paver is only the beginning of a successful patio, driveway, walkway, pool deck, or outdoor living project.
Many of the most expensive paver problems do not begin with the paver itself. They begin underneath it—with excavation, base preparation, compaction, grading, drainage, edge restraint, or poor planning before construction starts.
A paver installation can look great when it is first completed and still develop sinking, shifting, separating, standing water, or uneven surfaces later if the system underneath was not properly prepared.
Here are seven common paver installation mistakes San Diego homeowners should understand before beginning a project.
For a complete overview of materials, installation, costs, maintenance, and design options, visit our Complete Guide to Pavers in San Diego.
1. NOT EXCAVATING ENOUGH
One of the biggest mistakes is focusing on the finished paver elevation without allowing enough room for the complete installation system underneath it.
The required excavation depends on factors such as:
Existing soil conditions.
Paver thickness.
Base requirements.
Intended use.
Existing elevations.
Drainage.
Whether the area will support pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
Simply removing a small amount of soil and placing pavers over an inadequately prepared surface can create problems later.
A properly planned project begins by determining the finished elevation and then working backward to establish the excavation and preparation required underneath it.
2. CUTTING CORNERS ON BASE PREPARATION
The paver is what homeowners see, but the base is what helps support the installation.
Poor base preparation can contribute to:
Sinking.
Low areas.
Uneven surfaces.
Movement.
Separation.
Drainage problems.
The appropriate base system depends on the application and site conditions.
A patio used for outdoor furniture does not necessarily have the same requirements as a driveway supporting vehicles.
Spending more money on an expensive paver does not compensate for inadequate preparation underneath it.
3. NOT COMPACTING THE BASE PROPERLY
Base material should not simply be placed into the excavated area and covered with pavers.
Proper compaction is an essential part of building a stable paver installation.
If soil, trenches, or base materials settle after construction, that movement may eventually become visible at the finished surface.
This is especially important where previous construction has disturbed the soil.
Drainage lines, irrigation, electrical conduit, plumbing, utilities, and other underground improvements can create trenches beneath future hardscape areas. These areas need to be considered during preparation so settlement does not appear later.
4. IGNORING DRAINAGE BEFORE INSTALLATION
Drainage should be planned before the pavers are installed—not after water begins collecting on the finished patio or driveway.
A new paver surface changes how water moves through the landscape.
Before construction begins, consider:
Existing property elevations.
Roof runoff.
Downspouts.
Adjacent slopes.
Retaining walls.
Existing drains.
Neighboring properties.
Irrigation.
Pools and spas.
Doors and foundations.
Existing patios and driveways.
Pavers should be coordinated with the overall drainage plan for the property.
Homeowners experiencing standing water, runoff, or drainage problems can learn more in our Complete Guide to Drainage & Yard Drain Systems in San Diego.
5. USING THE SAME INSTALLATION APPROACH EVERYWHERE
Not every paver application should be treated the same.
A garden walkway, backyard patio, pool deck, driveway, and side-yard access area may all require different considerations.
PAVER DRIVEWAYS
Driveways must accommodate vehicle traffic and repeated loads.
The paver product, excavation, base preparation, compaction, edge restraint, drainage, and installation system should all be appropriate for that use.
PAVER PATIOS
Patios may primarily support pedestrian traffic, furniture, grills, outdoor kitchens, fire features, or shade structures.
Finished elevations and transitions into the home and surrounding landscape are particularly important.
POOL DECKS
Pool areas require additional attention to surface characteristics, drainage, coping transitions, finished elevations, and the relationship between the pool and surrounding landscape.
Homeowners considering a pool-area renovation can also review our Complete Guide to Pool & Spa Landscape Design in San Diego.
6. FORGETTING EDGE RESTRAINTS
A paver installation is made from individual units.
The perimeter of the installation therefore plays an important role in helping keep the overall system together.
Without appropriate edge restraint, movement can begin around the perimeter and gradually affect neighboring pavers.
The correct edge condition depends on the project and may be influenced by:
Concrete borders.
Curbs.
Walls.
Existing hardscape.
Landscape areas.
Driveway conditions.
Steps.
Manufacturer installation requirements.
The edge of the project should be designed as carefully as the center.
7. CHOOSING THE PAVER BEFORE PLANNING THE LANDSCAPE
Homeowners often start with a paver sample they like.
There is nothing wrong with choosing a favorite material, but the paver should eventually be evaluated as part of the complete property.
Consider how it will work with:
The architecture of the home.
Existing concrete.
Retaining walls.
Pool finishes.
Fencing.
Gravel and rock.
Planting.
Landscape lighting.
Outdoor kitchens.
Fire features.
Pergolas.
Irrigation.
Drainage.
A paver that looks beautiful by itself may not necessarily be the best material once it is placed next to everything else on the property.
For complete renovations, our Landscape Design Process helps coordinate these decisions before construction begins.
BONUS MISTAKE: COMPARING CONTRACTORS ONLY BY PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT
A low square-foot price can be attractive, but it does not tell you what is included underneath the finished pavers.
One proposal may include:
Demolition.
Excavation.
Haul-away.
Base preparation.
Compaction.
Drainage.
Edge restraint.
Material delivery.
Cutting.
Joint material.
Cleanup.
Another proposal may include a substantially different scope.
Before comparing two paver contractors, compare exactly what each company plans to build.
The lowest number is not necessarily the lowest-cost project if important preparation or drainage work has been left out.
WHY DO PAVERS SINK AFTER INSTALLATION?
When pavers begin sinking, homeowners sometimes assume the pavers themselves have failed.
Usually, the more important question is:
What is happening underneath them?
Possible contributors can include:
Soil settlement.
Poor compaction.
Inadequate base preparation.
Water movement.
Utility trenches.
Drainage problems.
Edge movement.
Disturbed soils.
Resetting the visible pavers without addressing the underlying cause may only temporarily improve the appearance.
Our guide Why Do Pavers Sink, Shift & Separate? 7 Common Causes San Diego Homeowners Should Know covers these problems in greater detail.
SHOULD PAVERS BE INSTALLED BEFORE LANDSCAPING?
For complete landscape renovations, the sequence should be planned before work begins.
Underground improvements such as:
Drainage.
Irrigation.
Electrical conduit.
Landscape-lighting wire.
Water lines.
Sleeves.
may need to cross beneath future hardscape areas.
Planning these systems before the pavers are completed can reduce the possibility of needing to disturb finished work later.
This is one reason Nature’s Elements Landscaping approaches pavers as part of the entire Hardscape & Concrete and landscape construction plan rather than treating them as an isolated surface.
HOW CAN HOMEOWNERS AVOID PAVER INSTALLATION PROBLEMS?
Before construction begins, make sure the project addresses more than the paver color and pattern.
Ask how the contractor plans to handle:
Excavation.
Base preparation.
Compaction.
Drainage.
Finished elevations.
Edge restraints.
Underground utilities.
Irrigation.
Existing structures.
Material transitions.
Vehicle loads where applicable.
Cleanup and disposal.
Understanding these details before signing an estimate can make it much easier to compare contractors and understand what you are actually paying for.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PAVER INSTALLATION
CAN PAVERS BE INSTALLED DIRECTLY ON DIRT?
A professional paver installation generally requires more preparation than placing pavers directly over existing soil. The appropriate system depends on the application, soil conditions, manufacturer requirements, drainage, and intended use.
WHY ARE MY PAVERS BECOMING UNEVEN?
Uneven pavers can be associated with settlement, base conditions, drainage, soil movement, underground trenches, tree roots, or other conditions beneath and around the installation.
DO ALL PAVER PROJECTS REQUIRE DRAINAGE?
Not every project requires installation of a separate drain system, but every hardscape project should consider how water will move across and around the finished surface.
CAN SUNKEN PAVERS BE RESET?
In some situations, individual pavers can be removed and reset. However, the underlying reason for the settlement should be evaluated first.
IS PAVER INSTALLATION DIFFERENT FOR A DRIVEWAY?
Yes. A driveway must be designed for vehicle traffic, which can affect the selected paver system, base preparation, compaction, edges, drainage, and overall installation requirements.
PLANNING A PAVER PROJECT IN SAN DIEGO?
The best time to address excavation, drainage, grading, underground utilities, and base preparation is before the finished pavers are installed.
Nature’s Elements Landscaping designs and builds paver patios, driveways, walkways, pool areas, courtyards, and complete landscape renovations throughout San Diego.
If you are still comparing paver materials and installation options, visit our Complete Guide to Pavers in San Diego.
