Skip to content
Real Deal Builders

Service 13 / 16

Pavers

Real Deal Builders installs pavers for driveways, walkways, patios, and pool decks in concrete paver, brick, and natural stone. Pavers live or die on what is under them, not on the pavers themselves. A paver field that sinks, rocks, or grows weeds was almost always set on a base that was too thin, not compacted, or never edge restrained. We build the base to the job, compact it in layers, screed a consistent bedding course, set the pavers to the pattern, lock the edges so the field cannot spread, and finish with joint sand so the surface stays tight. Done right, a paver driveway takes a car for decades and any damaged piece lifts and resets instead of being saw cut and patched.

Paver patio and walkway laid behind a modern Santa Clarita home, bordered by drought tolerant planting
Typical timeline
Days for a walkway, one to two weeks for a driveway
Trades we manage
Tear out, grade, base, compact, screed, set, edge, sand
Permits
Sometimes for a driveway approach
Typical scope
A walkway to a full paver driveway

Behind the work

How this comes together

01

Why pavers sink, and what stops it

A paver surface is only as good as the base under it. On a driveway that means a compacted aggregate base built thick enough for the vehicle load, compacted in layers rather than dumped and leveled, then a screeded bedding course the pavers sit in. Skip the compaction or run the base too thin and the field settles into ruts and low spots within a couple of seasons.

The other half is edge restraint. Pavers are not glued down, so the field has to be locked at every open edge or the outer pavers creep outward, the joints open, and the whole surface loosens. We restrain the edges and lock the joints with sand, which is what keeps a paver surface tight and flat for the long haul.

02

Pattern, border, and material

Pavers reward a planned layout. The pattern, running bond, herringbone, or basket weave, the border course, and where the cut pieces land all decide whether the finished surface reads designed or busy. Herringbone is the strongest pattern under vehicle load, which is why it is the traditional choice for a driveway.

Concrete pavers are the most economical and come in the widest range of looks. Clay brick holds its color for decades. Natural stone is the most distinctive and the most expensive. Where drainage matters, permeable paver systems let water pass through the joints instead of running off, and we install those where the site or the city calls for them.

Paver driveway cross section Cross section from bottom to top: compacted subgrade, a thick compacted aggregate base course built for the vehicle load, a thin screeded bedding sand course, pavers laid tight, and joint sand locking them, with edge restraint holding the outer pavers on both sides. Paver driveway, cross section The base and the edges are the whole job Joint sand locks the field together Compacted in layers, built to the load 4 3 2 1 5 6 1 · Compacted subgrade Native soil, compacted. Soft spots turn into ruts. 2 · Aggregate base The base carries the load, not the pavers. Compacted in layers and built to the vehicle load. 3 · Bedding sand A thin screeded setting course, about one inch. It is a setting bed, not a way to level a bad base. 4 · Pavers Herringbone is the strongest pattern for a driveway. 5 · Joint sand Swept into the joints to lock the field together. 6 · Edge restraint Both sides. Without it the field spreads and sinks. Pavers sink when the base is thin or uncompacted, or the edges are not restrained.
Why a paver driveway does not sink. A paver driveway rides on what is under it. A thick base compacted in layers carries the vehicle load, and edge restraint on both sides keeps the field from spreading. Get those two wrong and the pavers sink no matter how tight they were laid.

What this service includes

  • Paver driveways, walkways, patios, and pool decks
  • Concrete paver, clay brick, and natural stone
  • Compacted base built to the load, screeded bedding course
  • Edge restraint so the field cannot spread or sink at the sides
  • Pattern layout: running bond, herringbone, basket weave, and borders
  • Polymeric joint sand to lock the surface and slow weeds
  • Permeable paver systems where drainage calls for them
  • Tear out and reset of failed or settled existing pavers

Recent work

Pavers in the Santa Clarita Valley

Tumbled stone paver walkway running between planting beds in a running bond pattern
Paver patio with a fire pit and lounge seating set into an artificial turf backyard

Working with us

From first call to final walkthrough

  1. 01

    Free walk

    We come to your home or site, talk through what you want to change, and ask the questions that shape an accurate scope.

  2. 02

    Written quote

    A detailed, honest, written quote lands in your inbox. You know the scope and the number before any work begins.

  3. 03

    Trades in order

    We sequence the trades so each one sets up the next, with one point of contact holding the whole project together.

  4. 04

    Punch and walkthrough

    We walk every finish with you, correct anything on the list, and do not close the job until it is done rather than promised for later.

Keep exploring

Related services

Finished white shaker kitchen with a quartz waterfall island, pendant lights, and a professional gas range in a Santa Clarita home

Kitchen Remodeling

Full kitchen remodels in Santa Clarita, from a refresh to a complete layout redesign.

View service → Remodeled master bathroom in Santa Clarita with a freestanding soaking tub, curved glass shower enclosure, and a floating double vanity

Bathroom Remodeling

Full and master bathroom remodels with proper waterproofing under every tile.

View service → Completed two story home addition with floor to ceiling glass, a timber clad garage, and finished landscaping

Home Additions and ADUs

Room additions, second stories, and detached ADUs, from permit to completion.

View service →

Where we work

Real Deal Builders delivers this service across Santa Clarita, the San Fernando Valley, and the surrounding areas. Choose your city to see how we serve it.

Santa Clarita Pavers in Valencia Newhall Saugus Canyon Country Stevenson Ranch Castaic Acton Agua Dulce Palmdale Edwards AFB Lancaster Quartz Hill Rosamond Mojave Lake Hughes Lake Los Angeles Frazier Park Thousand Oaks Moorpark Simi Valley Agoura Hills Newbury Park Westlake Village Oak Park Calabasas Hidden Hills Camarillo Fillmore Santa Paula Piru Sylmar Granada Hills Porter Ranch Chatsworth Northridge Mission Hills San Fernando Pacoima Sun Valley North Hollywood Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Studio City Encino Tarzana Woodland Hills West Hills Canoga Park Reseda Winnetka

Common questions

Frequently asked

The questions we hear most often, answered plainly. If your question is not here, call us and we will answer it the same way.

Why do pavers sink or become uneven?

Almost always the base. A paver field set on a thin or uncompacted base settles into ruts, and one with no edge restraint spreads and loosens at the sides. The pavers themselves rarely fail. We build the base to the load and restrain the edges so the surface stays flat.

Are pavers better than concrete for a driveway?

They are different. Pavers cost more up front but flex with ground movement instead of cracking, and a damaged section lifts and resets rather than being saw cut and patched. Poured concrete is cheaper and simpler. We install both and will tell you honestly which fits your yard and budget.

What paver pattern is best for a driveway?

Herringbone. It interlocks the pavers so vehicle loads spread across the field instead of pushing individual pieces, which is why it is the traditional driveway pattern. Running bond and basket weave are fine for walkways and patios that do not carry cars.

Do paver joints grow weeds?

They can if the joints are left as plain sand. We finish with polymeric joint sand, which hardens to lock the pavers and slow weed growth and ant hills. It is not permanent, and refreshing the joint sand every several years is normal maintenance.

Can you match or repair my existing pavers?

Often yes. Because pavers lift out individually, a settled or stained section can be pulled, the base corrected, and the same pavers reset, which is a real advantage over concrete. Where pavers are cracked or discontinued we match as closely as the line allows.

Do you install permeable pavers?

Yes. Permeable paver systems let water drain through the joints into a stone reservoir below instead of running off, which helps with drainage and can help meet stormwater requirements. We install them where the site or the city calls for it.

How long does a paver project take?

A walkway or a small patio is usually a few days. A full paver driveway runs one to two weeks depending on size, tear out, and how much base work the ground needs. We give you a real timeline with the written quote.

How much do pavers cost?

Cost is driven by area, the paver material, how much base and tear out the site needs, and pattern complexity. Concrete pavers sit at the lower end, clay brick and natural stone higher. We price against a written scope for the actual area rather than a per foot average.

Planning a project like this?

When you are ready for a number on your own project, we will walk it with you and put the price in writing.

Get a free quote (818) 276-7344