How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost?

Clay bricks or cobblestones are still one of the most durable types of outdoor accessories for your home. When properly installed, a paver patio will last a lifetime, which guarantees the value of your home, as well as your enjoyment in the years to come. A number of factors that can influence the price of the construction of a paver yard, including the type of pavers you use, the pattern, its geography and more.

Type of paver

The cost of cobbles depends on the type of cobblestone you want to work with. Concrete pavers are still the cheapest, with prices ranging from $ 5 to $ 10 per square foot. You’ll find clay and brick pavers in the same category, although they stretch upwards of $ 15 per square foot, depending on the type you buy. Natural stone cobblestones, on the other hand, will cost between $ 10 and $ 30 per square foot, since the suppliers have them quarried instead of from molds. All price estimates are as of July 2011.

Installation

Because the type of material that affects the installation, as a general rule, customers pay roughly the same amount per square foot in the installation as they do for real stone. While this may vary a bit depending on your area, the more expensive of the paver, the more expensive the cost to install it. Special tools and skills, although often required, add to the cost of installing more unique stones. As of July 2011, you pay around $ 25 per hour for inexperienced artisans, and upwards of $75 per hour for a master craftsman with 25 or more years of experience.

Pattern

A normal straight-lay pattern, in which the cobblestones are simply stacked against each other to the right along the entire length of your yard, costs you a little more than the basic installation price. Special patterns, on the other hand, cost significantly more, depending on the speed of the contractor. For example, circular and diamond patterns require more planning in advance, as well as specialty cuts and measurements during the installation process. Since “time is money,” you’ll have to pay more when the pattern is more complex.  The hourly rate depends on the contractor.

Type of soil

Since cobbled patios require drainage for the sand or stone dust used between the cobbles and as a base layer, the type of soil that you deal with directly affects the costs of building your patio. Although normal, arid soil can simply use sand or stone dust as a base, if you live in an area where your soil looks more like clay and holds water with ease, you need to include a layer of stone or crushed gravel under the stone or sand in order to provide adequate drainage. As of July 2011, sand and gravel cost between $40 to $60 per cubic yard of purchase, depending on your location.