Questions about your patio? Ask us

You don't need to know any of this to get a good patio. That's our job. But if you have a question about your own yard, the drainage around your house, or a number someone gave you, just ask.

We'd rather answer it up front than fix a patio you didn't want later. Tell us where you are and what you're thinking about and we'll give you a straight answer.

The questions we hear most are about timing, mess and how bad the yard looks in the middle of the job. The honest answer on all three: a patio project makes a mess in the middle and looks like a building site until the base is done and the stone starts going down. Then it flips fast. The last day or two is where the whole thing reads as finished.

We would rather answer a question you think is too small than have you guess. That includes the ones people feel awkward asking, like whether the price can come down, whether the stone can change after the quote, or what happens if the yard turns out wetter than expected. Ask it up front and it is a conversation. Find out later and it is a problem.

A few come up every single time: how much does a patio cost, how long does it take, and do I need to be home. Cost depends on size, access and the base, so anyone who throws out a firm number without seeing the yard is guessing. Time runs a few days to a couple of weeks for most patios. And no, you do not need to be home, as long as the crew can reach water and power.

• "How much is a patio?" It depends on size, dig, drainage and access. Any number texted before the yard is walked is a guess. Send a photo and the rough size and we can give you a real range.
• "How long does it take?" Days, not weeks, for a normal patio. Weather is the variable, and we build year-round. You get a start window before we begin.
• "Do I need a permit?" It depends on the town and whether anything touches a structure or a property line. We tell you what your town's rules mean for your job before it starts.
• "What about drainage?" It's the first thing we read on any yard. A patio that sheds water away from the house is the whole point, and the slope gets planned before anything is dug.
• "Can you work with what I have?" Often, yes. Existing steps, walls and walks can be tied in, replaced or left alone. We'll tell you honestly where reusing helps and where it costs you later.
• "Do you do repairs?" Sunken pavers, spreading edges, a wall that's leaning. Small repairs are welcome, and we'll say if a rebuild makes more sense than a patch.

Ask Bryce a question