How deep should a paver patio base be?

Typically six inches of compacted aggregate for a walking patio over stable soil, and more over clay or where vehicles will drive. Depth matters, but compaction in lifts matters more.

Pavers or poured concrete?

Pavers flex with ground movement, can be lifted and reset, and hide staining better. Concrete is a lower initial cost but cracks in clay soils and is difficult to repair invisibly.

Why did my patio sink?

Almost always insufficient base or no compaction, sometimes water washing base material out from below. Fixing it means lifting the field, correcting the base and resetting.

How much slope does a patio need?

Around a quarter inch of fall per foot away from the house — enough to shed water without being noticeable underfoot or under furniture.

Outdoor living

Paver & Natural Stone Patio Installation in North Georgia

Paver, flagstone and travertine patios built on compacted base with drainage — for homes in Milton, Alpharetta, Ball Ground and Cherokee County.

Patios in Georgia clay fail from below. Without excavation to competent soil, a compacted base and somewhere for water to go, even beautiful stone settles, rocks and grows weeds in the joints within a few seasons.

Part of our Outdoor Living & Landscape Design in North Georgia work across North Georgia.

What we see most often

Pavers settling into ruts and low spots after a couple of years
Water draining back toward the house off the patio surface
Edges spreading because there is no restraint holding them
Weeds and ants taking over unstabilized joints

Scope of work

What this work includes

Excavation & base

Digging out organics and clay to depth, then compacted aggregate base in lifts sized for the patio's use and soil.

Drainage & slope

Consistent fall away from the structure, plus subsurface drainage where the patio sits against a slope or foundation.

Paving & detailing

Concrete pavers, natural flagstone or travertine set on screeded bedding, with borders, banding and clean cut lines.

Edge restraint & joints

Restraint on every open edge and polymeric or stabilized joint material to lock the field and keep weeds out.

A patio that stays flat, sheds water away from the house, and does not sprout weeds.

How it goes

Our process

Step 01
Lay out
Shape, size and elevations set against doors and grade.
Step 02
Excavate
Dig to competent soil and handle any drainage found.
Step 03
Base
Aggregate in compacted lifts, screeded bedding course.
Step 04
Set & lock
Pavers, cuts, edge restraint, joint stabilization.

Common questions

Patios questions we get

How deep should a paver patio base be?: Typically six inches of compacted aggregate for a walking patio over stable soil, and more over clay or where vehicles will drive. Depth matters, but compaction in lifts matters more.
Pavers or poured concrete?: Pavers flex with ground movement, can be lifted and reset, and hide staining better. Concrete is a lower initial cost but cracks in clay soils and is difficult to repair invisibly.
Why did my patio sink?: Almost always insufficient base or no compaction, sometimes water washing base material out from below. Fixing it means lifting the field, correcting the base and resetting.
How much slope does a patio need?: Around a quarter inch of fall per foot away from the house — enough to shed water without being noticeable underfoot or under furniture.

Where we work

Outdoor Living across North Georgia

We handle outdoor living for property owners across the north side of Atlanta — Cumming, Milton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Marietta, Woodstock, Canton and Ball Ground — and up through Jasper, Ellijay and Blue Ridge. Choose your area for local conditions, permitting and recent work nearby.

Regional overviews: Outdoor Living in Atlanta Metro, Outdoor Living in Lake Lanier, Outdoor Living in North Atlanta.

Also serving Cumming, Milton, Woodstock, Canton, Ball Ground, Jasper, Ellijay, Blue Ridge, Dawsonville, Cartersville, Blairsville, Helen, Cleveland, Gainesville.

Related work

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Send the basics and we'll come back with a straight answer on what your site needs, what order to do it in, and what it's likely to cost.

Paver & Natural Stone Patio Installation in North Georgia

What we see most often

What this work includes

Excavation & base

Drainage & slope

Paving & detailing

Edge restraint & joints

Our process

Lay out

Excavate

Base

Set & lock

Patios questions we get

Outdoor Living across North Georgia

Pergolas & Pavilions

Outdoor Kitchens

Fireplaces & Seating

Tell us about your property