It’s Just a Patio... What’s the Difference?

Cole Davis
Aug 5
3 min read

We hear it all the time:

“It’s just a patio — how different can one contractor be from the next?”

At first glance, it might seem like everyone is offering the same thing: some pavers, some base material, a couple retaining blocks... done. But here’s the truth most homeowners don’t hear until it’s too late:

There is a massive difference — one that shows up in failed patios, shifting walls, drainage nightmares, and expensive repairs just a few years down the road.

Let’s break down three of the biggest ways cheaper contractors cut corners (and what we do instead to protect your investment):

Corner Cut #1: Skipping the Right Base (or Installing the Wrong One)

Cheap Installers Do This: Most budget bids come from contractors who use recycled concrete or road base with heavy fines or recycled concrete for your patio or wall base. Why? It’s cheaper. It compacts fast. And it hides poor workmanship… for a while. But give it one freeze-thaw cycle and your patio starts to shift, sink, or heave.

What We Do Instead: At Stone Peak, we use Open Graded Base — our signature process we call the “Open Graded Gospel.” This premium method uses clean angular stone that acts as a large drainage system for the patio, prevents frost heave, and creates long-term structural integrity. It's a foundational difference (literally).

✅ Backed by a 5-Year Workmanship Warranty

✅ ICPI-standard practices

✅ Geo-grid and stabilization fabrics where needed

Corner Cut #2: Laying Thin Paver Patios or Walls Without Reinforcement

Cheap Installers Do This: To win the bid, some contractors use thinner pavers (45-50mm) instead of full-thickness ones (60-80mm) or skip critical reinforcements like geo-grid in retaining walls, adhesive between courses, or even the right compaction stages.

What you’re left with? Walls that lean. Pavers that rock. A project that looks “off” within a season.

What We Do Instead: We use full-thickness pavers, proper retaining wall engineering, and materials that match your home's value — because your outdoor space should age gracefully, not fall apart. Every install follows best-in-class build standards — no shortcuts.

✅ No “builder-grade” materials — only premium pavers

✅ Walls engineered to last (not just to look good at install)

✅ Precision alignment, compaction, and drainage checks

Corner Cut #3: Disappearing Acts. Unfinished Work and Nowhere to be Found.

Cheap Installers Do This: They underbid, rush the job, and vanish the moment the last paver is laid. When problems arise (and they will), you’re ghosted. No warranty. No fix. No accountability.

What We Do Instead: We stand behind our work. Period. Every Stone Peak project includes:

✅ Our “No Change Order Guarantee” — no surprise costs

✅ Written warranties on workmanship & materials

✅ Ongoing support — even years later

We don’t disappear. We build trust like we build patios: the right way.

So... What Is the Difference?

The difference is everything. The difference is the hidden details under the surface. The methods, materials, and mindset behind the build. The long-term value instead of short-term savings.