Expert Paver Installation in Tampa, FL

Why Most Pavers Sink (And How We Stop It)

Look, we get it. You drive around Tampa maybe through South Tampa or up near Carrollwood and you see them everywhere: sinking driveways, uneven pool decks, and pavers with weeds growing waist-high through the cracks. It drives us crazy, too.

There is nothing worse than investing thousands of dollars into your home’s curb appeal only to have your driveway look like a rollercoaster after one rainy season. And in Florida, we know it’s going to rain.

Here’s the thing about paver installation that most sales reps won’t tell you: the pavers themselves are the easy part. You can buy beautiful Travertine or Oldcastle bricks anywhere. The real work the part that stops your patio from turning into a swimming pool during a summer downpour happens underground. It’s all about the base. If that base isn’t compacted properly, or if the contractor cheaps out and uses sand instead of crushed concrete, you’re going to have problems.

We fix “cheap” paver jobs all the time. Honestly, it’s a huge part of our business. But we’d rather do it right for you the first time. We don’t cut corners on the dirt work, because that’s the only way your driveway stays flat when the ground gets soaked.

Credibility Without The Hype

We’ve been laying pavers in the Tampa Bay area for over a decade. We aren’t some fly-by-night crew working out of a sedan; we are a fully licensed and insured hardscaping company. In Hillsborough County, that matters more than you think. If a contractor hits a water line or damages your property and they aren’t insured, guess who pays for it? (Hint: It’s you).

We handle everything from small walkway repairs to massive HOA-approved driveway overhauls. Our team understands the specific soil conditions here from the sandy soil in Davis Islands that shifts like an hourglass to the clay-heavy dirt further inland.

Our Paver Services in Tampa

We don’t just “install pavers.” We build outdoor living spaces that can actually survive a Florida summer. Here is the breakdown of what we do:

Driveway Pavers

Your driveway takes a beating. Between the heat, the weight of your vehicles, and the constant rain, it needs to be bulletproof. We specialize in interlocking brick and concrete pavers that can handle the load. A common question we get is, “Can I just pave over my existing concrete driveway?” Technically, yes (it’s called an overlay), but it depends on the height of your garage floor. We’ll be honest with you if an overlay is going to cause water to flood your garage, we won’t do it.

Pool Deck Remodels

If you have a pool in Tampa, you probably use it 9 months out of the year. But old cracked concrete or “Cool Deck” paint that chips off every year is a nightmare. We install a lot of Travertine here. Why? Because unlike concrete pavers or brick, Travertine stays cool on your feet. You can walk on it barefoot in August without hopping like a kangaroo. Plus, it’s not slippery when wet, which is a huge safety factor if you have kids running around.

Patios & Outdoor Kitchens

We turn backyard swamps into usable space. Whether you want a simple 10×10 patio for a grill or a massive outdoor kitchen with retaining walls, we handle the design and the build. We’ll also help you figure out the drainage because pouring a patio without thinking about where the water goes is the number one mistake we see DIYers make.

Sealing & Maintenance

“Do I really need to seal my pavers?” We get asked this on almost every job. Our answer? You don’t have to, but you really should. Florida sun fades color fast. Sealing locks in the color and, more importantly, hardens the sand in the joints so weeds have a harder time popping up. It protects your investment.

Why Homeowners Trust Us (Real Talk)

We aren’t going to sit here and tell you we are the “cheapest” guys in town. You can definitely find someone on Craigslist who will do it for cash, use half the base material, and disappear when the pavers start sinking three months later. That’s not us.

Our pricing is fair, but it reflects quality materials and legal labor. We use industry-standard compaction equipment not just a hand tamper and a prayer.

Why we are different:

• We don’t hide costs: If we think your job needs a retaining wall to prevent erosion, we tell you upfront. We hate surprise “change orders” just as much as you do.

• We know the rules: We understand HOA guidelines in places like Westchase, Cheval, and FishHawk. We know what colors they usually approve and what patterns get rejected.

• We use quality suppliers: We source from reputable manufacturers like Tremron, Belgard, and Oldcastle. We don’t use “seconds” or rejected batches unless you specifically ask for rustic/reclaimed materials.

Local Challenges: Tampa Soil is Different

Tampa isn’t like paving in New York or Arizona. Our ground is different. It’s basically a giant sponge.

• South Tampa: The drainage here is notoriously bad. If we are digging in South Tampa, we are checking your grade three times. We often have to install French drains or channel drains alongside the pavers to ensure your yard doesn’t turn into a lake.

• Carrollwood & Northdale: Lots of mature oak trees here. Tree roots are the enemy of flat pavers. We know how to safely trim roots or bridge over them (when possible) so your new driveway doesn’t buckle in two years.

• Coastal Areas (Davis Islands, Apollo Beach): Salt air eats concrete. If you live on the water, we might recommend shell-stone or specific sealers that resist salt corrosion.

We also keep a close eye on Hillsborough County permitting. For a simple backyard patio replacement, you usually don’t need a permit in unincorporated areas. But if you are widening a driveway into the right-of-way (the apron near the street), the County gets very involved. We handle that paperwork for you so you don’t get a stop-work order taped to your front door.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pavers

Why are my neighbor’s pavers sinking?

Usually, it’s because the installer didn’t compact the sub-base enough. Or, they used “fill dirt” instead of crushed concrete or limestone. When it rains, fill dirt turns to soup and the pavers sink. We use a thick layer of crushed road base and vibrate it until it’s rock hard.

Is Travertine really better than Concrete pavers?

In our opinion, for pool decks? Yes, absolutely. It stays cooler. Concrete pavers are great for driveways because they are super strong, but they get hot enough to fry an egg in July. Travertine is natural stone, so it absorbs the cool from the ground. It costs a bit more, but your feet will thank you.

Do I need a permit for a patio?

It depends. In Tampa city limits, they are stricter about impervious surface ratios (how much of your lot is covered in concrete). In Hillsborough County, replacing an existing patio is often exempt. We always check the current code for your specific address before we dig.

How much does paver installation cost in Tampa?

We know everyone hates the “it depends” answer, but it really does. Generally, you’re looking at $12 to $30 per square foot. Concrete pavers are on the lower end, while premium Travertine or thick driveway pavers are on the higher end. Access also matters if we have to wheelbarrow materials into a tiny backyard, labor costs go up.

Will weeds grow between my pavers?

If you don’t maintain them, yes. Wind blows seeds into the sand joints. However, we use Polymeric Sand on our installs. It’s a special sand that hardens like grout when it gets wet. It makes it much harder for weeds to root and prevents ants from mining out the sand.

Our Installation Process

Here is how the sausage gets made (or the patio gets laid):

• Demolition: We tear out the old concrete or grass. We dig down usually 6-9 inches depending on the soil.

• Base Prep: This is the most important step. We bring in crushed concrete/limestone base material.

• Compaction: We run a heavy plate compactor over the base. Then we add water. Then we compact it again. We want it solid.

• Bedding Sand: We screed a 1-inch layer of coarse sand for the pavers to sit on.

• Installation: We lay the pavers by hand in your chosen pattern. This is where the artistry comes in.

• Edge Restraints: We install concrete curbing or plastic spikes along the edges so the pavers don’t drift away over time.

• Sanding & Sealing: We sweep in the polymeric sand, vibrate the pavers to settle them, and then (optionally) seal the surface.

Areas We Serve

We cover most of the Tampa Bay area, specifically:

• Tampa (South Tampa, Hyde Park, Seminole Heights)

• Carrollwood & Northdale

• Westchase & Citrus Park

• New Tampa & Wesley Chapel

• Brandon & Riverview

• Lutz & Land O’ Lakes

If you are in Hillsborough County or southern Pasco, give us a ring. If we don’t go to your area, we probably know a good guy who does and we’ll happily refer you.