Patios are what we get called for most

A paver patio is the job Courtyard does more than any other, and it is the one where the difference between a good contractor and a cheap one shows up fastest. A patio that was not excavated deep enough, or that was laid on one thick uncompacted lift of stone, will look identical on the day it is finished and will be visibly wavy within a few winters.

The same principles run through everything on this page. Dig to real subgrade, build the base in compacted layers, pitch the surface so water leaves, and restrain the edges so the field cannot creep.

Paver patios

Paver patios in Cambridge pavers, natural stone and concrete pavers, laid in the pattern that suits the space. Courtyard installs Cambridge pavers, and the reviews on our Google profile name them by name. Patios can be built around a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen or a set of steps so the whole area works as one piece rather than several projects that meet awkwardly.

Walkways and front entries

Interlocking paver walkways, bluestone paths and front entries. A walkway takes more foot traffic per square foot than anything else on a property, so edge restraint and base depth matter more here than people expect.

Retaining walls

Block, natural stone and segmental retaining walls for grade changes, erosion control and garden beds. Anything holding back real soil load needs drainage behind it. A wall without drainage is a wall waiting for a wet spring.

Steps and stoops

Brick, stone and concrete steps, stoops and landings. Steps are the first thing a visitor touches and the first thing that fails when water gets underneath, so they are worth doing properly.

Fire pits and outdoor kitchens

Built into the patio rather than dropped onto it. Outdoor kitchens and fire pits are both easier and cheaper to do at the same time as the patio than to retrofit later.

Masonry repair

Repointing, brickwork, stone veneer and general masonry repair. Most masonry problems are water problems, so the repair usually starts with working out where the water is getting in.

Common questions

How long does a patio take?

It depends on size, access and how much excavation the ground needs. We give you a realistic window when we quote, and we would rather tell you three days and finish in three than promise two.

Can you build a patio around an existing fire pit?

Usually yes, though it is worth checking. Sometimes the tidier answer is to rebuild the pit into the new patio rather than pave around something that was set at the wrong height.

Will pavers shift over time?

Properly installed pavers on a compacted base with edge restraint stay put. Pavers that shift were almost always laid on a base that was too shallow, not compacted, or left without restraint at the edges.

This page was last updated in September 2026.