Techo-Bloc Pro certified contractor
Hardscapes for homes in Colorado Springs, Castle Rock and the towns between. Patios, walls, walkways and steps, designed for how you live and built on an open-graded base that drains instead of freezing.
Why the base matters
Anyone can lay pavers that look good on day one. What decides whether a patio is still flat in ten years is everything underneath it: how deep the excavation went, what the base is made of, and how well it was compacted.
That matters more here than in most places. Our clay soils hold water, and Front Range winters freeze and thaw the ground over and over. A base that traps water moves with it. That's where sunken corners, wide joints and rocking pavers come from.
That's why every patio we build sits on an open-graded base. A standard base is packed with fine material that holds moisture. An open-graded base is 3/4-inch clean crushed stone with open space between the pieces, so water passes through and drains away instead of freezing under your patio. On top of it we bed the pavers in 3/8-inch crushed stone, not sand, and finish the joints with polymeric sand.
We build to the manufacturer's installation standards, and we'd rather explain what's going into the ground than have you find out later what was left out.
What we build
Most projects combine two or three of these. We design them together so the heights, materials and drainage all agree.
Room to cook, eat and sit, sized and shaped around how you'll actually use it.
Front entries, side yards and garden paths that connect the yard and stay dry underfoot.
Walls that hold a slope, level a yard and create usable space, built with drainage behind them.
Built-in seating and gas or wood fire pits that anchor a patio.
Safe, even steps for sloped yards, with consistent rise and solid footing.
Paver and stone borders that frame beds, lawns and driveways.
How we build it
This is a cutaway of what sits under your feet. Each number on the drawing matches a step beside it.
We dig out the topsoil and soft material until we reach firm ground, and set the grade so water runs away from the house. Then we work a thin layer of 3/4-inch crushed stone into the subgrade to firm it up and lay weed barrier fabric over it, which keeps the soil below from working its way up into the clean base.
We always use an open-graded base of 3/4-inch clean crushed stone, installed and compacted in lifts. With no fine material in it, water drains straight through instead of sitting in the base, so there is nothing there to freeze and heave.
A thin, level bedding layer of 3/8-inch crushed stone goes on top. We use stone here instead of sand so the bedding drains like the base does. Then the pavers are laid in the pattern you chose and cut to fit the edges.
The outside edge is held by a concrete restraint reinforced with micro mesh, troweled tight against the border pavers. It is a more permanent hold than plastic edging and spikes, so the patio can't spread over time.
Polymeric sand is swept into the joints and the surface is compacted so every paver locks against the next. Once activated with water, the sand hardens, which keeps the joints full and discourages weeds and ants.
Hardscape projects
Every photo here is a Puskas Landscape & Design project.
From hardscape clients
“Our yard is beautiful and their work was quality, he doesn’t cut any corners, not even when the job is wrapping up. The retaining wall they built is incredible quality. I was beyond impressed.”
Alisan MatthewsBackyard redesign with retaining wall · Google review
“John was able to source similar pavers and his crew carefully cut them to size, and even weathered them slightly so they blended seamlessly with the existing materials. The result is remarkable—you truly can't tell the difference between the original pavers and the new ones in the rebuilt stairs.”
Annette DRebuilt paver stairs · Google review
Pricing, explained
Every quote we write breaks the project down so you can see where the money goes. These four things move the number the most.
Square footage is the starting point. Curves and tight corners mean more cutting.
Slopes, soft soil and how easily we can get equipment and material to the work area.
Pavers range widely in price by style, thickness and finish. We'll show you options at different levels.
Retaining walls, steps, seat walls, fire features and lighting each add to the scope.
Hardscape questions
They can if the base is thin, poorly compacted or holding water, and that's the most common reason patios fail here. We excavate past the topsoil, build an open-graded base that drains instead of trapping water, compact it in layers and lock the edges, so the surface stays flat. Pavers also have an advantage over a poured slab: if the ground ever does settle, individual pavers can be lifted and reset instead of cracking.
Both are good when they're installed correctly. Pavers cost more up front, come in more colors and patterns, and can be repaired a section at a time. Concrete is a single solid surface, usually costs less, and can be stamped and colored to resemble stone. We install both, so we'll walk through how you plan to use the space and recommend what fits it and your budget.
It depends on the height and what the wall holds back. In El Paso and Douglas counties, a wall more than four feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing, or any wall supporting a driveway or other load, needs an engineered design and a building permit. Many HOAs also have their own approval process. We tell you what your project requires during your in-person assessment so there are no surprises later.
Water is what pushes walls over. Soil that stays saturated behind a wall gets heavy and expands when it freezes. We backfill with drainage rock and give the water a way out, which takes that pressure off the wall. As an NDS certified drainage contractor, we plan this into every wall we build.
Very little is needed. Sweep it and rinse it when it needs it. The polymeric sand in the joints hardens in place, so it rarely needs attention, and it can be topped up if a section ever wears. Sealing is optional and mostly a matter of how you want the color to look. We'll go over care for your specific product at the final walkthrough.
Start your project
Send a few details through the form. Here is what happens after you hit submit.
Someone from our team reviews your request and contacts you to schedule your in-person assessment.
John, the owner, walks your property with you. We look at grade, drainage, access and how you want to use the space, and take measurements.
Scope, materials and price, spelled out so you can see where every dollar goes.
Prefer to talk? (310) 227-3205
No spam and no pressure. Your information stays with Puskas Landscape & Design.
Related services
Where we build
Not on the list? We travel for projects that are a good fit. Fill out the form with your location and what you have in mind.