Paver Patio Installation in Houston, TX
Silverheels Construction installs and repairs paver patios, walkways, and driveways across the Houston area — brick, concrete, and flagstone pavers set on a properly prepared base so they don't sink or heave in clay soil. Most paver failure is a base and drainage problem, which is where we start. Free estimates.
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Pavers make a patio, walkway, or driveway that looks better than plain concrete and, done right, lasts — but "done right" is almost entirely about what's underneath. The number-one reason Houston paver jobs fail is a skipped or skimped base over expansive clay, which lets the pavers sink, heave, and go wavy. We install and repair paver patios, walkways, and driveways across the Houston area, and we build the base and drainage that decide whether they stay flat.
Base preparation — why it decides everything
The base is the job. Pavers are only ever as stable as the compacted base beneath them, and that base is built in a sequence that can't be shortcut: excavate to proper depth, lay and compact a crushed-stone (gravel) base in lifts — compacting each lift, not the whole thing at once — then screed a bedding sand layer flat to set the pavers on.
On Houston's clay, that base has to be deep enough and compacted properly, because the clay moves and anything built on a thin or loose base moves with it. A skimped base is the single reason most paver patios go wavy and sink within a few years, so it's where the quality — and the cost — of a lasting job actually lives.
Drainage and slope
Water is what turns clay into a problem, so drainage is built into a good paver installation. The surface needs a slight slope away from the house to shed water, and the base needs to drain rather than hold it — because water trapped under the pavers softens the base and lets them settle unevenly.
We set the slope so water runs off and, where a spot collects water or the grade works against you, build in drainage to carry it away. It ties into the same approach as our drainage and french drain work — getting water off and away is half of keeping pavers flat.
Edge restraint
The edges are what hold the whole field together, and they're invisible when they're done right. Without a proper edge restraint — buried paver edging spiked into the base, or a concrete haunch along the perimeter — the outer pavers creep outward over time, the joints open up, and the entire field loosens and shifts.
It's a small, hidden step, and skipping it is one of the most common reasons a paver patio falls apart at the edges first. We restrain every edge so the field stays locked tight.
Sand joints versus polymeric
The joints between pavers do real work. Plain joint sand washes out in heavy rain and lets weeds and ants move in. Polymeric sand is engineered to bind when it's wetted and set, locking the pavers to each other, resisting washout, and holding back weeds — which matters in Houston's downpours.
We use polymeric joint sand on most installations and will explain where plain sand still makes sense. Keeping the joints full and bound is part of what keeps the surface tight and stable over the years, not just at install.
Settling and sunken paver repair
A paver area that has sunk, heaved, or gone wavy almost always has a base or drainage failure underneath — the pavers themselves are usually fine. Sunken paver repair means lifting the affected pavers, correcting the base and the drainage that caused the settling, and re-laying the same pavers back level.
We also re-sand the joints and re-set the edge restraint while we're in there. The key is fixing the cause under the surface, not just leveling the top — relevel without correcting the base and it sinks again next season.
Pavers versus poured concrete in Houston clay
The honest comparison matters here because of the soil. Poured concrete on Houston's moving clay will crack — control joints only decide where — and a cracked slab is a demo-and-repour fix. Pavers flex with ground movement at the joints, so they don't crack, and when a section settles it can be lifted and reset rather than torn out.
Concrete is lower cost upfront and the better answer for some uses; pavers cost more but age better on clay and stay repairable. For poured work, see our concrete page. What drives paver cost is the area, the paver type, the base depth the use requires, drainage, and any patterns or borders — drivers, not a price.
Frequently asked questions
Why do paver patios sink or go wavy?
Almost always the base — too shallow or not properly compacted over Houston's clay, plus poor drainage. We excavate and build a deep, compacted gravel base and set the slope to drain, which is what keeps pavers flat over time.
Can you fix sunken or heaved pavers?
Yes. We lift the affected pavers, correct the base and drainage that caused the settling, and re-lay the same pavers level, then re-sand the joints and reset the edge. Fixing the cause underneath is what keeps it from sinking again.
Sand or polymeric joints?
Polymeric sand on most jobs — it binds when set, locks the pavers together, and resists the washout and weeds that plain sand allows, which matters in Houston's heavy rain. We'll note where plain sand still makes sense.
Pavers or poured concrete on Houston clay?
Concrete will crack as the clay moves — control joints only direct where. Pavers flex at the joints and don't crack, and a settled section can be lifted and reset instead of demoed. Pavers cost more upfront but age better on clay and stay repairable.
Do you do walkways and driveways too?
Yes — paver walkways, patios, and driveways, plus flagstone patios. A driveway needs a deeper, stronger base to carry vehicle loads, which we build accordingly.
Why does edge restraint matter?
Without it, the perimeter pavers creep outward, joints open, and the whole field loosens — usually failing at the edges first. A buried edge restraint locks the field tight, and it's a small hidden step that's essential to a lasting install.
Service areas
- The Heights
- Bellaire
- Katy
- Sugar Land
- Cypress
- Kingwood
- Pearland
- Spring Branch