Patio installation labor is billed at a transparent rate of $80 – $100 per hour per worker. Building a patio involves excavation, base compaction, sand screeding, paver setting, and joint filling. A typical small-to-medium patio (150 to 200 sq. ft.) generally requires 16 to 24 total labor hours ($1,280–$2,400) across a 2-person crew. Because customers supply all pavers, gravel base, leveling sand, and polymeric sand, you avoid heavy material markup costs charged by traditional hardscaping contractors.

Patio excavation requires digging down roughly 8 to 9 inches below the surrounding lawn level. While this may seem deep, the trench must accommodate a 4- to 6-inch compacted gravel base, a 1-inch bedding sand layer, and the 2.375-inch thickness of standard pavers so the finished patio sits flush with adjacent turf.

A sturdy patio foundation requires 4 to 6 inches of compacted class 5 crushed gravel or paver base. The gravel should be laid and compacted in 2-inch lifts using a heavy hand tamper or rented plate compactor. A thoroughly compacted base provides structural support to handle heavy outdoor furniture and prevents shifting or settling caused by winter freeze-thaw cycles.

Spread a uniform 1-inch layer of coarse, washed concrete sand directly over the compacted gravel base. Use 1-inch pipe screeds to pull the sand flat before laying pavers. Never compact the bedding sand before placing pavers, and ensure the surface slopes gently away from your home’s foundation (roughly a 1-inch drop for every 8 feet of patio length) for proper water runoff.

Once all pavers are set and edge restraints are installed, sweep dry polymeric sand into the joints using a push broom until the cracks are filled completely to the top. Sweep away all excess surface sand thoroughly. Finally, lightly mist the patio with a garden hose nozzle to activate the chemical binder, being careful not to overwater. Allow the polymeric sand to cure undisturbed for 24 hours before allowing foot traffic.

Yes, a well-built paver patio expands your functional outdoor living space, creating an inviting area for dining, outdoor seating, and entertaining. High-quality hardscaping significantly improves backyard curb appeal, making it a high-ROI home improvement project that recoups a substantial portion of its cost upon resale.

Look for a service with simple hourly pricing, clear expectations on ground prep, and strong customer reviews. Calculate your target square footage, select and order your preferred pavers and gravel materials, and hire a transparent, labor-only service to handle the heavy digging, gravel compaction, screeding, and paver setting without paying inflated contractor markups. Click here to get a free estimate on patio installation from His Workmanship.