Paver Contractors questions, answered straight
The questions below are the ones homeowners ask right before they hand over money — and the ones the internet answers worst. Most of what comes back is a lead form or a sales page. These are plain answers with nothing to sell.
- What do professionals use to seal pavers?
Professionals seal pavers with products made for concrete pavers — solvent-based acrylics for gloss, water-based emulsions and silane/siloxane penetrants for a breathable, matte finish — per the CMHA. What each does, what pros avoid, and the one brand a paver maker names.
- What time of year is best to seal pavers?
A mild, dry day between about 50 and 90 degrees, with no rain for a day or two either side — Belgard's and Angi's published windows. Why that is spring or fall in most of the country and late winter in Florida, and the waits that matter more than the month.
- Can I seal my pavers myself?
Yes — Angi prices a DIY clean-and-reseal at about $220 against $400 for a pro on a 200-square-foot patio. The steps the manufacturers publish, the mistakes the trade association says whiten a patio, and the one job it says to leave to a pro.
- How much does a paver patio cost?Costs
HomeGuide publishes $10 to $17 per square foot installed for a paver patio — $1,400 to $2,500 for a 12x12. The by-size table, the labor and materials split, what the base costs, and the paver material prices.
- How much does a 20x20 paver patio cost?Costs
HomeGuide publishes $3,800 to $6,800 installed for a 20x20 paver patio — 400 square feet at $10 to $17. What the number is made of, how it compares with a 20x20 concrete slab, and what a 30x30 runs.
- How much does paver sealing cost?Costs
HomeGuide publishes $1.50 to $3.25 per square foot to clean and seal pavers; Angi reads about $2. The by-job-size table, solvent versus water-based sealer prices, what the job includes, and the DIY figure.
- How much does a paver patio with a fire pit cost?Costs
HomeGuide publishes $2,200 to $6,800 for a patio with a fire pit and $325 to $2,000 for the custom pit alone. The patio by size, the pit by width and fuel, and the seating wall that can cost more than both.
- What is cheaper, concrete or pavers?Guides
Concrete is cheaper to pour and pavers are cheaper to repair. HomeGuide's published per-square-foot rates for a plain slab, stamped concrete and pavers, the 20x20 totals, and the driveway comparison.
- Why are pavers so expensive?Guides
HomeGuide prices the pavers at $2 to $4 per square foot and the patio at $10 to $17. Its published breakdown of where the rest goes — excavation, base, sand, compaction and a crew that lays 100 square feet a day.
- Does a paver patio increase home value?Guides
HomeGuide publishes a 69% return on investment for a paver patio or walkway. What that figure means, what it does not, the cost it is measured against, and the maintenance a buyer will ask about.
- Is there a downside to sealing pavers?Guides
Yes, and the trade association names them: a white haze when moisture is trapped, reduced traction on glossy sealers, and a recurring bill. What the CMHA, Belgard and Techniseal say sealing does and does not do, and whether pavers need it at all.