Hardscaping in Vancouver

What hardscaping covers

We build the hard surfaces and structures of a yard. Each one below has its own page.

• Patios and paving. Outdoor rooms for dining and sitting, in flagstone, slate, interlocking pavers or large-format slabs.
• Walkways and garden paths. Routes that protect the lawn and guide people through the yard, in flagstone, pavers, stepping stones or gravel.
• Driveways and parking. Interlocking or permeable pavers, with concrete accents.
• Retaining walls. Walls that turn a slope into level, usable ground, in natural stone, concrete block or timber, with drainage behind them.
• Seating walls. A low wall that works as a bench and can also hold back soil.
• Concrete work. Stamped, exposed aggregate and broom-finish concrete.
• Yard and driveway drainage. French drains, catch basins, dry wells and channel drains for water that sits or runs where it should not.
• Erosion control. Netting, groundcover planting, rock and retaining systems that hold slopes and banks.

Pavers, natural stone or concrete

• Interlocking pavers. Each unit flexes with the ground, which suits Vancouver’s freeze-thaw cycles, and a single unit can be lifted to reach a utility line. Pavers work for patios, walkways and driveways, and permeable versions let rain soak through.
• Natural stone. Flagstone, slate, limestone and granite have a character that manufactured products do not. Stone usually costs more than pavers and needs installers who know how to cut and set it.
• Large-format slabs and porcelain. Clean, modern lines for contemporary designs.
• Poured concrete. A clean look, often at a lower price than stone or pavers. It can crack over time, and control joints decide where.

We help you choose based on the look you want, the traffic the surface will take, and how much upkeep you will accept.

Why the base and the drainage decide how long hardscape lasts

Vancouver’s wet winters and freeze-thaw cycles punish any surface that sits on a shallow base or cannot drain. That is how pavers sink, patios heave and walls lean.

To prevent that, we excavate to the right depth, compact road-base gravel in layers, and add drain tile where water needs a way out. Retaining walls get drainage behind them, so water cannot build up pressure against the wall. If water already sits or runs across the area, we deal with that first. See yard drainage and driveway drainage.

How a hardscape job runs

1. You get in touch. Request a quote, or call us on (604) 353-4399. Our hours are Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm.
2. Site visit. We measure, and look at the slope, the soil, the drainage and the access. We talk through how you will use the space, the look you want, your budget and your timeline.
3. Design. We settle the layout and the materials, with 2D and 3D drawings where they help.
4. Permits and engineering. Taller retaining walls can need a municipal permit and an engineered design. We check at the site visit, and where one is needed we handle the application.
5. Excavation and base. We excavate, lay geotextile where it is needed, and compact the base.
6. Build. Stone and pavers are laid and cut to fit edges and curves, and paver joints are locked with polymeric sand. Walls are built with drainage behind them. Concrete is formed, poured and finished.
7. Walkthrough. We walk the completed work with you.

What affects the cost

• Size. The area of a surface, or the length and height of a wall.
• Material. Natural stone and large-format slabs usually cost more than standard pavers or concrete.
• Excavation and access. Digging depth, getting machines and materials in, and removing an old slab, patio or deck first.
• Slope and drainage. Sloped ground and wet ground need more preparation.
• Wall height and engineering. Taller walls can need engineering and a permit.
• Pattern and detail. Curves, borders and complex cuts take more labour.
• Add-ons. Seating walls, steps and lighting.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between hardscaping and softscaping?

Hardscape is the built, hard part of a yard: stone, pavers, concrete and walls. Softscape is the living part: plants, soil and lawn. Most yards use both, and we build both. See softscaping.

Do I need a permit for a retaining wall?

Taller walls can need a municipal permit and an engineered design. We check this at the site visit and, where it applies, we handle the application.

Plan your hardscaping

We are licensed and insured, based in Vancouver, and build for homes across Vancouver and the North Shore.