Pavers are the latest home trend and adding them to any part of your outdoor space is a plus, according to real estate agents. Pavers are easy to use in a do-it-yourself (DIY) project and will work in a variety of ways. The bonus is they are affordable as long as you don’t opt for the expensive versions like flagstone.
There isn’t a big question of how much does a paver patio add to home value. A well-designed patio adds 8 to 10 percent to a home’s value. However, it also offers more than 80 percent return on investment (ROI).
Even repairing an existing paver patio has financial rewards. While a paver patio repair averages at $1,400, the ROI is almost 500 percent.
Read further to find out more about the value of installing a paver patio and how to make it a DIY project.
Paver Popularity
Pavers sales escalated over the past few years, in part because they are attracting millennial buyers to homes. A yearly report from the International Concrete Paver Institute states that the U.S. and Canada saw more than 750 million square feet of concrete pavers sold in 2018.
Most of that, around 78 percent, were for home projects.
There are several reasons adding to the paver preferences. Landscape architects said they’ve recommended them as exterior flooring for years. They add interest to a backyard and can enhance curb appeal when used in front sidewalks and other areas.
Pavers give a home an upscale appeal and younger people like the sustainability aspect of using them. Real estate agents say it isn’t the pavers themselves that increase the value. You can use cheaper pavers and recoup the same in ROI and added home value.
It’s the project where they are used. Some projects add more value than others. As it turns out, patios are great investments.
Read: How To Clean Dog Urine From Concrete Patio?
Patios Add Value
Both landscape and hardscape designs are the top home aspects that appeal to homebuyers, according to the National Association of Realtors. Hardscape means fixed elements like patios, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and pergolas.
The secret to creating a paver patio that adds value is to keep it simple, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2019 Cost vs. Value report. Fancy patios don’t recoup but half the cost on resale.
Other surveys suggest that you get the most value out of a mid-scale patio project. This type of patio would give you back a 9 percent ROI.
Read: Why Does Your Backyard Flood?
The Cost of a Paver Patio
The difference between a designer paver patio and a mid-scale patio is in two things: the stone and amenities. Some pavers cost more than others and most home experts agree the type of stone doesn’t matter too much so go cheaper.
Amenities include things like fire pits, outdoor seating, an outdoor kitchen, lighting, and new glass doors to the house.
More expensive patios can cost as much as $5,300 depending on the materials and the size of the space. A mid-scale patio will cost around $3,269, according to professional estimates. Both may increase the home value by 8 to 9 percent but you’ll get more ROI on resale with the cheaper patio.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Paver Patios?
Home experts offer some suggestions to get the most value out of a paver patio. One amenity you should add is a fire pit but keep it simple. Younger buyers love firepits but a customized one doesn’t help in value or resale.
Add outdoor lighting. The rule is to go cheaper with things like solar landscape lighting, strings of white lights, Chinese or Mexican lanterns, or globe lights.
Don’t make your patio so big it takes up most of your backyard. Most buyers, especially families are looking for a big backyard for kids ad pets.
Read: Why Does Your Backyard Get So Muddy?
Building a Paver Patio
One of the great things about paver patios is you can build one yourself. The simplest way to do it is to use pavers in either a gentle curve or straight pattern so there isn’t any cutting.
You will need some tools including a garden hose, a broom, a shovel, stakes, space, tamper, wheelbarrow, landscape fabric, gravel, builder’s or leveling sand, two PVC pipes cut to be the length of your patio, 2 x 4 boards, pavers, plastic edging, and polymeric jointing sand.
Steps to build a patio:
- Outline your space. Use the stakes to mark off the space for your patio. Call before you dig to make sure you aren’t going to hit any water, power, or gas lines.
- Remove sod. Use a shovel to remove the sod and soil.
- Dig out an 8-inch deep base. Make the patio slope away from your home so rain won’t pour toward your house. Use a level to ensure there is a 1-inch drop for every four feet.
- Compact dirt with a tamper. Remove excess soil and sod with a wheelbarrow.
- Line space with landscape fabric.
- Create the base. Add either 6 inches of limestone paver base or gravel to the spot.
- Layer the top with 1-inch deep builders’ sand using the pipes and board.
- Put the two 1-inch PVC pipes across the length and spread leveling sand on top. Put a 2×4 board across the pipes and slide to make the sand level. Remove the pipes and fill in the spaces with more sand.
- Place the pavers. Pick a side of the patio and lay the pavers. You may need to adjust the stones in the sand to make them level. Putting together pavers is like putting a puzzle together. You will need to piece them in a way where they fit nicely. Don’t leave large gaps between them because weeks can sprout.
- Put plastic edging around the outside of your patio.
- Spread polymeric jointing sand over the patio. Take your broom to sweep it over the pavers until there are no cracks.
- Water the area with a garden hose set on mist. Add more sand to fill in sunken areas. You will need to repeat this process for about a week to get a durable finish.
Read: How To Help Drainage In Yard?
FAQs
What are the price ranges for paver patios?
A 10 x 10 paver patio will cost between $800 to $2,500 to install while a 16 x 16 patio will cost between an estimated range of $2,050 to $6,400 to install, depending on materials.
Which is cheaper, lay concrete or pavers?
Poured concrete is considered to be more affordable for a patio based on cost per square foot. However, concrete pavers offer more in resale value and durability.
Is it cheaper to build a paver patio or a deck?
A patio is going to be cheaper to build than a wood deck, but it depends on materials. Concrete pavers cost an average of $4 to $12 per square foot and that’s before installation. Natural stone can cost as much as $30 a square foot.
Is there a cheaper alternative to pavers?
The one thing cheaper than pavers is gravel. Gavel is also better for drainage. However, gravel provides an uneven surface for walking as it shifts. You can get unsorted gravel called “1/4 -inch minus” but it isn’t comfortable for walking without shoes.
Why do you need sand under pavers?
The sand serves as a base that stabilizes your pavers. Pavers installed without sand will sink and shift.