Patios & walkways

Paver patios and walkways built for Charlotte clay

Terraces, walkways and steps in Unilock, Techo-Bloc and Belgard pavers or travertine, set on a base deep enough that they stay level.

What do you want built?

Book your site visit in about a minute.

RK Preferred builds paver and travertine patios, walkways and steps for homes in Indian Trail, Weddington, Waxhaw, Matthews and South Charlotte. Most of our patios are Unilock pavers, laid over a compacted stone base sized for Piedmont red clay.

A patio fails from the bottom up. On Piedmont red clay that means a compacted stone base sized to the soil, a slope that sends water away from the house, and edge restraint that keeps the border from drifting. That part is buried, so we put it in the proposal where you can see it.

Most of our patios are Unilock: Beacon Hill Smooth for a clean, large-format look, plus Treo and Copthorne. We also install Techo-Bloc and Belgard pavers, and travertine. On a design project, the 3D rendering shows your stone on your own house before you commit.

Pavers and stone we install

Unilock is our main line. Beacon Hill Smooth comes in large squares and rectangles up to 15 by 22½ inches for a clean, modern terrace. Treo is its smaller sibling, with units around 9 inches. Copthorne is a narrow, timeworn street paver about 2⅝ by 7⅞ inches that suits walkways, borders and herringbone patterns.

We also install Techo-Bloc and Belgard pavers, and travertine for a natural stone surface. We don’t install bluestone, Pine Hall Brick or porcelain.

How a patio goes in

We excavate the area, bring in a crushed-stone base and compact it in layers. The surface is pitched so water runs away from the house, and an edge restraint keeps the border from drifting. Then the pavers are laid, cut to fit, and the joints are filled.

Patios often come with a sitting wall, steps down to the lawn, a walkway to the driveway or a fire pit. We plan those together so the joints and heights line up.

Walkways, steps and front entries

The same pavers work for front walks, garden paths and steps between levels. A walkway in Copthorne or Treo can tie a front entry to a backyard terrace in Beacon Hill Smooth, so the property reads as one design.

Paver options compared

SurfaceLookUnit sizeGood for
Unilock Beacon Hill SmoothSmooth, modern, large-format15″ squares and rectangles up to 15 × 22½″Terraces with a clean, modern look
Unilock TreoSmooth, modern, smaller scaleAbout 9″ squares and rectanglesSmaller patios and walkways
Unilock CopthorneTimeworn European street paverAbout 2⅝ × 7⅞″Walkways, borders, herringbone patios
TravertineNatural stone, warm ivory tonesVaries by patternA natural stone terrace

Unit sizes from Unilock’s product specs.

A large-format paver terrace set for dinner under café lights at dusk
Pavers in a 45-degree herringbone with a charcoal soldier-course border
A paver walkway with wide block steps between two garden levels

Pick your stone

Terrace in Unilock Beacon Hill SmoothTerrace in Unilock TreoTerrace in Unilock CopthorneTerrace in TravertineUnilock Beacon Hill Smooth
Book your site visit

What’s under the pavers

Clay graded ¼ in per foot away from the house →House side
  1. Interlocking concrete pavers carry the load and spread it across the base.

    Thin or cheap pavers crack and rock under foot.

  2. Swept into every joint and set with water so the pavers lock together.

    Plain sand washes out, weeds move in and pavers start to shift.

  3. Screeded flat so every paver sits at the same height.

    Too thick and it ruts; too thin and the pavers rock.

  4. Crushed stone compacted in thin lifts. It is what actually holds the patio up.

    A thin base on clay is the number one reason patios sink.

  5. Keeps the stone base from sinking into the clay when it is wet.

    Without it, clay pumps up into the base and the surface dips.

  6. Compacted and pitched about ¼ in per foot so water runs off, not toward the foundation.

    Flat or back-pitched grade sends every storm at the house.

  7. A rigid edge along the border, spiked down into the base.

    With no edge, the border creeps outward and joints open up.

A recent patios & walkways project

After: Patio & fire pit Before BeforeAfter
Drag to compare
Patio & fire pit1990s brick ranch

Cracked slab out, tumbled paver patio with a soldier border, stone fire pit, path and shrub lighting, new beds and sod.

How a project runs

Step 1 of 6
01

The qualifying call

Maffe, our client relations coordinator, calls every new inquiry, learns about your project and budget, and books a site visit with Rob, our project consultant.

Every inquiry gets a callBooks your site visit
02

The site visit

Rob walks the property with you and looks at the grade, the drainage and your style. He gives you a ballpark so you know it fits your budget. If it’s a fit, we start the design that same day.

No chargeA ballpark on the spot
03

Design

Our design team builds a 2D plan and a 3D rendering of your yard. Rob presents it, and we revise it with you until it’s right. The design is a paid step, and every dollar is credited toward your build on projects of $10,000 and up.

2D plan and 3D renderingWith revisions
04

Proposal

Rob presents the final proposal. Signing and a deposit lock in your start date. Francesca, our client success coordinator, handles invoicing and keeps you updated before we start.

Final proposalStart date locked in
05

The build

Your project manager runs the crew and the schedule, and builds to the drawings with proper base, grading and drainage underneath.

Project managerBuilt to the drawings
06

Final walkthrough

Your project manager walks the finished project with you. Then we send a care guide for your new landscape and your warranty details.

Care guide2-year workmanship warranty

Smaller jobs like drainage, sod and cleanups skip the design and get a direct quote.

What homeowners say about our patios & walkways work

All reviews

4.9 from 88 Google reviews

I have used Rob and Hardy for a few projects now. They first came out and helped remodel our landscaping after a few trees died in my back yard. Most recently they expended my patio installing pavers and a small retaining wall. We also use them for lawn care and seasonal leaf removal. They are beyond professional, extremely helpful, and very knowledgeable. They are very attentive and their team always dose an outstanding job. I would highly recommend giving them a chance, I am sure they will exceed all expectations.

Nicholas S.Google review · 2023

RK Landscaping did an amazing job extending my driveway with pavers, retrofitting my irrigation system, installing rock beds and planting new grass, trees and shrubs. Rob and Hardy were great to work with and the crew did an outstanding, professional job. Will happily recommend them to my friends and family. Thanks guys!

Peter O.Google review · 2023

We hired Rob RK Preferred to build a new retaining wall, outdoor steps and pavers to our backyard. We're very pleased with the end result. The team was on-time, courteous, and on budget for a great finished product. The communication throughout the process made us comfortable with what the overall plan and challenges were, and how we resolved them. Overall highly recommend RK Preferred for our hardscaping needs.

Chris C.Google review · 2022

RK Preferred Landscaping did a beautiful job installing stacked stone boarders around our garden beds and a flag stone walkway through our back yard. From design to installation Rob & Hardy are professional and easy to work with. We would also recommend their weekly lawn maintenance. We will use RK Preferred Landscaping for any future yard projects.

Kim H.Google review · 2024

Patios & walkways questions

Which pavers do you install?

Mostly Unilock, including Beacon Hill Smooth, Treo and Copthorne. We also install Techo-Bloc, Belgard and travertine.

Do you pour concrete patios?

Only as part of a bigger project. We don’t take on concrete-only jobs.

Can you match pavers to my house?

Yes. On a design project, the 3D rendering shows the paver and color on your own house before you commit.

Do you build sitting walls and steps with the patio?

Yes. Seat walls, steps and borders are planned with the patio so the levels and joints line up.

Do you install paver driveways?

Ask at the site visit. Patios, walkways and steps are the core of our paver work.

Start with a visit to your property.

A few short questions so Rob arrives with the right information, then you pick a day and time.

  1. 01Tell us about the projectAbout a minute, online or by phone
  2. 02Book your site visit with RobGrade, drainage, your style and a ballpark
  3. 03Your design in 2D and 3DRevised with you, then your final proposal
“Working with RK Landscaping was smooth and effortless. The design team helped us create the backyard we could only imagine. Once the project started, Hardy, Paulo and Marcelo did a great job of being timely and tidy. We are completely enjoying the transformation.”
Glen T. · Google review

What do you want built?

Pick one to start. It takes about a minute.

Rather talk now?(704) 698-88884.9 from 88 Google reviews
Call Book a consultation
Book a consultation
Call (704) 698-8888