I am collecting quotes for a ~10x10 paver patio (added on to existing paver patio) as well as a built-in grill and a stone firepit/fireplace. Possibly a 2 beam pergola, a water feature, and some lighting (but those are not included in the primary quote - I may do them myself)

The guy who did my previous patio is saying $6-8k, but I think that is very high. I am getting a few other quotes and looking for recommendations of companies from TWWers and some feedback on the quote I received so far. I was expecting $2-4k, although the guy said the grill itself is $1.5k since they do not cheap out on the model they install. Work will be done in Fuquay.


Meeting with these guys next week: http://jayslawn.com/kitchens-fire.html

4/25/2013 10:34:05 AM

how much earthwork is needed to build the patio? What kind of paver stones are you looking at using? Some of the more expensive pavers really drive the cost up.

4/25/2013 12:51:00 PM

$1.5k for a grill? I am sure it is nice, but wow. I would verify the price/quality of that grill outside of his quote.

4/25/2013 12:59:44 PM

^is a reasonable price for a high quality grill. Seems ok/low for a built-in... assuming it's like an outdoor kitchen. unless he means just the grill itself is $1500.

4/25/2013 1:06:35 PM

^Grill itself is $1,500. ie. http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/202978461?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=202978461&R=202978461#.UXlzZ9Ev5WN

^^^ The yard is all flat and nice bermuda grass. We have an existing paver patio which is just okay (small pavers, tightly packed), but I am open for a new kind for the extension as long as it looks good next to the old one. I don't have anything particular in mind though, a just looking for something with a nice look for a fair price


Original paver patio:
photos/00530310.jpg

[Edited on April 25, 2013 at 2:27 PM. Reason : pic]

4/25/2013 2:21:21 PM

http://www.fredadamspaving.com/residential/

I've used these guys for commercial work, and on campus at NCSU. They are pretty good. They may be a touch on the expensive side but I've never had any problems with their workmanship. Women-owned too if that matters to you.

4/25/2013 3:54:04 PM

^Thanks. I submitted a request. I think I have will enough quotes scheduled now (3 scheduled and bout 5 other feelers out there) to make a good decision

4/25/2013 5:06:45 PM

This sounds like a kick ass DIY project if you had the time. At least it would be a kick ass DIY project for me, again if I had the time. Which I don't, and I assume you don't either.

4/25/2013 10:30:53 PM

I would love to tackle it myself, but time is always an issue and quality of work would be questionable also

4/26/2013 10:52:54 AM

Another quote for $7.5k.... damn

4/26/2013 11:41:32 AM

^^ Agreed. The upside of paying someone else to do it is that if they fuck it up they have to fix it.

4/26/2013 12:28:40 PM

of course think of eventual resale value... this can only help.

4/26/2013 1:16:58 PM

Who have you gotten quotes from?

4/26/2013 9:58:30 PM

1)Anthony's Landscaping - small company local to Fuquay, no web presence, $6-8k

2) http://www.fredadamspaving.com/ $7.5k

3) http://www.greenheronlandscaping.com/ (basically said they were too busy to do anything until the fall)

I have two other guys coming out this week....

http://covis-stone.com/

&

I can't remember the other one... I''ll post it up when they call to confirm

4/26/2013 11:07:58 PM

I was going to mention covis, also canyon stone is another company. (I know guys who work for both)

They would likely be on the high end of your bids, but figured I'd mention them as options

4/27/2013 10:00:33 AM

Covis quoted $12-13k




DIY route is looking pretty good.... Maybe extend the patio myself and buy a nice new a grill for now. Then in the late summer/fall try doing stone counters surrounding the grill. Grills designed solely for built-ins are just pricey and I don't have a problem with having a nice standing grill in between the rocks.
ie:


Then I can attempt the fireplace (currently pricing out pre-cut stone kits) once the weather gets cold.

4/29/2013 1:17:59 PM

Not surprised. I've seen their work, its good. But yeah, pricey.

4/29/2013 1:20:34 PM

They seem very professional and I am sure it is quality work. They also wanted to take up a lot more of the yard than I was expecting, we don't have much grass to begin with and I really would hate to cover that much more of it up.

4/29/2013 1:22:29 PM

those quotes do not seem out of whack with my previous experience. I had a 20x25 paver patio with seatwall at my last place done for just under $10k. I wanted the drop-in grill structure as well, but that just killed the budget.

In retrospect I could have saved a ton by doing stamped concrete instead of pavers, and put the savings into the outdoor kitchen-- but at the time i was averse to stamped concrete for no good reason.

4/30/2013 10:18:27 AM

Quote :

"Then I can attempt the fireplace (currently pricing out pre-cut stone kits) once the weather gets cold."

Do you mind sharing some of the kit options you find? I've got a basic pit that the previous owners built, but I might be looking to demolish it and start over.

4/30/2013 10:28:56 AM

Quote :

"I had a 20x25 paver patio with seatwall at my last place done for just under $10k."

holy shit. was there anything special about this, or is that just a typical cost?

4/30/2013 12:58:25 PM

i think the seatwall and the containment around the cherry tree added to it, but other than that it was pretty typical-- other quotes were in the same ballpark.

4/30/2013 1:36:10 PM

For standard brick pavers (like on NCSU campus), figure $10-$12/sf (no border/edging/etc).

4/30/2013 1:49:53 PM

I went through the same exercise last fall, ended up going the DIY route. Got 3 quotes and all were $5k plus, for what I ended up doing for around $800. It turned out great, a few of the pavers around the fire pit itself are not perfect, but you can't really tell.

5/10/2013 6:14:56 PM

/\ Well Done

5/10/2013 10:27:44 PM

^^nice. what stone product is that?

I am looking for something that can be used as a landscape border, patio, and fire pit; or at least products that coordinate to do all 3. I don't care for most manmade pavers since they look too manufactured. Hoping for a dry-stack product; though I don't mind using construction adhesive where needed (fire pit?). that being said, I do like your pavers (have a good "natural" look to them); I'm a little less fond of the fire pit stone, though it isn't bad compared to most manufactured stone products.

5/10/2013 11:06:01 PM

grass still hadn't taken hold really at this point. my mom's boyfriend and I built this patio...I think with materials and very discounted labor, I had maybe $2500 or a little less in it. Would have been significantly more (like maybe close to double) had I not gotten a screaming deal on the flagstone, and had he not charged me a fraction of what he normally would for labor.





[Edited on May 12, 2013 at 2:32 PM. Reason : ]

5/12/2013 2:31:40 PM

The patio stones I bought from General Shale ( off westgate rd near RDU). They have a great outdoor display of numerous pavers and fire pits/fireplaces.

The fire pit stones I just bought from Lowes. I used landscaping glue to hold them together, which has held up just fine.

5/12/2013 3:52:10 PM

^^Love the NC rock.

5/12/2013 7:02:52 PM

Did you end up deciding on a contractor to go with?

I'm going to start getting quotes for a similar project soon so I'll probably call some of the same people. I've also had these guys recommended to me:

http://www.raleighlandscape.com/

5/17/2013 11:39:55 AM

I went with myself

I added ~65sqft around the existing paver patio with huge 12"x24" and 24"24" blocks of Wisconsin Limestone. It really isn't much to look at, but I figured what the hell. Next up is buying a grill (Weber Genesis most likely)... then in the Fall building some stones around it potentially and also a fireplace.

I just could not justify $6-13k for some stones that I don't have a true need for

5/17/2013 11:44:34 AM

Nice. I'll probably try to do anything like a fire pit and/or grill setup myself but there's going to have to be grading involved in my project so I'll probably go with a professional (and I don't entirely trust myself to not screw it up). Unfortunately my yard has a pretty good slope to it and we're going to have to cut part of it out to keep a level surface.

5/17/2013 1:33:34 PM

You'll usually tell a poorly installed paver patio in a few years... well after the contractor who installed it is gone. there is a lot more to it than you think. typically we have to excavate 8-10" in order to put in a minimum of 6" crushed stone base, 1" of a corse sand bedding layer and then the pavers which vary from 60-90mm. Also just a note to those of you who want the fire pits: be sure to check your city code (distance from house) and at a minimum do like the duke and get the spark shield.

Also good move on pavers over stamped concrete.. .I've ripped up tons of stamped concrete and put in pavers but have never ripped up pavers to do stamped.

i'm a ICPI certified installed but if yall go to their website you can find some helpful cutsheets on how to do it correctly.

[Edited on May 19, 2013 at 6:59 PM. Reason : a]

5/19/2013 6:56:40 PM

just noticed sneakuz if that's yours you need to put a ring OR some firebricks on the inside of your fire pit. SRW blocks are NOT fire rated... pop

5/19/2013 7:01:43 PM