Pavers · Houston Heights & Greater Heights

Paver Patios & Walkways in the Houston Heights

Concrete, clay brick and natural stone surfaces built on a proper base, with edges that stay put and water that drains where it should.

Call Us Now Request an estimate

Grey concrete paver field in a herringbone pattern installed by Right Angle Home & Outdoors in the Houston Heights — Houston HeightsCommercial paver project — tumbled grey pavers in a herringbone field running to a lawn edge.

A paver surface is mostly what you do not see: excavation, a compacted base, a separation fabric where the soil calls for it, and an edge restraint that keeps the field from spreading. Heights clay moves with the seasons, so a thin base or a missing edge shows up as sunken corners and widening joints within a few years.

This page covers conventional paver surfaces — patios, walks, side drives and pool surrounds where the goal is a durable, good-looking surface that sheds water to a planned outlet. If the goal is to let water soak through the surface, that is a different assembly, covered on our Heights permeable pavers page.

Choosing a paver surface

Concrete pavers

The widest range of shapes and colors, consistent sizing and a good price for large fields. Tumbled finishes soften the look for older houses.

Clay brick

A natural fit for Heights brick and bungalow architecture. Herringbone and basketweave patterns with a soldier-course border read as traditional.

Natural stone

Travertine, limestone and flagstone for patios and pool surrounds. Travertine stays relatively comfortable underfoot in sun.

Patio, walk or driveway

A driveway carries vehicle loads and needs a deeper base and suitable paver thickness than a patio or garden walk.

Work and reference photos

Photos of our projects, labeled with where they were built. Reference images are marked as such.

Clay brick paver side drive in a herringbone field with a soldier-course border and a gravel strip along the fence, by Right Angle Home & Outdoors in West University — West UniversityClay brick side drive with a soldier-course border and a gravel strip along the fence line.

Houston Heights backyard by Right Angle Home & Outdoors with a tiled pool and spa, travertine coping, vertical cedar privacy fence, brick outdoor counter and a pergola — Houston HeightsPool surround, cedar privacy fence, brick counter and pergola in one backyard.

See documented projects and field notes

Paver surfaces compared

	Concrete pavers	Clay brick	Travertine / natural stone
Look	Modern to tumbled-traditional	Classic, period-appropriate	Natural variation
Color over time	Can fade slightly in sun	Color is through the clay	Stable; sealing optional
Heat underfoot	Varies with color	Varies with color	Travertine is often cooler
Repairs	Individual units lift and relay	Same	Same; matching stone can vary
Vehicle use	Yes, with suitable thickness and base	Yes, with paving-grade brick	Depends on thickness

What drives the budget

We price from a site visit rather than a square-foot number. These are the factors that move the figure most. Try the budget tool for an illustrative amount at our standard rates.

Excavation and haul-off

Removing old concrete or soil and hauling it out through a narrow lot is a real cost.

Base depth

Driveways need more base than patios; poor soil needs more again.

Material and pattern

Natural stone and complex patterns with many cuts cost more than straight concrete fields.

Edges, steps and borders

Soldier courses, steps, curved edges and transitions add labor.

Drainage

Getting water to a legal outlet may mean drains, a dry well, or regrading next to the surface.

Planning on a Heights lot

Grade on a flat lot

Heights lots are often nearly flat, so the surface needs deliberate fall away from the house to a planned outlet.

Edge restraint

Every field needs a restraint — concrete, a buried edge or a soldier course set in a footing — or it will spread.

Access

Machine access may be limited to a narrow gate or none, which affects excavation method and schedule.

Trees

Excavating for base near large roots needs care; sometimes a raised or permeable approach is better.

Check your address with the City of Houston

How the project runs

01
Site visit and levels
Measure existing elevations and decide where water goes.
02
Design and material
Layout, pattern, paver choice and edge details.
03
Excavation
Remove existing surface and soil to the planned depth.
04
Base and edges
Install and compact base in lifts; set edge restraints.
05
Laying and cutting
Bedding layer, pavers, cuts and borders.
06
Joints and compaction
Fill joints, compact, and walk through care.

Projects are led by principals Omar Afra and Pedro Salazar.

Common questions

Why do paver patios sink or spread?

Usually because the base was too thin or poorly compacted, there was no separation fabric over soft clay, or the edge restraint was missing or weak. Fixing it means lifting the pavers and rebuilding the base, which is why we spend most of our effort there.

Are pavers better than poured concrete?

They cost more up front but can be lifted and relaid for repairs or utility work, and they handle soil movement with less visible cracking. Concrete is cheaper for simple slabs. Our pavers vs. concrete guide compares them in more detail.

Do regular pavers let water through?

Not meaningfully. A standard paver field sheds water like any hard surface, so it needs fall and an outlet. If you want water to soak through, that is a permeable assembly with a different base.

Can pavers go near a big tree?

Sometimes, with shallow excavation and a layout that keeps away from major roots. In some cases a permeable or raised surface is the better choice.

Guides for Heights homeowners

Related services

Decisions to make early

Right Angle Home & Outdoors clay brick paver driveway in Houston, laid in a herringbone field with a soldier-course border between a wrought iron fence and a wood fence with a gravel drainage strip — Right Angle work · West University, Houston. Field record

Standard pavers, a permeable assembly, or a drainage fix

Standard pavers: A durable surface on a compacted base. Water runs off the surface and must be graded away from the house.
Permeable assembly: Open joints over a deep open-graded stone base with an outlet. Performance depends on the site design, the soil and maintenance; it is not a flood cure.
Drainage first: If water already stands or reaches the slab, grading, downspout routing or a drain line may be the real fix, with any surface afterward.

Talk through your project

A site visit is the fastest way to a real scope and number.