A paver patio returns about 80% of what you put into it when you sell. Concrete patios return closer to 60-70%. Neither one raises your property taxes in New Jersey, which makes them one of the smarter ways to invest in your home.
But the real reason people build patios isn’t about resale value. It’s about having a place to sit outside without dealing with uneven pavers, water pooling after rain, or cracks that get worse every winter. You want somewhere your kids can play, where you can set up a table without it wobbling, and where you’re not constantly thinking about when you’ll need to replace the whole thing.
That’s what proper installation gets you. A base that drains water away from your foundation. Pavers that stay level through freeze-thaw cycles. A space that actually works the way you need it to, year after year.
We work across Morris County on roofing, chimney repair, siding, and masonry projects. That range matters when you’re building a patio, because we understand how water moves around your property, how your foundation settles, and what happens when drainage isn’t handled correctly from the start.
Most patio companies only do patios. We see the whole picture. That’s why our installations account for roof runoff, gutter placement, and grading issues that other contractors miss until it’s too late.
We’ve worked in Hanover long enough to know what holds up here and what doesn’t. New Jersey weather is tough on outdoor construction, and shortcuts show up fast.
We start by looking at your yard’s drainage. If water doesn’t move away from your house naturally, we fix that before we lay a single paver. Most patio problems start here, not with the pavers themselves.
Next, we excavate and build the base. This is where most installers cut corners. We use compacted gravel in layers, not just one dump and done. Each layer gets compacted separately so the base doesn’t shift when the ground freezes and thaws. This takes longer, but it’s the difference between a patio that lasts 20 years and one that needs repairs in five.
Then we install your pavers or pour your concrete patio, depending on what you chose. If you’re going with Cambridge pavers, you’ll get options for patterns, colors, and edge styles. If you’re going with concrete, we’ll talk about finishes and control joints to minimize cracking. Either way, the installation follows New Jersey building codes, and we pull permits when required so you’re not dealing with compliance issues later.
The whole process typically takes two to three weeks, depending on size and weather. We clean up as we go, and your yard gets returned to normal condition when we’re done.
Ready to get started?
You’re choosing between pavers and concrete, and both have their place. Pavers cost more upfront but they’re easier to repair if something does go wrong. One paver cracks, you replace one paver. Concrete cracks, you’re looking at a bigger fix.
If you go with pavers, we typically use Cambridge products. They hold up well in New Jersey’s climate, and they come with ArmorTec surface treatment that helps with stain resistance and color fade. You’ll have options for herringbone patterns, running bond layouts, or larger format slabs if you want a cleaner, more modern look. Driveway pavers use the same materials, so if you’re thinking about matching your driveway later, that’s an option.
Concrete patios are faster to install and cost less per square foot. They work well if you want a simple, clean surface and you’re not concerned about matching other hardscaping. We’ll talk through control joint placement to manage cracking, because concrete will crack eventually—it’s about controlling where and how much.
In Hanover and the surrounding Morris County area, most homeowners are adding patios to create more outdoor living space. Some want a spot near the pool. Others want a dining area off the back door. A few are building full outdoor kitchens with built-in grills and seating walls. We handle all of it, and we’ll walk you through what makes sense for your property and budget.
Paver patios in New Jersey typically run between $18 and $25 per square foot, including materials, base prep, and installation. A standard 280-square-foot patio usually costs between $5,000 and $7,000, but that can go higher depending on paver choice, site conditions, and whether you’re adding steps, walls, or other features.
Concrete patios cost less—usually between $12 and $18 per square foot installed. They’re a solid option if budget is tight and you don’t need the flexibility that pavers offer for future repairs or changes.
The biggest cost variable isn’t the pavers themselves. It’s the site work. If your yard has drainage issues, poor soil, or significant grading problems, those need to get fixed before we build anything. Skipping that work means you’ll pay for it later in repairs, and those repairs usually cost more than doing it right the first time.
It depends on the size and scope of your project. Hanover and most Morris County towns require permits for patios over a certain square footage or if you’re doing grading work that affects drainage. If you’re adding structures like pergolas, outdoor kitchens, or retaining walls, you’ll almost certainly need permits.
We handle permit applications as part of the project. It’s not complicated, but it does add time to the schedule—usually a week or two for approval. Skipping permits isn’t worth the risk. If you sell your house later and the buyer’s inspector finds unpermitted work, you could be forced to remove it or face fines.
Some contractors will tell you not to worry about permits to save time or money. That’s a red flag. Permitted work means the installation follows local building codes, which protects you if something goes wrong and ensures your patio is built to handle New Jersey’s freeze-thaw cycles properly.
A properly installed paver patio should last 20 to 30 years in New Jersey, even with our freeze-thaw cycles. The key phrase there is “properly installed.” If the base isn’t built right, you’ll see problems within five years—uneven pavers, sinking sections, or weeds growing up through the joints.
Pavers themselves are durable. Cambridge pavers are engineered specifically to handle temperature swings and moisture. The ArmorTec treatment helps them resist stains and fading, so they look better longer. But even the best pavers will fail if they’re sitting on a poorly compacted base or if water isn’t draining away correctly.
Concrete patios last about 15 to 25 years before they need significant repairs or replacement. They’ll crack—that’s just what concrete does—but control joints help manage where those cracks show up. The bigger issue with concrete is that when it does fail, you’re usually replacing the whole slab. With pavers, you can replace individual stones as needed, which spreads out the maintenance cost over time.
Pavers are individual stones that lock together. Concrete is a single poured slab. Both work, but they handle wear and damage differently.
Pavers are more expensive upfront, but they’re easier to repair. If one cracks or stains, you pull it out and drop in a new one. They also handle ground movement better because each paver can shift slightly without the whole surface failing. That matters in New Jersey, where freeze-thaw cycles cause ground movement every winter. Pavers give you more design flexibility too—different colors, patterns, and textures that you can’t get with concrete.
Concrete costs less and goes in faster. It’s a good choice if you want a clean, simple surface and you’re not worried about future repairs. But when concrete cracks, you’re looking at patching or replacing larger sections. And it will crack eventually, especially if the base settles or water gets underneath and freezes.
For most Hanover homeowners, pavers make more sense long-term. The higher upfront cost gets offset by lower maintenance and easier repairs. But if budget is the main concern and you’re okay with a more basic look, concrete works fine.
Sometimes, but it depends on the condition of the existing concrete. If the slab is level, structurally sound, and drains properly, we can install pavers over it. This is called an overlay, and it saves on excavation and base prep costs.
But if the existing concrete has cracks, settling, or drainage problems, an overlay won’t fix those issues—it’ll just hide them temporarily. Water will still pool in the same spots. The pavers will eventually settle into the same low areas. You’ll end up paying twice: once for the overlay, and again later to rip it out and do it right.
Most of the time, it’s better to remove the old concrete and start fresh. That way we can address drainage, regrade if needed, and build a proper base that’ll last. It costs more upfront, but you’re not gambling on whether the existing slab will hold up under the new pavers. We’ll assess your existing concrete during the estimate and give you an honest recommendation about whether an overlay makes sense or if removal is the better move.
Proper installation is the main defense against weeds. We use polymeric sand in the joints between pavers. When it gets wet, it hardens and creates a barrier that keeps seeds from settling in and taking root. Regular sand doesn’t do this—it just sits there and eventually washes out, leaving gaps where weeds can grow.
The base matters too. We install a layer of landscape fabric under the gravel base to prevent weeds from pushing up from below. If the base is compacted correctly and the fabric is in place, you shouldn’t see much weed growth even years down the line.
That said, no patio is completely weed-proof forever. Seeds blow in, settle on top of the pavers, and find their way into joints over time. If you do get weeds, they’re easy to pull or treat with a standard weed killer. Some homeowners reapply polymeric sand every few years as part of regular maintenance, especially in high-traffic areas where the sand can wear down. But if the patio is installed right from the start, weed growth should be minimal and manageable.
Local Resources
Useful Links
Other Services we provide in Hanover
