Paver Patios & Hardscaping in Ann Arbor, Chelsea & Grass Lake
A paver patio is where a backyard becomes a place you actually use. It is where the grill lives, where people gather, and the single upgrade that adds usable square footage without adding a room. The catch in Michigan is that a patio is only as good as the base under it. Skip the base prep and pavers heave, sink, and separate after the first hard freeze. Build the base right and you get a level, draining, decades-long surface.
Blooms Landscaping designs and installs paver patios, walkways, fire-pit areas, and full outdoor living spaces for homes across the Grass Lake, Chelsea, and Ann Arbor area, built for the freeze-thaw ground we live on.
Get a free paver patio estimate → (734) 478-1644
Why the base is everything in Michigan
- Freeze-thaw moves everything. Water under a patio freezes, expands, and lifts pavers unevenly. The fix is a deep, compacted, well-draining base, typically six or more inches of compacted crushed stone, so water drains and there is nothing to heave.
- Clay soil does not drain on its own. On our heavy soils, the base and the slope-to-drain are what keep water moving off the surface instead of pooling and freezing.
- Polymeric sand and edge restraint lock the joints and hold the pavers in place, so weeds and separation do not creep in year after year.
The difference between a patio that looks great for fifteen years and one that is wavy in three is entirely underground. It is the part you cannot see and the part worth paying for.
What we build
- Paver patios, sitting areas, dining spaces, multi-level layouts.
- Walkways & front entrances, the first thing guests and buyers see.
- Fire-pit & seating areas, the feature that gets a backyard used from spring through fall.
- Outdoor living spaces, patio, seat walls, steps, and planting designed as one space.
What it costs
For planning: an installed paver patio in Southeast Michigan typically runs about $15 to $35 per square foot, depending on the paver, the pattern, site access, and any walls, steps, or lighting built in. A simple square patio in quality concrete pavers sits at the lower end; multi-level natural-stone spaces with seat walls and a fire feature sit higher. We give a firm number after seeing the space.
Where we build
Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Saline, Grass Lake, Manchester, Jackson, Brooklyn, the Irish Hills, and surrounding Washtenaw and Jackson County communities.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a paver patio last?
With a properly compacted base and edge restraint, a paver patio can last 25 years or more, and individual pavers can be lifted and reset if ever needed, unlike a poured slab that cracks as one piece.
Pavers vs. poured concrete, which is better in Michigan?
Pavers flex with freeze-thaw instead of cracking, drain through their joints, and can be repaired one paver at a time. Poured concrete is cheaper up front but tends to crack over our winters. Most homeowners who have replaced a cracked slab go with pavers the second time.
How much does a paver patio cost in Michigan?
As a planning range, roughly $15 to $35 per square foot installed, driven mostly by the paver you choose and any walls, steps, or lighting. Firm number after an on-site look.
Do you build the fire pit and seat walls too?
Yes. We design the patio, seating, steps, and walls as one outdoor living space so it looks intentional, not added on.
Let us design a backyard you will actually use. Book a free on-site estimate and we will bring ideas, materials, and a straight number.
Call (734) 478-1644