A patio is a great addition to any home. It provides a space to relax, entertain guests, and enjoy the outdoors. But before you start thinking about placement of this new patio and researching pavers, it’s a good idea to think first about whether excavation will be needed for your project. There are several determining factors to consider. Here’s a checklist to follow if you’re thinking about whether excavation is needed for a paver patio project in the Newton, MA, area:

1. Determine Whether Existing Structures Will Be Affected

Before any digging begins, you’ll want to make sure existing structures won’t be affected. It’s helpful to do an inventory around your property to see if anything might pose a problem. For example, if you plan to put the patio next to your garage, you’ll want to make sure the garage door doesn’t interfere with the construction process.

2. Consider What Type of Foundation Is Underneath

You’ll also need to decide whether to dig out a foundation. If serious excavation is needed, your landscape contractor will need to look into what lies underground where you’re thinking about putting a patio. There may be utility lines for gas, phone, or both. Once you have approval and permits secured, your contractor can mark off areas to avoid on your property.

3. Consider the Depth Needed for Your Patio

When considering excavation, a key variable is how deep to dig relevant to the size of your patio and the materials that will be used. Depth generally depends on two things: the type of soil where you want to put your patio and the overall load weight of your patio pavers. Clay soil typically requires deeper excavation, where sandy soil may not.

Since you’re considering excavating for a patio paver project, the load weight would be less and require less excavating. The kind of soil you have will help determine if you need to excavate.

4. Think About Drainage Issues

One key issue to consider when assessing the viability of excavation for your paver patio is keeping close tabs on soil conditions. Digging trenches too deep can cause water to pool around the edges of the site. Water pools can lead to erosion, which can damage the subsoil beneath the surface.

5. Be Aware of Erosion Issues

If erosion is a problem on your property, that may have some impact on excavation. Erosion happens when the ground loses its ability to hold back water. When the soil becomes saturated, it begins to erode away. To prevent erosion, trenches will need to be dug only so far as necessary to reach the concrete slab below. During excavation planning, you may want to explore the option of retaining walls to address your landscape’s erosion issues.

6. Choose a Material That Suits Your Needs

At the same time, you may want to also consider your options for pavers, which come in different textures, colors, and thicknesses. The design of your paver patio can include the pattern you want and reflect the style of paver you choose—including whether you’ll have a different color and style for the main pavers and perhaps a dark color for the accent pavers.

Is Excavation Needed for a Paver Patio Project in the Newton, MA, Area?