Empire Home Solutions handles paver and natural-stone patio installation across Greater Cincinnati, engineered for the way Ohio ground actually moves. Unlike a poured slab, a paver patio flexes with freeze-thaw instead of cracking against it. So when the ground shifts, individual pavers can be lifted and reset rather than jackhammered out. Because the whole system lives or dies on the base beneath it, we build that base deep and compacted for our 30-inch frost line. As a result, every patio we install carries our lifetime craftsmanship warranty.
By Chris Kestel, Founder & Owner · Last Updated August 2026
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Pavers are not always the answer, but in several situations they clearly win. Here is when to choose them.
Not sure whether pavers or a poured patio fit your yard and budget? We will lay out both honestly during the consultation.
We keep every paver patio built from the base up. From consultation to final seal, here is how it works.
1. On-Site Consultation & Layout
First, we walk the yard, discuss materials, and plan how the patio connects to your home and landscaping.
2. Excavation & Grading
Next, we excavate to the correct depth and grade for drainage away from your foundation. This step matters most on Cincinnati’s sloped lots.
3. Deep Compacted Base
Then we build and compact a gravel base sized for our 30-inch frost line. Consequently, the patio stays level through freeze-thaw winters.
4. Paver & Stone Installation
After that, we set pavers or stone in your chosen pattern, with clean edge restraint to keep the field tight.
5. Polymeric Sand & Seal
Finally, we lock the joints with polymeric sand and seal the surface. The patio is usable the same day.
Our patio paver installation services cover concrete pavers and full paver patio construction in the pattern and color you choose. Because pavers flex and reset, they are the most durable, repairable option for Ohio.
We install flagstone and natural stone patios for a high-end, organic look. Each stone is set on the same deep, compacted base as our paver work.
Our patio cover installation service adds pergolas, pavilions, and covered structures over new or existing patios. Therefore, the space stays usable in sun and light rain alike.
We extend the same paver and stone work into walkways that tie the patio to driveways, gates, and garden areas. As a result, the whole hardscape flows.
We build fire pit surrounds and seating walls directly into the patio layout, engineered as part of the design rather than added on later.
Finally, on sloped lots we handle the grading and retaining walls a level patio requires. Walls over four feet get their own permit, which we manage.
Patio cost depends on material, size, and site grading. Here is a quick summary for paver and stone work. (These are market estimates — see our for the detailed breakdown across concrete, stamped, and paver options.)
| Patio type | Typical installed cost (200–400 sq. ft.) |
|---|---|
| Paver patio | $5,000 – $14,000 |
| Natural stone patio | $8,000 – $18,000+ |
| Patio cover / pergola (add-on) | $3,000 – $12,000 |
A few factors move the number. First, sloped lots in Anderson Township, Hyde Park, and the hillside neighborhoods often need grading or a retaining wall before a level patio is possible. Next, our deep frost-line base costs more than a shortcut base, but it is why the patio lasts. Finally, fire pits, lighting, and covers each add scope. Rather than quote from a photo, we measure on-site and itemize it in writing.
We build the compacted base to our 30-inch frost depth, the single biggest factor in whether a patio lasts.
A settled paver resets cleanly; you never live with a cracked slab.
Your property and our crew stay protected throughout.
Our workmanship is covered for life.
We manage permit pulls and HOA drawings in-house.
If a poured or stamped concrete patio serves you better, we will say so and point you there.
We install patios throughout Cincinnati, Anderson Township, Mason, Montgomery, Loveland, and Milford, plus the surrounding Hamilton and Clermont County communities. Because so many area lots slope, our grading and base work matters more here than in flatter regions.
Pavers flex with Ohio’s freeze-thaw and can be lifted and reset if one settles, which makes them the most durable and repairable choice. Poured and stamped concrete cost less upfront and suit many yards well. We compare both honestly, and our concrete patio work lives on our page.
Most paver patios run $5,000–$14,000 for a 200–400 square foot installation, with natural stone higher. Site grading, retaining walls, and add-ons like fire pits or covers raise the total. You get an itemized written quote after an on-site measure.
Properly installed on a deep, compacted base, pavers stay stable for decades. If one does settle from frost or root growth, it can be lifted and reset without disturbing the rest — an advantage a solid concrete slab does not offer.
Yes. Our patio cover installation service adds pergolas, pavilions, and covered structures over new or existing patios, engineered and permitted for Ohio wind and snow loads.
Often, yes. Cincinnati requires a permit for patios over 300 square feet, and covers, gas lines, or electrical trigger additional permits regardless of size. Suburbs and HOAs have their own rules. We handle all of it in-house.
A properly based paver patio lasts 30–50 years, and because pavers can be individually reset, its functional life extends almost indefinitely with minor upkeep. Base quality matters more than the paver brand for longevity.
A patio is only as good as the base under it — and in a freeze-thaw climate, a paver system built on a deep, compacted base outlasts a shortcut slab by decades. We build the base right, integrate the fire pit and cover you want, and back the work for life.
Call (513) 773-1567 for a free patio estimate, or send your details online and we’ll schedule a site visit.