A patio is only as good as the ground under it. We plan the base and the drainage before anyone picks a color.
Free site visit from our lead contractor, for homes in LA County and the Conejo Valley. Where we work
Our lead contractor walks the yard with you, listens, and checks the ground, the slope, the drainage and how the crew gets in. Then you get a written proposal for your project.
Free site visit and written proposal for homes in Los Angeles County and the Conejo Valley. Where we work
What are you planning?
Your proposal lists the work area by area, what's included, and what could change it. What the proposal covers
Find the one that sounds like your yard. Each one leads to the work that usually answers it.
The old slab, stained and cracked
The same yard, finished in pavers
Drag to compare
01Patios and walkways
Paver patios, walkways and pool decks on a packed base, sloped so water moves away from the house.
When people call us about pavers
Sunk or shifted pavers are usually the base or the edges, not the pavers.
01Many shapes and colors. A single piece can be lifted and reset if something underneath needs work.
Illustration02Thin, flat and hard to stain. They need a firm, even base, and smooth ones can be slick when wet.
03Every piece is different. Some softer stones wear or stain, so we talk through where they'll go.
04Open joints let rain soak in. They need a deeper base, and they can be part of a lawn replacement project.
Tap a pattern to see it on a patio plan. We settle the pattern with you during design.
Illustration
IllustrationSeveral sizes laid together, framed by a border course.
02One continuous surface
Patios, walkways and pool decks poured over a prepared base, with joints and slope planned so water runs off.
When people call us about concrete
01Simple and grippy. Plain to look at.
Illustration02Mixed in or added on top. Sun can fade some colors.
03Patterned to look like stone or brick. Needs resealing on a schedule, and it can be slick when wet.
Illustration04Small stones show at the surface. Good grip near a pool.
The base and the slope come first, the same as any patio.
Forms go in to hold the edges and the height.
The pour, then the finish.
Joints are cut so cracks follow them.
It cures. Stamped concrete gets sealed.
03The finish layer
The finish layer on steps, outdoor kitchens and pool decks, set on a base built for outdoor weather.
When people call us about outdoor tile
IllustrationAFlat, hard to stain, and easy to lift for repairs.
BVery clean lines. The slab underneath has to be sound.
Old tile that's cracked or coming loose is often a sign of the slab or the base under it, so we look there first.
We choose a textured finish for grip.
Outdoors, they move with heat and cold, so the joints are planned for it.
We check what's underneath first: a sound slab, or a packed gravel base for porcelain pavers.
The surface is prepared and leveled.
Where water could get in, a membrane goes under the tile.
The tile is set, with movement joints where the surface needs to flex.
Grout, and sealing where the material needs it.
The three, compared with each other. More dots means more of it.
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02
03Your finish, color and spot change the answer. We go through it with you at the site visit.
Most of the work on a patio happens before the first paver goes in. Here's what that work is.
Dig out to the right depth.
The old surface comes out, and the soil is dug to the depth the base needs.Lay and pack the base in layers.
Gravel goes in a few inches at a time, and each layer is packed before the next.Slope it away from the house.
The base is shaped so rain runs away from the walls, not toward them.Set edges that keep the pavers from spreading.
A restraint along the open sides holds the whole surface in place.Fill and lock the joints.
Joint sand is swept in and settled, so the pavers move as one surface.Add drains where the water collects.
Where the slope ends at a low spot, a drain carries the water away.Pick the color last. The ground under it decides how long it looks new.
A new patio changes a little in its first months. Here's how to tell the normal from the reason to call us.
Slight color differences between batches
A white haze that fades
Joint sand settling in the first months
Hairline cracks along concrete control joints
Part of a new surface settling in. No call needed.
Pieces that rock
Low spots that hold water
Edges that spread
A crack with one side higher than the other
If you see one of these, call or text us.
Drainage and walls come first. Footings for a kitchen or a patio cover, and the conduit for lights, go in before the surface.
The rules change by city and by parcel. These are the ones we check before design.
Building code calls for the ground to fall at least 6 inches in the first 10 feet away from the house. We slope patios and walkways so water moves away from the house.
A patio at ground level often doesn't need a building permit. A raised patio, steps, or anything with a cover can. We check what applies at your address.
Patios that let rainwater soak in can be part of a lawn replacement rebate project. Check the official rebate rules before any grass comes out.
In the Coastal Zone and in historic districts, some backyard work needs extra review and some doesn't. We check your parcel first.
Surfaces in full sun get hot, and darker ones get hotter. In the Valley, that matters more than at the beach. We choose colors and finishes with that in mind.
We confirm what applies to your property at the site visit and during design.
General information, not legal advice.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Patio work is often part of a larger backyard plan, which one ACE team designs, manages and builds. Any part that needs a specialty license is done by a licensed specialist, scheduled and supervised by our team, under one ACE contract.
The layout, the base and the drainage are drawn as one plan, so the patio and the ground under it are planned together.
Your proposal lists the work area by area, what's included, and what could change it.
One ACE team runs the project, and our own crews build it. You'll know who to call.
Before we start, we agree on work hours, the gate the crew uses and how pets stay safe.
Before we call the job done, we walk the yard with you. If a question comes up later, call or text us.
Ace Design & Build completely transformed our backyard in Brentwood. We had them install new pavers, update the landscaping and plants, and rework the entire outdoor space. The difference is incredible, it went from outdated to a beautiful extension of our home. ... We love the finished space and have been spending so much more time outside.
They installed turf and pavers in my backyard, and the entire project was completed quickly and professionally. The crew kept the work area clean throughout the process, and the quality of the finished product exceeded my expectations.
... to completely redo our backyard in Studio City, and the result exceeded our expectations. The new pavers and artificial turf changed the whole look of the space, and the drip irrigation was a great addition for keeping everything low maintenance. ... I still can't believe how beautiful it looks now.
Both work. Pavers come in more shapes and colors, and a single piece can be lifted and reset if something underneath needs work. Concrete is one continuous surface with fewer joints, and it can be colored or stamped, but repairs show. The base and the slope matter more than the choice between them.
It can be. Smooth surfaces, some sealers and polished stone get slick when wet. Textured pavers, broom-finished or exposed-aggregate concrete, and textured porcelain give more grip. We choose the finish near the water with that in mind.
Surfaces in full sun get hot, and darker ones get hotter. In the Valley, that matters more than at the beach. Lighter colors, texture and shade help. For pool decks and play areas, we talk it through before choosing.
A patio at ground level often doesn't need a building permit. A raised patio, steps, or anything with a cover can. It depends on the height and on your city, so we check.
Normal: slight color differences between batches, a white haze that fades, joint sand settling in the first months, and hairline cracks along concrete control joints. Worth a call: pieces that rock, low spots that hold water, edges that spread, or a crack with one side higher than the other.
Sometimes. It depends on the condition of the slab, the height at doors and steps, and where the water will go. Often the old concrete comes out, so the new base can be built right. We look at it at the visit.
Pavers settle when the base under them isn't deep enough or packed well, or when water gets under them. That's why most of the work happens before the first paver goes in: the dig, the base, the packing, the slope and the edges. Joint sand also settles a little in the first months, which is normal.
Concrete does crack, and that's normal. Joints are cut so most cracks follow them. A good base, the right slope and joints in the right places keep cracks small. A crack with one side higher than the other is worth a call.
It needs resealing on a schedule to keep its color, it can be slick when wet, and repairs are hard to match. In return, you get the look of stone or brick in one continuous surface.
Either a packed gravel base, like other pavers, or a concrete slab with the porcelain set on top. Some are set on pedestals over a flat surface. The right choice depends on where it goes and what's there now. We check at the visit.
Free site visit and written proposal for homes in Los Angeles County and the Conejo Valley. Where we work
What are you planning?
After you ask
Licensed in California
ACE Design & Build
License #1132942 (Class B, General Building). Check it on the CSLB website.
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Insured. Workers' compensation insurance for our crews.
Who does the work. One ACE team designs and manages your project, and our own crews build it. Any work that needs a specialty license, like a pool shell or electrical, is done by a licensed specialist, scheduled and supervised by our team, under one ACE contract. How the work gets done
Where we work. Serving Los Angeles County and the Conejo Valley
Written contracts. The CSLB consumer guide explains what a California home improvement contract should include. We go over ours with you before you sign.
One project