$18–$32 per sq ft
Patios (flagstone and pavers)
Flagstone, limestone and paver patios set on 4 inches of compacted base, sloped to drain and built by our own masons.
Design-build · 3-year warranty
Hardscaping in San Antonio and New Braunfels
Hardscaping is everything built from stone: patios, walkways, steps, retaining walls, fire pits and outdoor kitchens. It's also where the most money goes wrong in a yard, because the part that decides how long it lasts is the part you never see: the base under the stone.
What's included
What you get with hardscaping
Our hardscape is built by Pecan Hollow masons, led by co-founder Wade Kessler, not subcontracted. Every patio and walk sits on at least 4 inches of compacted crushed limestone base, set to a 1 to 2% slope away from the house. Every wall gets a gravel footing, drainage aggregate and a perforated drain behind it. That's why we warranty our workmanship for three years.
- Excavation to firm subgrade and at least 4 in of compacted base
- Drainage designed in: slopes, weep holes, wall drains and outlets
- Our own masons on every job, never a subcontracted crew
- Sleeves for future irrigation, gas and lighting under new stone
- Permits and engineering for walls over 4 ft and kitchens with gas
- A 3-year workmanship warranty, in writing
What it costs
What hardscaping costs
Stone prices depend on the material, how much it has to be cut, how much base the site needs, and access. A patio in a flat front yard with truck access costs less than the same patio behind a house on a slope where every stone goes in by wheelbarrow.
These are the ranges most of our projects fall in. Your proposal will show square footage, material, base depth and labor line by line, at a fixed price.
| Flagstone or paver patio | $18–$32 per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Walkway | $22–$40 per sq ft |
| Retaining wall | $55–$120 per face sq ft |
| Fire pit | $4,500–$12,000 |
| Outdoor kitchen | $25,000–$90,000 |
4 services
Hardscaping services
$22–$40 per sq ft
Walkways
Front walks, garden paths and hillside steps in flagstone, limestone or granite, built wide enough for two and flat enough to stay that way.
$55–$120 per face sq ft
Retaining walls
Limestone and block retaining walls with real footings and drainage, engineered and permitted when they're over 4 feet.
$25,000–$90,000
Fire pits and outdoor kitchens
Limestone fire pits and outdoor kitchens with gas, power, sinks and stone counters, planned with the patio so the utilities go in once.
The base is the job
Central Texas clay swells when it's wet and shrinks when it's dry. Over a few seasons that movement cracks mortar joints, tilts pavers and pushes walls out of plumb, unless there's enough compacted, free-draining base between the clay and the stone. We dig out soft soil, add crushed limestone base in 2-inch layers and compact each one with a plate compactor. On clay sites east of I-35 we go deeper.
It's slow, unglamorous work, and it's the difference between a patio that looks the same in ten years and one that looks like a puzzle.
How it works
How a hardscaping project runs
Step 1: Site walk and levels
We check slope, soil, drainage and access, and shoot levels so the design works with the grade instead of fighting it.
Step 2: Design, render and material samples
You see the layout in 3D and handle the actual stone, so color and texture aren't a surprise on delivery day.
Step 3: Excavation, base and drainage
We dig to firm subgrade, compact base in 2-inch lifts and install drains before a single stone is set.
Step 4: Stonework and walkthrough
Our masons set, cut and joint the stone. Your project lead walks it with you and the 3-year warranty begins.
Recent work
Hardscaping projects
$100,000–$150,000 · 7 weeks
Hill Country terrace, Boerne
A backyard that fell 14 feet from the house, turned into two limestone terraces with a flagstone patio, a cedar pergola and native planting.
$120,000–$160,000 · 9 weeks
Stone Oak outdoor kitchen, San Antonio
A cracked concrete slab replaced with a covered outdoor kitchen, a gas fire pit and a new LED lighting system that replaced a failed halogen setup.
Questions
Hardscaping questions
Flagstone or pavers: which is better?
Flagstone suits the Hill Country look and costs about the same as premium pavers. Pavers are more uniform, easier to repair and better for driveways. Porcelain pavers stay coolest underfoot. We'll show you samples of each on site.
Mortared or dry-laid flagstone?
Mortared flagstone on a concrete slab is cleaner and better under furniture. Dry-laid flagstone on compacted base with decomposed granite joints costs less, drains through and suits informal paths. Both are built on compacted base.
Do you build in the summer?
Yes, all year. In July and August crews start at 7 a.m. and mortar work is scheduled for the morning so it cures properly in the heat.
Can you match existing stone on my house?
Usually. We bring samples from several Central Texas quarries to match color and texture. Exact matches to older limestone aren't always possible, so we'll show you the closest options before ordering.
Is hardscape covered by your warranty?
Yes. Workmanship on patios, walks, walls, fire pits and kitchens is covered for three years: settling, loose stones and cracked joints caused by our installation are repaired at no cost.
Free · 45 minutes · no obligation
Start with a free site walk
Forty-five minutes on your property with a designer. You'll leave with honest numbers and a clear next step. A fixed-price proposal with a 3D render follows within two weeks.