$100,000–$150,000 · 7 weeks
Hill Country terrace, Boerne
Cibolo Creek area, Boerne · finished 2024 · led by Danny Ochoa
Hardscaping · from $18–$32 per sq ft
Flagstone and paver patios in San Antonio and New Braunfels
A patio is the floor of your outdoor room, and like any floor it has to be flat, solid and dry. Ours are built for Central Texas ground: dug to firm subgrade, at least 4 inches of crushed limestone base compacted in layers, a 1 to 2% fall away from the house, then stone set by our own masons.
We build flagstone patios mortared on a slab or dry-laid with decomposed granite joints, cut limestone patios, and concrete or porcelain paver patios. The right choice depends on how you'll use it, how much shade it gets and the look of the house.
Who it's for
Who a new patio is for
Homeowners with a builder's 10-by-10 concrete slab that's too small for a table. Families who want a place to eat, a place to sit by a fire, or both. Older homes where a cracked slab or heaved flagstone needs to come out and be rebuilt properly.
Materials and options
Patio materials, compared
| Material | Look | Feel in July sun | Installed cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buff flagstone, mortared on slab | Irregular, Hill Country | Warm | $26–$32 per sq ft |
| Flagstone, dry-laid with DG joints | Informal, natural | Warm | $18–$24 per sq ft |
| Cut limestone (Lueders-style) | Clean rectangles, cream | Cooler | $28–$36 per sq ft |
| Concrete pavers | Uniform, many colors | Warm | $18–$26 per sq ft |
| Porcelain pavers on pedestal or base | Modern, very flat | Coolest | $28–$38 per sq ft |
What it costs
What patios (flagstone and pavers) costs
$18–$32 per sq ft
installed for most patios, including excavation and base
Most patios run $18 to $32 per square foot installed. A 400-square-foot flagstone patio usually lands between $9,000 and $13,000. Cut limestone and porcelain run higher. Difficult access, steps, curved edges and extra base for clay soil add cost; the proposal shows each of those as its own line.
If a cover, kitchen or lighting is coming later, we run conduit and sleeves under the patio now for a few hundred dollars, which saves cutting stone later.
Timeline
How long it takes
Most patios take one to three weeks on site.
- Site walk, design and samples2–3 weeks
- Excavation and base2–4 days
- Slab pour, if mortared1 day + 3–5 days cure
- Stone setting and joints3–8 days
- Clean, seal if needed, walkthrough1 day
Size it for the furniture
The most common patio mistake is building it too small. A round table for six needs a 12-foot circle to pull chairs out comfortably. A sectional and coffee table need about 12 by 14 feet. We lay out your actual furniture in the 3D render, then add walking room around it.
Case study
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.
Read the case study“Danny walked us through every stake before they dug. Two summers in, the walls haven't moved, the mud is gone, and we eat dinner under the pergola most nights from April to October.”
Questions
Patios (flagstone and pavers) questions
How long does a flagstone patio last?
Built on proper base, decades. The stone itself lasts indefinitely; mortar joints may need touch-up after 10 to 15 years. Most failures are base failures, which is why we spend the time there.
Do I need to seal flagstone?
Not always. Sealing helps dense flagstone resist stains from grease and leaves, so we often seal near outdoor kitchens. It also slightly darkens the color, so we'll test a sample first.
Can you build a patio around a tree?
Yes, with care. We keep excavation shallow inside the root zone, use dry-laid stone on a permeable base near the trunk, and leave an opening at least 3 feet from the trunk for water and air.
Do patios need a permit?
Ground-level patios usually don't in the cities we work in. A roof over the patio, new gas lines or electrical do. We confirm with your city and HOA during design.
Where we build this most
Further reading
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.