18 Questions Answered · Brevard County, FL
Patio (200-400 sqft): 3-5 days. Pool deck (600-1,000 sqft): 5-9 days. Driveway (800-1,500 sqft): 7-14 days. Plain-English answers from a contractor working in Brevard County every week.
$9-13/sqft Essential (standard concrete pavers, basic base), $13-18/sqft Signature (premium pavers with banding), $18-25+/sqft Luxury (travertine, porcelain, large-format). Concrete pavers: optional but extends life and color, every 3-5 years. We use thicker travertine pavers (1.25-2 inch) for driveway applications. Slightly more expensive than concrete pavers but stunning visual.
Concrete: $3-6/sqft material, durable, lots of color options, slight color fading over 10+ years. Travertine: $8-14/sqft material, natural stone aesthetic, stays cooler underfoot, requires periodic sealing. $9-13/sqft Essential (standard concrete pavers, basic base), $13-18/sqft Signature (premium pavers with banding), $18-25+/sqft Luxury (travertine, porcelain, large-format).
8-12 inch compacted crushed concrete base for vehicle traffic. Pedestrian-only patios: 4-6 inches. Florida's sandy soil requires proper compaction in lifts to prevent long-term settling. Travertine works for residential driveways with proper base prep. $9-13/sqft Essential (standard concrete pavers, basic base), $13-18/sqft Signature (premium pavers with banding), $18-25+/sqft Luxury (travertine, porcelain, large-format).
Yes - pool decks are one of our most-requested projects. Slip-resistant texture, proper drainage away from pool, salt-resistant if it's a saltwater pool. Travertine and tumbled concrete are most popular. Pool decks slope away from house and pool. Most pool decks and patios drain to grade (slope to lawn).
Patio (200-400 sqft): 3-5 days. Pool deck (600-1,000 sqft): 5-9 days. Driveway (800-1,500 sqft): 7-14 days. Weather can extend during rainy season. Both integrate visually with the paver project. Most of that time goes into excavation, compacting the base in lifts, and setting edge restraints rather than laying the pavers themselves, so sites with drainage problems or old concrete to remove run toward the longer end. Plan for the area to be off limits during the work, and for driveways, arrange another place to park for the full project.
Yes. Brevard's flat topography requires grading and sometimes French drains. Pool decks slope away from house and pool. Driveways slope to street or yard. Adding French drain: $30-60/linear ft. Slip-resistant texture, proper drainage away from pool, salt-resistant if it's a saltwater pool.
We use polymeric jointing sand that hardens like grout and prevents weed growth and erosion. Lasts 5-10 years before needing reapplication. Weeds that do appear usually start from seeds landing in joints that have lost sand, so keeping joints full is the main defense. Aggressive pressure washing can blow polymeric sand out, which is why joints are often topped off after a deep clean, and new polymeric sand should only be activated with water when the pavers are completely dry.
Concrete pavers: optional but extends life and color, every 3-5 years. Travertine: yes, more often (annually in Brevard). Porcelain: no sealing needed. Sand-set pavers are flexible and handle wind/water better than fixed concrete in many ways. We use thicker travertine pavers (1.25-2 inch) for driveway applications.
Yes with a thin-set bonding method, but the concrete must be in good condition (no major cracks, proper drainage). Usually adds $4-7/sqft over standard install. Some homeowners prefer removing old concrete entirely for better long-term performance. Concrete: $3-6/sqft material, durable, lots of color options, slight color fading over 10+ years.
Travertine works for residential driveways with proper base prep. We use thicker travertine pavers (1.25-2 inch) for driveway applications. Slightly more expensive than concrete pavers but stunning visual. Travertine and tumbled concrete are most popular. The compacted crushed concrete base under the stone is what carries the weight, so ask how deep the base will be and confirm it matches the 8-12 inch depth this page lists for vehicle traffic. Travertine also needs regular sealing to resist oil and rust stains from parked cars, which is worth weighing against concrete pavers.
We protect existing plants we're working around. If plants need to be moved, you can transplant them or we can recommend a local landscaper. Tree roots within the work area are evaluated case-by-case. Walk the site before work starts and flag any plants, irrigation heads, or landscape lighting you want kept, because excavation for the base and edge restraints disturbs more ground than the finished paver footprint. Large tree roots matter most under driveways and pool decks, since cutting them can harm the tree and leaving them can lift pavers later.
Driveways always need permits in Brevard. Pool decks usually need permits. Smaller patios sometimes don't. We confirm during the estimate. Homes in unincorporated areas such as Merritt Island, Viera, and Suntree permit through Brevard County government in Viera, while homes inside cities such as Melbourne, Palm Bay, or Titusville go through that city's building department, so the rules depend on your address. If you are in a homeowners association, its architectural approval is a separate step that can apply even when no permit is needed.
Sand-set pavers are flexible and handle wind/water better than fixed concrete in many ways. They can be re-set after a storm if needed. Reinforced concrete bases prevent washout. Concrete pavers: optional but extends life and color, every 3-5 years. Slightly more expensive than concrete pavers but stunning visual.
Hundreds. Belgard, Tremron, and Pavestone all have extensive color palettes - earth tones, grays, mixed blends, color-through-the-paver options. Florida coastal trends toward lighter, cooler colors. Inland trends toward warm earth tones. Concrete: $3-6/sqft material, durable, lots of color options, slight color fading over 10+ years.
Sweep regularly, hose off occasionally, pressure wash every 1-2 years, reseal as needed (optional for concrete, recommended for natural stone). Polymeric sand top-off every 5-7 years. Travertine near pools and salt air needs sealing more often than concrete, so factor that upkeep into the long-term cost when choosing a material. When pressure washing, use a wide fan tip and keep the wand moving so you do not strip the jointing sand, then refill any low joints before the rainy season.
Yes. Built-in fire pit: $1,500-5,000 (gas or wood). Seat wall: $80-200/linear ft. Both integrate visually with the paver project. Decide between gas and wood before the base is built, because a gas fire pit needs a gas line run to it by a qualified gas contractor. For wood-burning pits, check your HOA rules and local burn rules and keep the pit well away from the house and roof overhangs, and consider placing seat walls where they also act as a border for the patio.
Depends on site conditions. Most pool decks and patios drain to grade (slope to lawn). Driveways usually drain to street curb. French drains are added when needed for problem areas. Brevard's flat topography requires grading and sometimes French drains. Slip-resistant texture, proper drainage away from pool, salt-resistant if it's a saltwater pool.
Manufacturer warranty on the pavers (lifetime structural on most). 2-year ELSO workmanship warranty on installation including base, drainage, and joint integrity. Workmanship problems in pavers usually show up as settling, low spots that hold water, or edges spreading, which trace back to base compaction and edge restraint, so ask how those are handled if they appear. Keep the paver manufacturer and color name on file, because matching a replacement paver years later is much easier when you know the exact product.
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