Paver patios and hardscaping in Fort Collins, Colorado

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and what you'd like built or fixed in your yard.

2. We connect you

   Your call goes to an independent paver and hardscape contractor that serves Larimer County.

3. They call you back

   They visit, look at the soil and grade, and quote the work directly.

Who is this site for?

It's for homeowners in Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Wellington and nearby Larimer County towns who want a paver patio, a front walk or driveway, a gas fire pit with seating, a seat wall or low retaining wall, or a repair for pavers that have heaved, sunk or loosened. Fort Collins is the Larimer County seat and had 169,810 residents at the 2020 census, so there's a wide mix of yards, from century-old lots near Old Town and the Colorado State University campus to new subdivisions on the south and east edges of the city.

Why do pavers make sense along the northern Front Range?

Because the ground here moves, and pavers can move with it. Fort Collins sits at roughly 5,000 feet with a cold semi-arid climate: about 16 inches of precipitation and around 51 inches of snow in an average year, January lows that average below 20°F, and July highs in the upper 80s. Two things work on any outdoor surface in that climate.

• Swelling clay. The Colorado Geological Survey calls expansive soil the state's most significant geologic hazard, and it lists cracked and heaved patios, sidewalks and driveways as some of the most common signs of it. Clay swells when sprinklers or a spring storm soak it and shrinks as it dries.
• Deep frost. Larimer County sets a minimum frost depth of 30 inches below grade countywide. Ground that freezes and thaws through the winter pushes surfaces up and lets them settle back unevenly.

A single poured slab can only crack when that happens. Interlocking pavers sit on a compacted gravel base with sand joints, so they flex a little, and if one corner heaves or settles the contractor can lift those pavers, fix the base and reset the same units.

What can be built with pavers?

• Patios. New backyard patios, extensions around a small builder's slab, and shaded dining areas. More on paver patios.
• Walkways and driveways. Front walks, side-yard paths, driveway borders and full paver driveways. More on walkways and driveways.
• Gas fire pits and outdoor living. Fire features, seating areas, grill counters and pergola pads. More on outdoor living.
• Seat walls and low retaining walls. Block walls that frame a patio, hold raised beds or level a sloped yard. More on walls.
• Repair and sealing. Resetting heaved or sunken areas, re-sanding joints, cleaning and sealing. More on paver repair.

Can I build a wood-burning fire pit in Fort Collins?

Not a permanent one inside city limits. A City of Fort Collins Building Services memo says permanent solid-fuel (wood-burning) fire pits are not allowed in the city under the municipal air quality code. Gas fire pits are allowed with a permit, a listed appliance and inspections, and the gas line has to be run by the homeowner, a licensed plumber or a licensed HVAC contractor. If you live in Loveland, Windsor, Wellington or unincorporated Larimer County, the rules are different, so check with your town or fire district. Our outdoor living page covers the details.

What makes a paver patio last here?

Almost everything that matters is under the surface. A careful installer removes sod and soft topsoil, looks at what kind of soil is underneath, places and compacts crushed gravel base in thin layers, screeds a level bedding course, lays the pavers, installs a solid edge restraint and compacts the finished surface so the joints lock. On clay, drainage gets extra attention: the patio should slope away from the house, downspouts shouldn't empty onto it, and sprinklers shouldn't keep the soil next to it soaked. Driveways get a deeper base than patios because they carry vehicles.

Warning signs your pavers need attention

• A section that rose after a wet spring or a hard winter
• Low spots that hold water or ice
• Pavers that rock, click or tip when you step on them
• Joints that have lost their sand or filled with weeds
• Edges creeping out into the lawn or rock bed
• A patio that now slopes back toward the foundation

Do I need a permit?

For a ground-level patio on your own lot in Fort Collins, often not, but related work can. The city's permit exemptions cover residential sidewalks and driveways, retaining walls up to 4 feet tall that don't hold a surcharge, and small pergolas that meet size and setback limits. Gas fire pits, patio covers, larger pergolas and taller walls need permits. Anything on the public sidewalk or driveway approach needs a separate city permit and a contractor with a City Right-of-Way Contractor's License. The Fort Collins paver patio guide explains each of these with sources.

Call 811 before anyone digs

Colorado 811 says all property owners must request a free utility locate before digging, however shallow, with at least two full business days' notice. Paver work means excavation, so your contractor should place the request and wait for marks before work starts.

Are you a paver company?

No. Fort Collins Paver Patios is a referral service. We connect you with an independent contractor that serves your address, and that contractor designs, prices, builds and warranties the work. Read our tips for hiring a paver contractor before you sign anything.

Areas we cover

• Fort Collins
• Loveland
• Windsor
• Wellington

Planning ahead? Read our Fort Collins paver patio guide.