First, we meet you on-site for a real estimate. Iain walks your property, tests soil conditions, and identifies drainage considerations most contractors miss. You get specific recommendations, not generic pricing.Excavation comes next—typically 8-10 inches deep, sometimes more if we hit soft spots or old fill dirt. We remove everything that shouldn’t be there and install geotextile fabric to separate your new base from questionable soil below.Base preparation is where shortcuts kill projects. We install crushed stone in lifts, compacting each layer until it meets manufacturer specifications. Then comes bedding sand, paver installation, and joint sand—all done to prevent the settling and shifting that plague rushed jobs.The final step is edge restraint installation. This isn’t decorative—it’s structural. Proper restraints keep your patio locked in place when freeze-thaw cycles try to shift things around.