We started off with a backyard that drained water toward our house. Our brick was eroding and the ground was so bad that you couldn't walk without tripping on the hidden holes and tree roots.
Our plan - paver patio 16 ft x 35 ft
- paver walkway 6 ft x 37 ft
- alter grade of backyard to drain water away from house
Quote - Done by Amir. First off, it's hard to get landscaping companies to even call you back if you haven't noticed. Amir called us within a day of our request for a quote, and he provided an on site inspection and written quote within that same week. He was professional, knowledgeable, low pressure. He acknowledges that he's not the cheapest (and Mr. Interlock is not), but he will also explain the difference in their approach to installing pavers, that should help you decide on them to do your project.
Their process - They excavated about 10 inches on average where they were going to lay the pad. They then compacted layer after layer of base material, until our base sloped away from our house for the entire length of the patio. They then used a high performance base material to lay the pavers level. The work was flawless. They made sure it was attractive, sturdy and level. Clean lines are obvious across every row of paver. This process is important to be aware of. The lower bidders for this job offered similar finished products, but they were going to use leveling sand and only excavate three inches. That patio would have looked terrible after two or three seasons of freeze and thaw. This one isn't moving an inch. That's the value in Mr. Interlock. It's built to last.
The Detail Work - I have two custom sized window wells (they're huge) and various below grade pipes and vents that all had water issues. Not only did Mr. Interlock change the grade to keep water away from my house, but they built beautiful retaining walls around my window wells, a custom stone box around my vent and cut the stones precisely around all the pipes coming from below ground (natural gas, hydro, telephone, cable, etc...) which left the messy parts of my house looking clean and organized. It looks as though the house was built for the patio, not the other way around.
The Crew - Chris (part owner I believe) and Saad. These two men worked hard... really hard. They showed up and started working the day they were scheduled to. Both are very nice people, taking time to say hello to my toddler, answer questions I had and advise on any changes to suit my vision on this project. They worked about twelve hours a day and didn't waste any time when they were here. Each employee is an expert in their craft. The cuts were always perfect. The stones fit together like a perfect jigsaw puzzle. True professionals.
The finished product - SO BEAUTIFUL! Our friends, family and neighbours are all shocked by the transformation. It's freshened up the entire exterior of our house and also fixed our water drainage issues permanently. You can't ask for more. We got exactly what we paid for, at a fair price, with excellent customer service. I actually just got a follow up call from Amir asking how everything with the patio is, three weeks after they left. They actually care if you're happy with their work even after they've been paid! Amazing!!! I feel compelled to tell anyone shopping around to seriously consider this company.