Paver Patios
Raised Paver Patio Project in Cedar Falls, IA
Cedar Falls, Iowa
A backyard slope became a raised paver patio with stone steps and a retaining wall so the space is actually usable.
The problem
The backyard sloped enough that furniture would not sit level and water ran across the space after storms. The owner wanted a real outdoor room, not a slab on a hill.
The property
Residential Cedar Falls backyard with a grade change that required a retaining edge before a patio could exist. Clay soil, typical freeze-thaw exposure, and a clear line from the house to the new living space.
Work performed
We built a retaining wall to create the raised pad, compacted an Iowa-depth aggregate base, and installed pavers with edge restraint and polymeric joint sand. Stone steps tied the patio back down to the remaining yard so the space was actually accessible.
Materials
- Concrete pavers
- Segmental wall block
- Stone steps
- Polymeric joint sand
- Edge restraint
Retaining wall, compacted patio base, paver install, and stone steps tying the patio back to the yard.
Challenges
This is two structures: a wall and a patio. The wall has to drain. The patio has to pitch away from the house. Getting both right on clay is the job. Skipping either one is how raised patios settle or hold water.
Finished result
The slope is now a raised paver patio with steps and a wall that holds the grade. The family has a level space for seating, and the yard below is no longer a wash. For the installation process we use on flatter lots, see our paver patio service and Cedar Falls patio landing page.
Project questions
Where was this paver patios project completed?
Raised Patio With Steps was completed for a home in Cedar Falls, Iowa. A1 Property Services handles this work across Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and Black Hawk County.
Can you do a similar project on my property?
Yes. Every lot is different, but the same sequence applies: diagnose the site, build the structure or planting correctly for Iowa clay and freeze-thaw, then finish the grade. Request a free on-site quote and we will walk your property.