Top Hardscaping Contractors in Irving, Texas Ranked

Transforming your outdoor space with permanent, non-living elements like patios, walkways, and retaining walls is a significant investment in your property's value and enjoyment. Hardscaping, also known as masonry or outdoor construction, creates functional and beautiful living areas while addressing critical property needs like drainage and erosion control. In Irving, successful outdoor living projects require specialized knowledge of local soil conditions and building codes. This guide will help you understand the key considerations for your project and how to connect with experienced local professionals who can bring your vision to life.

Emerson Masonry & Pavers

2007 N Collins Blvd #509c, Richardson, TX 75080

Emerson Masonry & Pavers is a hardscaping contractor based in Dallas, TX, specializing in masonry, paving, and concrete construction services. They serve residential and commercial clients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, offering custom-built walkways, patios, driveways, retaining walls, and chimney repairs designed to withstand local soil and weather conditions. Their team uses high-quality materials and industry-standard techniques to ensure durable and stable outdoor surfaces. Emerson Masonry & Pavers also provides chimney and flashing repairs to protect homes from moisture and structural damage.

5.0

426 Reviews

Legacy Custom Pavers & Outdoor Living

1211 E 15th St, Plano, TX 75074

Legacy Custom Pavers & Outdoor Living is a family-owned business based in Fort Worth, TX, specializing in designing and installing custom outdoor living spaces. Their services include paver patios, pool decks, driveways, walkways, artificial turf, outdoor lighting, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, and pool remodeling. They focus on creating functional and aesthetically pleasing outdoor environments tailored to each client's vision. The company provides detailed design proposals, product samples before installation, and warranties on their work to ensure quality and satisfaction.

5.0

216 Reviews

Landscape Express

2801 Justin Rd Building 100, Flower Mound, TX 75028

Landscape Express is a full-service landscaping company based near Fort Worth, TX. They offer a wide range of services including lawn mowing, fence installation, landscape lighting, tree care, sprinkler system installation and repair, hardscaping, and landscape design. The company serves residential, commercial, property management, and HOA clients, providing custom designs and installations for outdoor living spaces, retaining walls, walkways, and irrigation systems. Landscape Express has been operating for over five years and is a second-generation family business, emphasizing community ties and customer satisfaction.

5.0

185 Reviews

Bird's Landscape and Irrigation LLC

fort worth

Bird's Landscape and Irrigation LLC is based in Fort Worth, TX, providing a range of landscaping and irrigation services. They specialize in irrigation and drainage system design and installation, including gravity propelled and sump pump powered water management. The company also offers sod installation, landscape lighting, hardscaping, and sprinkler system services for both residential and commercial properties. With over 24 years of experience, Bird's Landscape and Irrigation delivers expert solutions focused on improving yard appearance and home curb appeal.

5.0

150 Reviews

Pave-N-Turf

8745 Gary Burns Dr, Frisco, TX 75034

Pave-N-Turf is a landscaping and hardscaping contractor based in Dallas, TX, specializing in artificial turf installation and paver services. They serve both residential and commercial clients in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin areas, offering customized turf solutions including landscape turf, pet turf, playscapes, putting greens, and commercial turf installations. Their services also include decorative rock landscaping to enhance outdoor spaces. Pave-N-Turf emphasizes professional-grade installations with a focus on durability, low maintenance, and eco-friendly materials.

5.0

129 Reviews

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Understanding Irving's Unique Soil Challenges

The foundation of any durable hardscape in Irving is a thorough understanding of the local soil. The predominant soil type here is expansive clay, which has a high shrink-swell potential ^{1 2}. This means the soil absorbs water and expands when wet, then contracts and cracks as it dries. This constant movement can wreak havoc on improperly installed patios, walkways, and foundations ^{3 4}.

This soil characteristic makes two elements non-negotiable for any hardscaping project:

• Robust Foundation Preparation: A deep, well-compacted base of aggregate material is essential to create a stable platform that resists shifting.
• Advanced Drainage Planning: Water management is critical to minimize the amount of moisture that reaches the expansive clay beneath your hardscape.

Essential Hardscape Materials for North Texas

Choosing the right materials is about balancing aesthetics, durability, and suitability for our climate. Irving homeowners and contractors have excellent local access to a variety of suitable options.

Natural Stone: For a timeless, regional look, local natural stones are highly popular. These include:

• Milsap Sandstone & Lueders Limestone: Prized for their durability and natural beauty, often used for patios, walls, and accents.
• Austin Limestone & Oklahoma Flagstone: Classic choices for paving stones that offer a rustic yet elegant finish ^{5 6}.

Concrete Pavers & Manufactured Blocks: These offer incredible versatility in terms of color, shape, and texture. They are engineered for strength and durability, making them ideal for driveways, patios, and walkways. For structural elements like retaining walls, precast concrete blocks are a common choice due to their interlocking design, stability, and sound insulation properties ^{7 8}.

Aggregates: Often the unseen heroes of a project, aggregates form the critical base layer. Crushed limestone, granite gravel, and river rock are used for:

• Creating a stable sub-base under pavers.
• Filling drainage systems like French drains.
• Providing decorative ground cover in planting beds or pathways ^{5 7}.

The Critical Role of Drainage and Grading

Given the soil conditions, integrating professional drainage solutions into your hardscape design is not an optional upgrade-it's a requirement for longevity. A qualified contractor will assess your property's water flow and likely incorporate one or more of these systems:

• French Drains: A trench filled with gravel containing a perforated pipe, designed to intercept and redirect subsurface water away from structures ^{9 10}.
• Surface Drains and Catch Basins: Installed in paved areas like patios or driveways to collect surface runoff and channel it into the drainage system ¹¹.
• Proper Grading: The ground must be sloped to direct water away from your home's foundation. Building codes typically require a minimum slope of 5% (a 1-foot drop over 20 feet) for at least 10 feet from the foundation ^{12 13}. Proper grading prevents pooling and soil saturation around your hardscape.
• Root Barriers: In areas near trees, root barriers can be installed to prevent roots from drawing excessive moisture from the soil beneath your hardscape, which can accelerate soil shrinkage and settling ¹⁴.

Navigating Permits and Local Building Codes

Adhering to Irving's building codes ensures your project is safe, legal, and built to last. Key regulations often pertain to structural integrity and drainage.

• Retaining Walls: In Irving, a retaining wall with an exposed face over 30 inches in height, or one that supports additional load (a surcharge), will generally require a building permit and may need an engineering review to ensure its stability in the local soil ^{15 16}.
• Frost Depth Considerations: While North Texas doesn't experience the deep freezes of northern states, the International Building Code (IBC), adopted by many Texas municipalities, sets a minimum foundation depth of 12 inches to guard against frost movement ¹⁷.
• General Permits: It's always wise to check with the City of Irving's Development Services department. Many hardscaping projects, especially those that alter drainage patterns or involve significant construction, may require a permit ¹⁶.

Project Cost Considerations in Irving

The cost of a hardscaping project in Irving varies widely based on size, material selection, site accessibility, and the complexity of required drainage work. The following are general material cost estimates to help frame your budget; installed costs will be higher due to labor, equipment, and engineering.

• Patios & Walkways:

  • Base Materials: Gravel or crushed stone for the base layer typically costs between $15 to $75 per cubic yard (material only) ¹⁸.
  • Natural Stone Paving: Materials like flagstone or limestone can range from $50 to $140 per ton, including delivery ^{5 6}.
  • Concrete Pavers: Material costs vary by style and quality. The significant cost comes from the skilled installation required for a lasting result ^{19 20}.

• Retaining Walls:

  • Materials: Concrete retaining wall blocks and natural stone (like chopped limestone) are available from local suppliers, with costs dependent on the specific product and quantity ^{5 7}.
  • Installation: The total installed cost per square foot is influenced by the wall's height, material, and any necessary engineering for soil stability. A wall requiring a permit and engineered plans will have additional costs ^{21 22}.

The most important step for accurate pricing is to obtain detailed quotes. It is strongly recommended to get at least three written estimates from licensed, insured, and locally experienced hardscaping contractors. This allows you to compare not just price, but also the proposed solutions for your property's specific drainage and soil challenges ^{18 23}.

Frequently asked questions

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