Cedar Hills, Utah
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How to choose a hardscape contractor in Cedar Hills for patios, walls, fire features and outdoor kitchens, and the base, drainage and permit shortcuts to watch for.
“Sidewalks, retaining wall, and raised garden are all beautifully done.”
“I will definitely use you again for any future landscaping needs.”
Best Hardscape Contractors
Pavers and stone all look good on install day. What separates a good hardscape contractor in Cedar Hills is what goes under them. This is bench ground on an old Lake Bonneville shoreline, and it can change inside a single backyard. A patio, wall or court has to be built for the ground right under it, not for some typical lot elsewhere in the valley.
Winters here run long. PlantMaps puts the first fall frost in mid-October and the last spring frost in late April, and every freeze in between tests the base. Water that gets under a patio freezes, lifts and drops. Good contractors compact in layers, slope every surface to drain and give the water a way out.
Permits are part of hardscape here too. Patios, pergolas, hot tubs and retaining walls of any height need an installation permit, and walls over 4 feet need a stamped design from a professional engineer. Use this page to sort out which contractors already know that, and which ones plan to learn it on your project.
What to look for
Ask how deep they dig, what goes back in and how they compact it. You want to hear about road base placed in thin lifts and compacted, with soft spots dug out. The city's own standard calls for 95 percent compaction under driveways and sidewalks.
Every patio sheds water. Ask which way it slopes, where the downspouts go and what happens at the low edge. On a bench lot the answer should keep water away from the house and off the yard below yours.
For any retaining wall, ask for the height, the drainage behind it and who handles the permit. Walls over 4 feet should come with a licensed engineer's design. A contractor who prices a tall wall without one is cutting a corner you will own.
Fire pits, outdoor kitchens and lights need lines run before the base goes in. Ask when they plan those runs. A good contractor lays sleeves under the patio so a line can be added later without cutting up the pavers.
What goes wrong in Cedar Hills
Skimping on base saves the contractor a few hours. On bench ground with this many freeze nights, it shows up as wavy pavers and sunken edges within a couple of winters. Fixing it means pulling the pavers and starting over.
Paver edges with nothing holding them spread out under foot traffic and frost. The joints open, the sand washes out and weeds move in. A solid edge restraint pinned into the base costs little and holds the whole patio together.
A seat wall, grill island or fire pit built across the 5 foot easement most lots carry can get torn out if the city needs to reach a line, and the owner may pay to put it back. Good contractors check before they lay out the patio.
Why Cedar Hills picks J&H
What homeowners say
"We had a really big project (full lot project) and a crazy timeline, and Jackson and his team were awesome. They are very efficient, work hard to get things done quick, and the quality of their work is top-notch. Great company. Great guys. I would highly recommend them for any landscaping needs."
"Jackson and his crew did a phenomenal job on our back yard. I had a vision and they brought it to life. We had them do a retaining wall, grading, underground trampoline, sprinkler system, and sod. They met deadlines, communication was on point, and the whole crew was friendly.…"
"…The job was completed quickly without sacrificing quality, and the results exceeded our expectations. We would absolutely hire this team again and recommend them to anyone looking for landscaping help."
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