Orem, Utah
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Paver patios, concrete, walks and walls in Orem sit on bench clay and next to old shade trees. Here is how to judge a contractor before the first stone.
“The craftsmanship of the pavers is absolutely stunning, every detail meticulously executed, transforming our outdoor space into a work of art.”
“they will definitely be my go to landscaper for many years!”
Best Hardscape Contractors
A lot of Orem homeowners add hardscape for two reasons at once. They want a better place to sit outside, and they want less lawn to water with culinary water. Both are good reasons. Neither one matters if the patio lifts and rocks after a couple of freezes, and on Orem clay that is a real risk.
The ground here is heavy Lake Bonneville clay on the old Provo Bench. It holds water, swells when it freezes and settles when it thaws. Add an older yard with mature trees, an old sprinkler grid and a few decades of fill, and the hidden part of a hardscape job turns into most of the work.
This guide covers what a good Orem hardscape bid should spell out, the corner-cutting that leads to sunken pavers and leaning walls, and questions to ask at the walk-through. None of it needs a contractor's vocabulary. If a bidder cannot explain the base in plain words, that tells you something.
What to look for
Ask how deep they dig below the finished surface and what goes back in. On Orem clay a good patio has fabric over the native soil and compacted road base on top, packed in layers. Get those details in writing so you can compare bids on the base, not just the stone.
If your patio replaces grass, there is sprinkler pipe under it. Ask who caps those lines and moves the heads that are left. Old culinary lines leaking under new pavers soften the base and run up your bill, and you may not notice for months.
Mature trees in Sharon, Cascade and other older areas have big roots near the surface. Ask how close the bidder plans to dig to each trunk and whether the patio layout bends around the roots. A good contractor will move a patio edge before cutting a major root.
Orem requires a building permit for any retaining wall 4 feet or taller, measured from grade. Ask each bidder how tall the wall will stand and whether they handle the permit with Orem Building Safety. Lower walls still need drain rock and a pipe behind them.
What goes wrong in Orem
The easiest way to lower a patio price is to dig less. A few inches of sand on scraped Orem clay looks the same on finish day as a full base. The difference arrives after the first hard winter, when pavers start rocking and the edge pulls away from the lawn.
A patio has to slope away from the foundation. We still see Orem patios pitched flat or back toward the house, so every storm and every sprinkler cycle puts water against the basement wall. On slow-draining clay, that water has nowhere else to go.
On the east side of Orem toward Provo Canyon, evening gusts come down out of the canyon. A fire pit set wherever there happens to be room can blow smoke and sparks at the house or the neighbor's fence. A good contractor checks the wind before picking the spot.
Why Orem 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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