Herringbone
Pavers lock into each other in two directions. ICPI recommends 45° or 90° herringbone for street applications because it gives the most load-bearing support, which is why it is the default for driveways.
- Driveway
- Patio
- Pool deck
Patios · Driveways · Pool decks · Permeable
Pavers in Walnut Creek, CA
Paver installs typically run $10–$30+ per square foot nationally, and Bay Area driveway jobs often land at $20–$30+ (HomeGuide; Mr. Pavers). In Walnut Creek, patios and driveways on private property don't need a building permit, but a new driveway approach needs an encroachment permit.
Choose the pattern, understand the base under it and set a realistic budget. Then share your project and a local paver installer can measure it and quote it.
- Cited cost ranges
- ICPI base standards
- EBMUD rebate rules
Projects
Start with the surface you need
Each project has its own base depth, drainage questions and price drivers. Start with the one that matches your yard.
Paver patios
Layout, materials from concrete to flagstone, low steps and seat walls, and drainage away from the house.
Plan a patioPaver driveways
A 6-inch base, driveway-rated units, removing the old slab and the encroachment permit for the approach.
Plan a drivewayPool deck pavers
Cooler, grippier surfaces, the coping edge and slopes that send water away from the pool.
Plan a pool deckPermeable pavers
Rain soaks through. Required for patios in EBMUD's lawn-conversion rebate, and useful under C.3 runoff rules.
How they workRepair & sealing
Sunken spots, root lift, weeds and washed-out joints: lift, re-base, reset, re-sand, then seal if it makes sense.
Fix paversLaying patterns
Pick a pattern for where it will live
The pattern is not just looks. It decides how well the field resists tires turning on it, how many cuts the installer makes at the edges, and how busy a large area feels.
Running bond
Rows offset by half a paver, like a brick wall laid flat. Simple, calm and quick to install. Laid across the direction of travel it is fine for paths and patios; on a driveway, herringbone is the safer choice.
- Driveway
- Patio
- Walkway
Basketweave
Pairs of pavers alternate direction to form squares. A traditional look for clay brick around older ranch homes and courtyards. Joints line up, so it interlocks less than herringbone under cars.
- Driveway
- Patio
- Pool deck
Ashlar / multi-size
Three or more sizes laid in a repeating "random" module, the usual choice for travertine and stone-look pavers. It reads as natural stone around pools and dining areas and hides small color shifts.
- Driveway
- Patio
- Pool deck
Fit ratings are planning guidance; ICPI's herringbone recommendation is from Tech Spec 2. Your installer may suggest otherwise for a specific product.
Materials
Concrete, clay, stone or permeable?
Installed prices below are national ranges. Bay Area quotes often run higher, and the base underneath costs about the same whichever surface you choose.
Concrete pavers
$8–$15+ /sq ft
Installed, national (HomeGuide)
- Widest choice of colors, sizes and textures
- Driveway-rated 60 mm (2⅜ in) units
- Single pavers lift out for repairs
Clay brick
$10–$17+ /sq ft
Installed, national (HomeGuide)
- Color is fired through, so it fades slowly
- Classic with basketweave and running bond
- Fewer sizes than concrete pavers
Natural stone
$13–$45+ /sq ft
Travertine installed (HomeGuide); dry-laid flagstone $15–$32+ (HomeGuide)
- Travertine and flagstone for patios and pool decks
- Tumbled travertine stays grippy when wet
- Most variable pricing of any option
Permeable pavers
$8–$30+ /sq ft
Installed, national (HomeGuide)
- Wide joints and an open-graded stone base
- Rain soaks in instead of running off
- Fits EBMUD's lawn-conversion rules
Porcelain pavers
$12–$20+ /sq ft
Installed, national (HomeGuide)
- Thin, dense, stain-resistant slabs
- Clean modern look on patios
- Usually set on pedestals or a rigid base; ask about driveway use
Cost
What a paver job costs here
Most paver patios run $10–$17+ per square foot installed nationally (HomeGuide); driveways $10–$30+, and a Bay Area contractor publishes $20–$30+ for driveways (Mr. Pavers).
The biggest swings come from what has to come out first (an old slab adds $2–$6+ per sq ft for removal), slope and steps, access for equipment, how many cuts the pattern needs and the material. Quotes can land below or above these ranges.
See the full cost guide| Example | Size | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 12×12 patio | 144 sq ft | $1,440–$2,450+ |
| 20×20 patio | 400 sq ft | $4,000–$6,800+ |
| Two-car driveway | 24×24 ft | $5,700–$17,200+ |
| Driveway, Bay Area rate | 600 sq ft | $12,000–$18,000+ |
How it's built
Pavers are only as good as the base under them
Most sinking, rocking and rutting traces back to a thin or poorly compacted base. This is what a correct section looks like.
Step-by-step: how pavers should be installed · What to ask an installer about the base
Local rules
Three rules worth knowing before you start
- No permit for private flatwork in Walnut Creek"Concrete flatwork on private property does not require a permit. You can create a patio, replace a driveway, or form a path without a permit." — City of Walnut Creek
- The driveway approach is differentReplacing the driveway approach or the sidewalk in front of your property requires an Encroachment Permit from the city. Danville and the County have their own versions. Driveway details
- EBMUD's rebate needs permeable patiosIf you are replacing lawn with EBMUD's rebate, new paths and patios must be permeable (for example, pavers set in sand); concrete or mortared patios are not allowed. Rebate details
Areas
Walnut Creek and the towns around it
Pages for each town cover its own permits, water district and terrain.
Check any installer before you sign. Paver work is usually done under a C-27 Landscaping, C-29 Masonry or C-8 Concrete license. Look up the license number, its status and its workers' comp record at the Contractors State License Board.
Check a licenseFAQ
Questions homeowners ask
How much does a 20×20 paver patio cost?
A 20×20 patio is 400 sq ft. At HomeGuide's national patio range of $10–$17+ per sq ft installed, that is about $4,000–$6,800+. Bay Area labor, removing an old slab, steps or a premium material can push a Walnut Creek job above that range. See the cost guide for the math at other sizes.
Is it cheaper to lay concrete or pavers?
Concrete is usually cheaper up front: HomeGuide puts poured concrete at $4–$15+ per sq ft against $10–$30+ for pavers. Pavers cost more to install but can be lifted and relaid in one spot when something settles, while concrete cracks are patched or the slab is replaced. Full comparison.
How much do pavers cost for 1,000 sq ft?
At $10–$30+ per sq ft (HomeGuide, national), 1,000 sq ft works out to about $10,000–$30,000+. A Bay Area paver contractor publishes $20–$30+ per sq ft for driveways, which would be $20,000–$30,000+ for the same area. Demolition, slope and access move it from there.
Do I need a permit for a paver patio or driveway in Walnut Creek?
The City of Walnut Creek says concrete flatwork on private property does not require a permit: "You can create a patio, replace a driveway, or form a path without a permit." Replacing the driveway approach or the sidewalk in front of your property does require an Encroachment Permit. (City FAQ)
Can pavers go on top of my old concrete?
Sometimes, for a patio with a sound, well-drained slab, using a thin bedding layer and a plan for where water goes. Cracked or heaving slabs, and anything that will carry cars, are usually removed so the pavers sit on a proper compacted base. Raising the surface can also bring it too close to door thresholds. How a base is built.
Next step
Ready to price your pavers?
Tell us the project, rough size and what is there now. A local installer can measure, suggest a pattern and quote it.