Hiring a contractor
How to Choose a Paver Contractor
Check the license first: paver jobs of $1,000 or more need a CSLB-licensed contractor, usually C-27, C-29 or C-8 (CSLB). Then compare bids line by line on base depth, compaction, edge restraint and demolition. The price difference between bids is usually hiding in the base.
Call to talk through your project, or send the details and a local paver installer can follow up.
Step 1: the license
| Classification | Typical paver work |
|---|---|
| C-27 Landscaping | Patios, walkways and hardscape as part of landscape projects |
| C-29 Masonry | Masonry units including pavers, brick and stone |
| C-8 Concrete | Concrete work, including flatwork removal and replacement |
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 licenseStep 2: the bid checklist
Ask every bidder to spell these out in writing so you are comparing the same job:
- Base depth after compaction (at least 4 in for patios, 6 in for driveways per ICPI) and the base material
- Compaction: equipment and how many lifts
- Geotextile over clay or wet soil, if specified
- Edge restraint type on every open edge
- Demolition and haul-off of old concrete or pavers, including dump fees
- Drainage: slope direction and any drains or permeable sections
- Paver product: brand, size, color, thickness (60 mm for driveways) and pattern
- Joint sand type (regular or polymeric) and sealing, if included
- Encroachment permit if the driveway approach or sidewalk changes
- Warranty terms on settling and workmanship
- Deposit and payment schedule tied to progress
- Start date and duration
Red flags
- A bid that gives no base depth, or 2–3 in under a driveway
- No plate compaction of the base, or compacting it all in one thick lift
- Sand-only base under a driveway
- No edge restraint, or "the soil holds it"
- Cash-only, large up-front payment or pressure to sign today
- License number missing from the contract or not matching CSLB records
CSLB has guidance on what a home improvement contract must include, including down-payment limits (CSLB).
Questions worth asking on the site visit
- Where will the water go when it rains?
- What do you do if you find soft or wet soil when the old slab comes out?
- How will you protect the lawn, irrigation and the driveway approach?
- Who is on site day to day, and who do I call?
Want an installer to look at it? Request a Quote or (925) 291-4500
Related: paver cost · installation guide · contact
Sources for this page
- CSLB — Check a License
- CSLB — C-27 Landscaping Contractor
- CSLB — C-29 Masonry Contractor
- CSLB — C-8 Concrete Contractor
- CSLB — AB 2622 implementation bulletin ($1,000 minor-work threshold)
- CSLB — Home Improvement Contracts
- ICPI / CMHA Tech Spec 2 — Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements
Costs are published third-party ranges (national unless labeled Bay Area). Real quotes can land below or above them.
FAQ
Hiring questions
Does a paver contractor need a license in California?
Yes, for jobs of $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials; CSLB raised that minor-work threshold from $500 to $1,000 under AB 2622 (CSLB bulletin). Paver work is usually done under a C-27 Landscaping, C-29 Masonry or C-8 Concrete license.
How do I check a contractor's license?
Use CSLB's license lookup with the license number or business name. Check that the license is active, the classification fits the work, and workers' compensation coverage is on file if they have employees.
Design-build or installer?
Design-build firms draw the layout, choose materials and install. Installers price a design you bring them. If you know the pattern and size, an installer is often less expensive; for multi-level yards, steps and lighting, a design-build firm can be worth it.
Next step
Planning a paver project?
Share the size, what is there now and your timing. A local installer can walk the site and price it properly.