We design and build the hard surfaces that turn a backyard into the place everyone ends up — paver and concrete patios, pool decks and surrounds, retaining walls, fire features, and complete pool projects managed under one Class A license from excavation to final barrier inspection.
What we build
- Pool projects — managed end to end as your general contractor: excavation, specialist pool subcontractors, decking, fencing, and every inspection along the way
- Pool decks and surrounds — travertine, pavers, or broom-finished concrete, sloped and drained so water sheds away from the shell
- Paver patios — bluestone, concrete pavers, or flagstone over a properly compacted base; see our paver vs. concrete patio guide for the tradeoffs
- Concrete patios — broom, stamped, or exposed-aggregate finishes with control joints planned, not improvised
- Retaining walls and steps — segmental block or natural stone, engineered for the slope they hold back
- Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces — wood or gas, built to clearance requirements
- Outdoor kitchens and bars — often paired with a deck or screened porch so the whole space works together
Our design-build process
As a Virginia Class A licensed design-build contractor (license #2705188410), we handle the project from first sketch through final inspection — one team, start to finish.
Every project starts with a site visit: how the yard drains, where the sun sits in July, what the grade is doing, and how the new space connects to the house. From there we produce drawings, pull the permits, and coordinate every trade. Pool projects in Virginia involve more inspections than almost any other residential job — electrical bonding, barrier requirements, final safety — and we manage all of them. Reach out to schedule a site visit before we quote anything.
Building for Virginia’s clay and summer storms
Central Virginia clay holds water, and water is what ruins patios and pool decks. A paver patio is only as good as the base beneath it — we excavate to stable soil, compact stone base in lifts, and slope every finished surface away from the house and the pool. Freeze-thaw cycles will heave a patio laid over soft or poorly drained base within a few winters; getting the base right is most of the job, and it’s the part you never see.
Around pools, drainage does double duty: deck surfaces need to shed stormwater and splash-out away from the shell and the equipment pad. We plan that from the first drawing, not after the first storm.
Fencing, barriers, and code
Virginia’s building code requires a barrier around residential pools — at minimum a 48-inch fence with self-closing, self-latching gates, with specific rules about latch height and climbability. It’s inspected, and it’s where DIY pool projects most often get stuck. We build the barrier into the design from day one so the fence looks like part of the landscape, not an afterthought bolted on to pass inspection.
Common questions
Do I need a permit for a patio in the Richmond area? A patio at grade usually doesn’t require a building permit, but retaining walls above certain heights, gas lines to fire features, and anything structural typically do. Pools always require permits and multiple inspections. We confirm requirements with your jurisdiction and pull everything that’s needed.
Paver patio or concrete — which should I choose? Pavers cost more up front but repair invisibly and handle clay-soil movement better; concrete is more affordable and clean-lined but cracks are forever. Our paver vs. concrete comparison walks through cost, look, and longevity in detail.
Can you handle the whole pool project, or just the deck? Both. We act as the general contractor for complete pool projects — coordinating the pool specialist, excavation, electrical, decking, and fencing under one contract — or we build the deck, patio, and outdoor living around a pool you already have.
When is the best time to start? Design and permitting in late fall or winter puts you first in line for spring construction — and in the water by summer. Our guide to timing an outdoor project covers how the calendar affects lead times.