So, you’ve decided to remodel your backyard and get some new pool pavers, but right from the get-go, you run into a snag – calculating the budget. This is always the most frustrating step, as you have to factor in many things – surface area, paver type, labor cost, the whole shebang. Lucky for you, you’ve come to the right place to learn how to calculate the pool pavers cost for your project.
Now, there are two ways you can go about this – go full weekend-warrior and make this a personal project, or hire an expert to do it for you. Of course, unless you earn a living installing pool pavers yourself, hiring an expert will be the safer and cheaper bet, especially in the long run.
If you’re doing it all by yourself, keep in mind that you’re not paying just for the pavers, but also for the base (about 4-inch thick layer of gravel), bedding (1-inch layer of coarse sand), paver joints (best use polymeric sand), as well as edge border (whatever you like) and surface sealant. Sounds intimidating, doesn’t it?
That’s why hiring an expert is a better option – not only do they actually know how to do it, but they’ll also be able to give you a rough estimate on how much it’ll cost. So, here’s your first actual step – get a couple of estimates or more (no need to go above five). These should be free, but be prepared to stand through the entire pitch.
On a similar note, you should wait for the fall (or early winter) to get a contractor (unless you’re in a hurry). This is typically the time when they offer the most competitive discounts, and you could really save a decent amount of money if you’re just patient enough. For example, for about 200 sq. ft. (finished area), on a good day, you’ll have to allocate about a $1,000 for the labor if you’re getting a licensed contractor. Also, you’ll need about 10 per cent of that amount for tools and supplies. That’s the low estimate, while the high one adds another $300 on top of that.
Of course, the estimates may vary greatly between contractors, due to factors such as overheads, supplier costs, labor costs, and even available competition (the more contractors there are in your area, the better luck you’ll have). Your final choice notwithstanding, the job should take about 20 hours for 200ish sq. ft. of a moderately sloped terrain and medium firm soil.
Unless your preferred contractor has a regular (and trusted) supplier, you’re going to have to do all the legwork. Make sure you check out all the supply houses in your area (at least the major ones) and try to negotiate a discount for buying in bulk. It may just so happen that you won’t be able to find your preferred pavers, or at least not at the price you’d want. Be ready to make allowances and decide on your second best choice (or even fifth) beforehand. If you decide on economy grade material, you should allocate about a $1,000 at the least, and half as much again at the most. Counting the previously mentioned labor costs and tools, the total cost should be anywhere between $2,000 on a good day and $3,000 on a bad one.
Final words of wisdom – always factor in up to 15 per cent of your initial calculations for the what-ifs. Difficult lies and configurations, broken pavers, minor tweaks you might decide you want only after the job is started – these are all things that might and will happen, so you should have a bit of maneuvering room within your budget. Also, some home styles will require certain deck designs to complement said styles – be sure to find the best type of decking before starting the project. And if it costs more, then it costs more, but at least you won’t have to tear everything down and start all over once you’ve realized you made a mistake.
