01 · Paver patios
Layouts that fit how you live outside
Dining, lounging, paths and steps — sized from furniture and walking room, not from a template.
Plan your patioThe Faribault Paver Guide
Plan a Paver Patio That Makes Sense for Minnesota.
Understand concrete paver materials, site preparation, drainage and budget before you compare installation proposals in Faribault and nearby towns.
Serving Faribault, Northfield, Owatonna, Dundas, Kenyon, Medford and Waseca.
Choose your project
Start with what you are building
02 · Installation
What goes underneath decides how it ages
Subgrade, base, bedding, edges and drainage — and the questions to ask about each.
Read the installation guide
03 · Concrete pavers
Finish, thickness and pattern, matched to use
How units differ for patios, walks and drives, and what to ask a supplier.
Compare paver options
Below the pattern
Built for the way Minnesota weather behaves
Water expands as it freezes. Whether a patio stays flat depends less on the paver you pick than on three things you will not see once it is finished.
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What is underneath
Cause Soft subgrade left in place, or a base too thin for the soil.
Result Settling and low spots after a few freeze–thaw seasons.
Ask “What did you find when you dug, and why this base thickness?”
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Where water goes
Cause A surface pitched toward the house or into a low corner.
Result Ponding, winter ice and moisture at siding and doors.
Ask “Where will the water go? Can you show me the grading plan?”
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What holds the edge
Cause A missing or loosely anchored edge restraint; joints washing out.
Result Pavers creep outward, joints open and weeds move in.
Ask “Which restraint, anchored how, and which joint material?”
42 inches is a footing depth, not a patio base. Minnesota's code figure for most of southern Minnesota applies to footings (Code Pass, Minn. R. 1303.1600); base thickness depends on soil, drainage and use.
See every layer and what to askMaterial decision
Choose the surface before you choose the installer
The surface decides how a patio looks, how it is repaired and roughly where it sits in a budget. There is no blanket winner — each trades upfront cost against repair and appearance.
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Interlocking units
Concrete pavers
- How it looks
- Widest choice of shapes, colors and laying patterns
- When ground moves
- Units can shift and be lifted and reset
- Repairs
- Relay the affected area; matching units help
- Upfront cost
- Higher than a basic slab
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Continuous slab
Poured concrete
- How it looks
- Plain; stamping and color add options and cost
- When ground moves
- More likely to crack
- Repairs
- Patches and replacements usually show
- Upfront cost
- Usually lowest for a basic slab
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Natural material
Natural stone
- How it looks
- Unique texture and variation by stone type
- When ground moves
- Depends on the stone and how it is set
- Repairs
- Relaying is possible; depends on the setting method
- Upfront cost
- Usually highest of the three
General trade comparison. One national guide lists installed ranges of $8–$16 per sq. ft. for concrete pavers and $12–$30 for natural stone (HomeServe, checked Oct. 25, 2026). Compare concrete paver options
Budget
What really changes the price?
Square footage is only the start. Six things move a quote more than anything else — and they are exactly where two proposals for the "same" patio tend to differ.
Read the full cost guide- Size and layoutSmall patios carry fixed costs; curves and borders add cutting.
- Excavation and baseRemoving an old surface, digging and the base your soil needs.
- DrainageGrading the surface so water leaves the house — sometimes extra work.
- MaterialPaver type, finish, thickness and border units.
- AccessNarrow side yards and slopes slow equipment and labor.
- Edging and patternRestraint type, plus herringbone or mosaic cutting time.
Published installed ranges per sq. ft. — national and Midwest sources, not Faribault prices
- $8–$16HomeServeNational consumer guide, 2026 · concrete pavers
- $15–$352 Men ConcreteContractor guide, 2025 · all paver types
- $30–$40Elevate OutdoorMidwest & Northeast contractor, May 2026
Before you hire
Know what to ask
Ask every contractor the same six questions, and get the answers in the written proposal.
Base preparation
What they observed about your soil and water, and the base type and thickness they propose.
Drainage and grading
Where water will go, and how the finished height meets door thresholds and steps.
Edge restraint
Which restraint is used and how it is anchored into the base.
Scope
Removal of the old surface, excavation, hauling and disposal — included or extra?
Cleanup and access
How equipment reaches the yard, and who repairs lawn or landscaping damage.
Warranty and follow-up
What the contractor's written terms cover if settling or joint loss appears later.
More projects
Walkways, driveways and repairs
- Paver walkwaysRoutes, width, steps and winter traction for front entries and garden paths.
- Paver drivewaysThicker units, deeper bases and herringbone patterns built for cars and plows.
- Repair & restorationSunken, rocking or weedy pavers: find the cause, then choose a spot repair or rebuild.
Homeowner guides
- Pavers vs. poured concreteCost, cracking, repair and upkeep side by side.
- Minnesota base & drainageWhy frost, clay and water decide how a patio ages.
- Choosing a paver contractorChecks, technical questions and red flags.
- Pavers over concreteWhen covering an old slab works, and when it should go.
- Fall planning for a spring patioHow the Minnesota season runs and what to do when.
- Winter care & de-icingSnow removal and what sources say about salt.
- Patterns & designsRunning bond, herringbone and borders compared.
- Sealing & maintenanceA care calendar, cleaning and whether to seal.
- Permeable paversHow they drain, and what Minnesota winters demand.
Local context
Written for Faribault and six nearby communities
Primary focus Faribault
Also covered Northfield · Owatonna · Dundas · Kenyon · Medford · Waseca
Project calls are taken for Faribault and all six nearby communities. Mention your address and the work you have in mind when you call.
See community detailsHow it works
From plan to proposal
- Plan your project. Settle the use, layout and surface with the guides, and note your questions.
- Call (877) 405-7315. Talk through your patio or paver installation with a local paver professional.
- Get a written proposal. The contractor assesses your site, sets the price and does the work under their own agreement with you.
Ready to Start Your Paver Project?
Call (877) 405-7315 to discuss your patio or paver installation needs.
Two common questions
Pavers or poured concrete: which handles a Minnesota winter better?
Neither is failure-proof. Interlocking pavers can shift slightly with frost and be lifted and reset, while a rigid slab is more likely to crack and its repairs usually show. Either surface depends on the base and drainage under it; see how concrete pavers compare.
Do I need a permit for a patio in Faribault?
Our research did not find a Faribault or Rice County permit rule for patios, so we cannot say either way. Check with the City of Faribault before work starts, and confirm in writing whether your contractor handles any permit.