I'm considering having a 35x20 paver patio installed and received a quote of $15,000. I'm not a huge DIY person, but I wonder how others have handled the mental hurdle of spending so much on a project that seems like it could be tackled on my own. For those who have hired professionals for hardscaping, how did you convince yourself that it was worth the money?
3 Answers
Doing hardscaping is way more work than you might think! I started a similar project but quickly realized that the sheer manual labor of excavation, dealing with debris and setup is intense. Pros come with the right gear and experience, ensuring everything is done right and looks good. Trust me, you’ll be sore just from the prep work! You might think you can do it yourself, but consider how much time and effort you'd spend before getting those perfect results.
As a homeowner, I see the difference in pro-installed vs DIY patios all the time. The pros know all the techniques for a perfect finish! I'm postponing my landscaping until I feel more ready to invest, but that $15k quote doesn’t seem too far off for the amount of work involved. It’s a luxury when it’s not a necessity, so it’s tougher to justify spending that much.
I love DIY projects, but if it's something that will be part of my everyday view, I usually hire it out. The value of my time is important too! I'd rather avoid dragging out a project for weeks on end and not finishing it as nicely as a pro could. Plus, think about the physical toll – I could end up with back pain just from the labor alone!
Totally agree! I once thought I'd DIY a project, but after some intense shoulder pain, I realized that spending a bit more for a professional made sense.
Absolutely! We went for professionals due to the amount of excavation involved. They hit rocks and other hidden debris that slowed us down hugely. It would have been a nightmare if we'd tried to do it ourselves!