East Bench (Holladay, Millcreek, Cottonwood Heights): Clay-heavy soils, mature tree canopies, established landscapes that need renovation rather than starting from scratch. Irrigation systems are often 20–30 years old and underperforming. Retaining walls are common on the hillside lots transitioning from flat valley to canyon terrain.

South Valley (Sandy, Draper, South Jordan, Herriman, Riverton, Bluffdale): Mix of new construction and 1980s–2000s builds. Lot sizes are larger than the urban core. Outdoor living investment is high in this market — patios, outdoor kitchens, and fire features are among the most common project types. Newer construction often has compacted soil and minimal landscaping from the builder.

Urban Core (Salt Lake City, Murray, West Jordan): Smaller lots, more urban design constraints, strong demand for space-efficient outdoor design. Rooftop decks and elevated outdoor spaces are more common here than anywhere else in the county. Historic properties in Federal Heights and Avenues neighborhoods require sensitivity to neighborhood character.

With this much variety under one county designation, the most important thing we do before any Landscape Design project in Salt Lake County is site assessment — understanding the specific soils, drainage, existing vegetation, HOA restrictions, and intended use of the space. A landscape design that works perfectly in Draper may be completely wrong for a Federal Heights hillside lot. We don't apply county-wide assumptions when the conditions are this varied. Every Salt Lake County project starts with an on-site evaluation, and the design follows from what the site actually needs.

• Site measurement and design — We measure the space, review grade and drainage, and help you select pattern, color, and border options.
• Excavation — 8–12 inches of excavation depending on application (more for driveways, less for walkways). All material hauled off-site.
• Base installation — Compacted road base in 3–4 inch lifts, verified with a plate compactor. The base is the most important part of any paver job.
• Edge restraints — Aluminum or plastic edge restraint spiked into the base keeps the field from spreading. Required on all four sides.
• Sand bedding layer — One inch of coarse bedding sand screeded perfectly level. Pavers are set into this layer.
• Paver installation — Hand-laid to pattern, cut to fit at borders, compacted into the sand bed with a plate compactor and rubber pad.
• Polymeric sand — Joint sand swept in and activated with water. Locks joints, resists weeds and ants, and stabilizes the surface.
• Sealer (optional) — Penetrating or film-forming sealer enhances color and protects against staining. Recommended every 3–5 years.

The paver market offers more options than most homeowners expect — and the right choice depends on application, budget, and design goals.

Concrete pavers (Belgard, Techo-Bloc, EP Henry) are the most common choice in the Salt Lake Valley. They are manufactured to tight tolerances, available in hundreds of colors and textures, and hold up well through Utah's UV exposure and freeze-thaw cycles. Belgard and Techo-Bloc both offer premium large-format options for a more modern look.

Travertine stays cooler underfoot than concrete in direct sun — a meaningful advantage around pools. It requires sealing in Utah's climate to prevent mineral deposits and freeze-thaw damage to the naturally porous surface.

Porcelain pavers are the most low-maintenance option — no sealing required, virtually no staining, and a consistent finish. They require a more precise installation (tighter tolerances than concrete pavers) and a higher material budget, but hold their appearance well over time.

Natural flagstone (sandstone, slate, quartzite) gives each project a handmade character. No two pieces are identical. Base preparation is equally important — natural stone is not more forgiving of a poor base than concrete pavers.

Pattern choice affects how a space feels as much as what material you use. A few patterns and where they work:

Running bond (bricks offset like a standard wall) is the most common and works well everywhere. Clean, modern, directional — the direction of the joint lines can make a narrow space feel wider or a short space feel longer.

Herringbone is the strongest pattern for driveways. The 45° or 90° interlocking layout distributes load across more joint lines, which is why it was used for thousands of years in European cobblestone streets. If you have a paver driveway, herringbone is the pattern we recommend.

Basketweave has a classic, traditional look. It reads best in wider spaces — in a narrow walkway it can feel busy.

Soldier course border is not a full pattern — it is a single row of pavers laid perpendicular to the main field, used as an edge treatment. It defines the boundary of the paved area and elevates the overall installation significantly. We recommend a soldier course border on virtually every patio and driveway project.

Paver patios, driveways, and walkways rarely exist in isolation on the properties we build in Salt Lake County. They connect to retaining walls that manage grade change, steps that transition between levels, seating walls that define outdoor rooms, and drainage systems that carry water away from the foundation and finished surfaces. When these elements are designed and built together under one contract, the grade, drainage, and visual flow are coordinated from the start — not retrofitted around each other.

Pitt Landscape & Construction has completed 73 paver installation projects across the Salt Lake Valley representing over $1 million in installed paver work. Our licensed general contractor status covers the full scope — excavation, base preparation, paver installation, retaining structures, and surrounding softscape — with a single point of accountability. Contact us to schedule a site visit for your Salt Lake County paver project.