Pavers and hardscaping
Pavers in Tampa: Patios, Driveways, Walkways and Pool Decks
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Driveways, patios, walkways and pool decks in pavers or travertine, from the compacted base to the permit.
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Four things keep pavers in Tampa level and locked together: a compacted base, edge restraints, a slope that sheds rain, and joints filled with sand. Medscapes installs and seals paver driveways, patios, walkways and pool decks across Tampa Bay, plus travertine, permeable pavers, seat walls, retaining walls and fire pits. Doug Wilson writes every quote himself, and the estimate is free and on site.
- Base under a patio
- 4 inches or more on well-drained soil (CMHA guideline)
- Base under a driveway
- 6 inches or more on well-drained soil (CMHA guideline)
- Before digging
- Sunshine 811 notice, at least 2 full business days ahead
- Rainy season
- June through September, about 7.8 inches of rain a month
How deep should the base under pavers be?
Ask every paver contractor first: how thick is the compacted base? The Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes Association (CMHA) says thickness depends on traffic, soil type, subgrade drainage and moisture, and climate, and it sets a floor for interlocking concrete pavers on well-drained soil. Over weak or saturated soil it recommends a base stabilized with asphalt or cement.
| Job | Base, at least | Settle first |
|---|---|---|
| Patio, walkway or other pedestrian area | 4 inches | Which way the surface falls |
| Residential driveway | 6 inches | Which city or county driveway permit applies |
| Permeable walkway or patio | 6 inches of open-graded stone | A system that drains within 24 to 72 hours |
Sources: CMHA PAV-TEC-002, interlocking pavements.
Five steps of a paver build, from soil to joint sand
CMHA's construction bulletin lists these steps in this order. It also lists an optional fabric layer (geotextile) ahead of the base.
Soil subgrade
Standing water comes out first. Density readings must reach at least 98 percent of standard Proctor density (the ASTM D698 compaction standard), which limits settlement.
Compacted base
Aggregate goes in layers (lifts) of 4 to 6 inches, each compacted to the same 98 percent, and the finished surface varies by no more than 3/8 inch under a 10-foot straightedge.
Edge restraint
Plastic, aluminum, precast or poured concrete runs the perimeter. Plastic and aluminum edging is spiked into the compacted base, never into soil, and no restraint sits on the bedding sand.
Bedding sand
About 1 inch of concrete sand, smoothed with a straight board. It cannot hide an uneven base; stone dust and masonry sand do not qualify.
Pavers and joints
Pavers 2 3/8 inches thick suit patios and driveways. Joints of 1/16 to 3/16 inch take dry sand, compacted until full.
Slope, edges and drainage: where the rain goes
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) puts the rainy season at June through September: rainfall averages about 7.8 inches a month and makes up about 60 percent of the year's rain. A paver surface has to shed that water.
Slope
CMHA sets surface slopes at 1.5 percent or more, which is about 1.8 inches of fall across 10 feet.
Edges
Restraints along the whole perimeter keep the units interlocked. Soil backfill never qualifies, nor do the flat strips that border planting beds, and timber is not recommended because it warps and rots.
Below the pavers
In clay or other slow-draining soil under vehicle traffic, CMHA recommends a perforated pipe along the perimeter, set in open-graded (washed) stone, wrapped in a fabric layer (geotextile) and sloped to an outlet.
Sources: SWFWMD rainfall cycle; CMHA PAV-TEC-002, interlocking pavements; CMHA PAV-TEC-003, edge restraints.
After the last paver: joint sand, sealer and the white haze
Joint filler and surface coating are separate choices. Medscapes seals pavers.
- Joint sand stabilizer
- A liquid or dry product that helps hold joint sand against running water, wind, hard cleaning and the intrusion of organic matter. CMHA says many interlocking concrete pavements do not need it.
- Polymeric sand
- UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County describes it as fine sand mixed with polymers and binding agents. It holds pavers in place but is not porous, which cuts against Florida-Friendly Landscaping principle 8, Reduce Stormwater Runoff.
- Sealer
- A liquid over the whole surface to resist stains, oil, dirt and water. Most sealers darken or enrich the color, and sealing adds no structural strength.
- Efflorescence
- A whitish powder that can show within months and may peak as early as 60 days after installation. CMHA says it does not affect structural performance or durability; a buffered cleaner removes it.
- The dry window
- Sealer waits until dirt, oil stains and efflorescence are gone and the surface and joints have stayed dry for at least 24 hours. June to September rain makes dry stretches harder to find.
Sources: CMHA PAV-TEC-005, cleaning and sealing; UF/IFAS Hillsborough, polymeric sand (May 2024).
Permeable pavers in Florida: when rain soaks through and when it clogs
Medscapes installs permeable pavers. They use open-graded stone in the joints, the bedding and a storage base: washed stone with the fine particles removed, so nothing clogs the voids. CMHA says runoff reduction can reach 100 percent, depending on the design and the soil. UF/IFAS Extension's 2019 guide lists these Florida considerations:
- Light-duty traffic suits them; frequent turning can shift, crack or spall the surface.
- Runoff from landscaped areas should not drain onto them, because sediment clogs the surface.
- The system should drain completely within 24 to 72 hours, so poorly drained soil is a problem.
- The seasonal high water table should sit at least 2 feet below the bottom of the system.
Sources: CMHA PAV-TEC-018, permeable pavements; UF/IFAS AE530, permeable pavement.
Travertine: care and what to ask the supplier
Medscapes installs paver pool decks and travertine. Natural Stone Institute describes travertine as a limestone with a calcium carbonate base that mild acids can alter.
- Lemon, vinegar and other acids can dull or etch it, so clean with mild non-acidic products.
- Absorption across limestone runs from under 1 percent to over 10 percent, so ask the supplier about your stone.
- Sealing makes stone more stain resistant, not stain proof.
Sources: Natural Stone Institute, limestone; Natural Stone Institute, stone care.
Driveway permits at the street edge, as of November 2026
A driveway can need a city or county permit, and work inside the street right of way (ROW) needs a ROW permit from the office that oversees that street. The address decides which office issues yours, and we pull the permits your job needs.
City of Tampa
Construction Services runs a Residential Driveways permit, and its application guide lists changing a driveway from concrete to paver as an example. Plan review wants the drive and right-of-way dimensions, every tree within 20 feet by species and diameter, and sometimes a paver edge detail. Work inside the City's right of way falls under its Right of Way Permitting Section.
Unincorporated Hillsborough County
A Driveway Access permit covers driveway connections, and a ROW Use permit covers other work in the right of way. Homeowners and contractors can both apply through HillsGovHub. The county does not issue these permits inside Tampa, Plant City or Temple Terrace.
Pasco County
The right-of-way driveway checklist asks for a site plan or survey, a street-level photo of the existing apron and, for pavers, the manufacturer's specifications. The Driveway Connection Permit form requires written county approval and a detailed drawing first, and the permit becomes void if the work is not done within 180 days.
Sources: Tampa driveway permits; Tampa plan review; Tampa driveway permit application guide; Tampa right-of-way permits; Hillsborough right-of-way permits; Pasco driveway checklist; Pasco connection permit form.
Sunshine 811 before the dig, HOA review before the build
A paver base starts with excavation. CMHA's job-planning step says to check with the local utility companies before digging, and that many localities have one number to call at least two days ahead. In Florida, Chapter 556 of the 2026 Statutes sets the notice rule. We call Sunshine 811 before digging on every job that needs it.
The one-call timeline, as of November 2026
- At least 2 full business days before the base excavation
The excavator gives notice through the one-call system.
- Within 2 full business days
Operators mark their lines to within 24 inches of either side.
- Inside that 24-inch zone
The statute requires hand digging, vacuum excavation or similar procedures to identify the lines.
- 30 calendar days
How long the notice stays valid.
Your HOA and a paver project, as of November 2026
Section 720.3035 lets an association or its architectural committee review the location, size, type or appearance of a structure or other improvement on a parcel. A new driveway, patio or walkway changes the location, size and appearance of the paving on your lot, so ask what the committee reviews before the base goes in.
- The review reaches as far as the declaration or published guidelines state or reasonably imply, and no further. The committee must apply those standards reasonably and equitably.
- Where the declaration lists options for materials, size, design or location, such as a choice of paver materials, the committee may not restrict your choice among them.
- It may not require a building permit before reviewing your plans.
- A denial must be in writing and name the rule and the part of the proposal that does not conform.
Sources: CMHA PAV-TEC-002, interlocking pavements; Florida Statutes 556.105; Florida Statutes 720.3035; Florida Statutes 720.3075.
What moves the quote for a paver project
Doug walks the site before he writes the quote. These site facts set the scope:
- The size of the area
- Base depth and grading: the slope, and soil that drains slowly
- What is on the site now, and the removal and haul-away it needs
- Equipment access
- The paver type, pattern and edge restraint
Who installs and seals the pavers
Doug Wilson is the Director of Operations at Medscapes.
- Over 35 years creating all types of Florida-friendly landscapes
- Over 100 years of combined experience across Doug and his team
- Licensed and insured
- References available on request
Paver work from Wesley Chapel across Tampa Bay
Medscapes is based in Wesley Chapel and installs pavers across Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, from Wesley Chapel, Land O' Lakes and Odessa to Lutz, New Tampa and Tampa.
- Wesley Chapel
- Lutz
- Land O' Lakes
- Odessa
- New Tampa
- Tampa
Pavers, brick and flagstone photographed at Medscapes jobs
A paver patio, a paver driveway, a brick path, two views of one flagstone path and a stepping-stone path. Swipe or drag to browse, select a photo to enlarge it, and see more in the gallery and our paver patio ideas.
What customers say about the crew and the finished yard
4.7170+ reviews on GoogleWe had a Great Experience with Medscapes. Doug was amazing! He worked with us on a Landscaping design of our entire front and side yards. He made lots of suggestions on plants he would recommend. He and his team selected the plants, and installed them. They worked with us on any tweaks we wanted to make after the install. …
Phyllis Sacone Google review, 2023
Doug & his team listen, interpret and work their magic. They turned a barren back yard into warm, beautiful, grandchild-friendly natural-looking zones. Crews are efficient, careful, thorough and personable. WOW every time Medscapes provides a service.
Mary Jane Gwyn Google review, 2022
Couldn’t recommend these guys more highly!! Doug and the team did an amazing job with the privacy palms they put in my backyard and also the gorgeous Sylvester palm tree out front. They came over to quote me right away after I contacted them and the landscaping work was started shortly after. Very professional, knowledgeable and timely!! …
Case Google review, 2022
The crew was very professional and worked hard throughout the day to make sure the job was done. The front yard looks way better and I can’t wait to see how some of these beautiful plants grow! Everyone was very responsive to questions throughout the process and it was all handled in a timely manner! …
Michelle V. Crespo-Melendrez Google review, 2023
Our lawn has seriously never looked better. We love the hard working employees and business owner so much that we've recommended their exceptional service to our entire community, friends and family!! They are professional and very thorough. Providing us with an entrancing lawn we can enjoy all year round. …
Savannah Google review, 2018
I moved into my house in July 2022, and it desperately needed landscaping and some curb appeal. Medscapes was one of the few landscaping companies that actually responsed and showed up for an estimate. …
Danielle Brant Google review, 2022
Paver questions
Not answered here? Call (813) 382-5801 or book a free on-site estimate.
Does a paver driveway in Tampa need a permit?
It can. As of November 2026, the City of Tampa's application guide lists changing a driveway from concrete to paver among the work its Residential Driveways permit covers, and Hillsborough and Pasco counties issue their own right-of-way permits.
Can my HOA make me hire its preferred paver contractor?
Not for that reason alone. Florida Statutes 720.3075 says HOA documents may not bar an owner from hiring a contractor solely because the contractor is not on the preferred vendor list.
Are permeable pavers a good fit for a Florida driveway?
Only on a site that meets UF/IFAS's limits: light-duty traffic, no frequent turning, and a system that drains completely within 24 to 72 hours.
What should I know before using travertine on a pool deck?
Travertine is a limestone with a calcium carbonate base, so lemon, vinegar and other acids can dull or etch it. Natural Stone Institute says a clear-water flush plus a mild bleach solution removes algae or moss around pools. Ask the supplier which sealer, if any, your stone needs.
How do I compare two paver quotes?
Ask each contractor in writing for the compacted base depth, the edge restraint type, what fills the joints and who pulls the permits. A quote that skips the base gives you nothing to compare.
Are you a paver contractor near Wesley Chapel, Lutz or Land O' Lakes?
Yes. Medscapes is based in Wesley Chapel and installs pavers, seat walls, retaining walls and fire pits across Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, including Lutz, Land O' Lakes, Odessa and Tampa.
Last updated
Have Doug walk the ground before you pick a paver
Tell us whether it is a driveway, patio, walkway or pool deck, and what sits beside it. The estimate is free and on site.
- 1Call or book online
- 2Doug walks the yard with you
- 3You get a written quote
Book a free on-site estimateCall (813) 382-5801
Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM · Based in Wesley Chapel