Although spring feels far away, Sara’s before-and-after patio photos bring a burst of sunshine. She wrote in with a full account of her recent DIY project—transforming an overgrown patch of yard into a beautiful, functional outdoor room just in time for summer entertaining.
I’m a longtime reader of your blog, and I have a big Reader Redesign for you. My fiancé and I bought our house last summer and have slowly been fixing it up. I’m so excited to share our biggest project to date: a DIY paver patio. We got a quote from a contractor that wanted around $8,200 for the job! We decided to do the work ourselves, and also add a wall for extra seating. With no experience. And only two weeks to get it done before our big summer party. Yikes!
We spent nights, weekends, and even a couple of vacation days digging, compacting, leveling, shoveling, and moving literal tons of gravel, pavers, and sand. It was backbreaking work, but the finished space made it all worthwhile. With clearance patio furniture and pillows, affordable seat cushions, and a modest fire pit, we turned what was once nothing but weeds into a 300-square-foot outdoor room. It’s not completely finished—there are a few small details left to tackle—but it’s ready for the season and already getting plenty of use.
For more photos and project details, you can see the full post on our blog: Russet Street Reno.
Project budget and materials
- Belgard Dublin Cobble pavers, Weston Universal wall stones, edgers, stakes, 11 tons of crushed limestone, two tons of sand, three bags of polymeric sand, concrete adhesive for wall – $2,054
- Compactor rental – $200
- Patio table – $140
- Six patio chairs – $300
- End table – $40
- Six throw pillows – $40
- Six seat cushions – $60
- Umbrella – free gift from neighbor
- 50-pound umbrella stand – $85
- Fire pit – $100
- Total: $3,019 — more than $5,000 less than the contractor quote, and that includes the seating wall
Before and after
Below is the original, unaltered photo showing the space before work began—an overgrown area that needed serious cleanup and leveling. After two weeks of hard work, careful planning, and teamwork, the transformation is dramatic. The new paver surface provides a level, attractive floor for seating and a fire pit; the low wall adds useful seating and a clean finished edge to the patio.
The result is a comfortable outdoor living area that functions as a true extension of the home. It’s ideal for hosting summer gatherings, enjoying late-evening conversations around the fire, or simply relaxing with coffee in the morning. Because the patio was built with durable materials and a solid base, it should hold up through multiple seasons with minimal maintenance.
Key takeaways from Sara’s project:
- Doing it yourself can yield major savings compared with contractor bids, especially if you’re willing to put in the labor.
- Careful material selection—quality pavers, a stable base of crushed stone, proper sand, and polymeric sand to lock joints—creates a lasting surface.
- Adding built-in elements like a low seat wall increases functionality and resale appeal.
- Planning ahead and working steadily each night and weekend made it possible to finish the project on a tight timeline.
Great job, Sara—this patio is a fantastic example of how a determined DIY approach can create a welcoming outdoor room and significantly improve a property. If you’d like to see more photos and a step-by-step account, visit the project post on the Russet Street Reno blog. Now if only spring would arrive so the new space can be enjoyed to the fullest!