Pavers, hardscaping & fire pits in Houston

Rough cost ranges in Houston

A Houston contractor’s 2026 guide lists installed paver patio prices of about:^[1]

• Concrete pavers: $14–$22 per sq ft
• Brick pavers: $18–$28 per sq ft
• Travertine: $18–$32 per sq ft
• For comparison, basic poured concrete at about $8–$12 and stamped concrete at about $12–$18 per sq ft.

A separate modeled estimate for Houston puts paver patios and walkways at $12–$30 per sq ft, or roughly $3,500–$15,900 for a typical job.^[2]

Fire pits: a Houston landscape company’s guide puts a basic wood-burning fire pit at about $2,000–$8,000 and a gas fire pit, including the gas line run, at about $4,000–$15,000.^[3]

These are rough planning ranges pulled from published Houston-area cost guides and contractor websites, not quotes and not HTX Backyard prices. Your price depends on size, materials, access and site conditions.

Why the base matters on Houston clay

Pavers are only as good as what’s under them. On expansive clay that swells when wet and shrinks in drought, a thin or poorly compacted base is what leads to sinking, heaving and joints that open up. Ask every bidder how deep they excavate, what base material they use, how they compact it, and how the patio will slope so water drains away from the house.

Permits and approvals

• Flatwork and impervious cover. Inside the City of Houston, the residential One-Stop guide lists new flatwork or paving as a project type with structural, flood and storm reviews and an Impervious Cover Worksheet. Its list of permit-exempt work includes interior flatwork up to 65% impervious area.^[4] Ask your contractor how much of your lot will be paved after the project and whether your job needs a permit.
• Retaining walls. The same guide lists retaining walls up to 4 ft as permit-exempt.^[4] Taller walls need review.
• Gas fire pits. A gas line is plumbing work. Ask who runs it, whether they’re licensed, and whether the permit is in the bid.
• Burn bans. Harris County and neighboring counties issue burn bans in dry spells, and wood-burning pits are subject to them.^[3]
• HOA. Most HOAs want to see patios, walls and fire features before they go in.

Questions to ask before you sign

• How deep is the base, what’s in it, and how is it compacted?
• What edge restraint do you use, and do you use polymeric sand in the joints?
• Which paver brand and product line are you quoting?
• For a fire pit: how far will it be from the house, patio cover or pergola?
• Is demolition and haul-off of existing concrete or sod included?

How we make money: HTX Backyard is free for homeowners. Participating builders pay HTX Backyard a fee when we introduce them to a homeowner. We are a matching service, not a contractor, and we do not perform, supervise or guarantee any work.