Home  /  Austin, TX  /  Services  /  Hardscaping: Patios, Walls & Walkways

Hardscaping in Austin, TX: Patios, Walls & Walkways

Quick answer

Hardscaping in Austin adds patios, paths, steps and walls that reduce the area you need to water. West of I-35, limestone close to the surface can mean rock excavation; east of I-35, shifting blackland clay calls for a deep compacted base and good drainage. Taller retaining walls may need a permit and engineering, and Austin's impervious cover limits can apply.

Last updated

Patios, paths and walls make sense in Austin, where much of the year is good for being outside and a lawn is hard to keep green. Hardscape also cuts the area you have to water. What makes it last here is the same as anywhere, a solid base and good drainage, but the ground underneath varies a lot across the metro.

Two very different kinds of ground

  • West of I-35: limestone often sits close to the surface. Excavating for a patio base or wall footing can mean cutting rock, which adds time and cost, but the rock itself makes a stable foundation.
  • East of I-35: blackland clay swells when wet and shrinks and cracks when dry. Patios and walls built without enough compacted base and drainage can heave, crack or tilt as the soil moves.

Common materials

  • Flagstone set on compacted base, either dry-laid with gaps for groundcover or mortared on concrete.
  • Concrete pavers, which can be lifted and reset if a section settles.
  • Poured or stamped concrete, often less expensive up front but harder to repair invisibly when clay movement cracks it.
  • Decomposed granite paths and patios, popular for a natural look. Stabilized versions hold up better on slopes and heavy-use areas.
  • Limestone blocks and boulders for walls, steps and terraces, which suit Hill Country lots.

Retaining walls

Terraced walls are common on sloped west-side lots. Any wall needs drainage gravel and a way for water to escape behind it, or water pressure will push it over time. Taller walls, walls near property lines, and walls holding up a driveway or structure may need a permit and engineering. Requirements differ between the City of Austin, the suburbs and unincorporated county land, so check with your city's building or development services office before construction.

Impervious cover and trees

The City of Austin limits impervious cover on residential lots, and patios, walkways and paved areas can count toward that limit depending on how they are built. The limit depends on zoning and watershed. Construction near large trees can also trigger tree protection rules: the city requires a permit to remove a protected tree, which it defines as 19 inches or more in diameter measured four and a half feet above the ground, and stricter rules apply to larger heritage trees of certain species such as oaks, pecans and cedar elms. Ask your contractor how they will protect root zones during excavation.

Fire features

Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are popular, but burn bans are common in Central Texas during dry periods, and HOAs and cities may regulate them. In wildfire-prone areas, keep fire features well away from the house, cedar and dry brush.

Questions to ask a hardscape contractor

  • How deep is the base, what material is it, and how is it compacted?
  • How will water drain off the patio and away from the house?
  • Does the price include rock excavation if you hit limestone?
  • Who handles permits, and will you call 811 before digging?
  • Can you provide a certificate of insurance and photos of similar local work?

When you're ready, request a hardscape contractor and include photos and rough dimensions.

See how it works

How a French drain carries water away from a yard. Press the buttons to run each step and see what happens inside. Made with Colorfigures ·
Embed this figure

Frequently asked questions

Do patios count toward impervious cover in Austin?

They can, depending on how they are built. The City of Austin limits impervious cover on residential lots based on zoning and watershed, so check with Development Services before adding a large patio or walkway.

Do I need a permit for a retaining wall?

Often for taller walls or walls that hold up a driveway, structure or slope. Thresholds differ between Austin, the suburbs and the county, so check with your city's building office first.

Why is my patio cracking on clay soil?

Blackland clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, and that movement cracks slabs and shifts pavers that lack a deep enough compacted base or good drainage. Pavers can be reset; cracked concrete usually needs repair or replacement.

Sources and further reading

Request help now

Get help now