The Science of Stability:
Why Richmond Patios Fail

Most hardscapes in Central Virginia fail within five to seven years. The cause isn't the stone; it's the Richmond Clay. Our Piedmont clay is highly expansive, meaning it swells when wet and shrinks when dry. This cyclic movement acts like a slow-motion earthquake underneath your patio.

Standard contractors use a 4-inch base. In Richmond, that's a recipe for disaster. At Evergreen, we've pioneered the Deep-Base Methodology. For a full technical breakdown of how we mitigate these forces, read our Virginia Clay Soil Engineering Guide.

The Evergreen Subgrade Protocol

We treat every backyard like a civil engineering project. Our process involves:

• Separation Fabric: Non-woven geotextiles prevent the mixing of clay and gravel, ensuring your base stays rigid.
• Aggregate Interlock: We use graded #57 and #25 stone layers that physically lock together under high-frequency compaction.
• Compaction Lifts: We compact the base in 2-inch "lifts" rather than all at once, reaching 98% Proctor density—highway grade stability.

"If the base isn't perfect, the patio is just a collection of expensive puzzle pieces waiting to fall apart. We build the base to outlast the house."

Material Selection: Beyond Aesthetics

We partner primarily with Techo-Bloc and Belgard because their manufacturing processes (Wet-Cast and HDR) produce individual units with higher PSI (pounds per square inch) than natural stone. This means they won't flake, scale, or fade under Virginia's brutal UV and humidity cycles.