Permeable Paver Patio Build in White Bear Lake

This backyard in White Bear Lake had zero usable patio space and a drainage situation that needed to be dealt with the right way. So we came in with a plan that covered all of it - a 528 square foot permeable paver patio, refreshed landscape beds, and a permitted downspout re-route with an infiltration trench. One job, done completely.

We started at ground level. The subgrade gets compacted first. That Wacker plate compactor you see on the bare ground is doing the work that most people never think about. A patio is only as solid as what's underneath it. From there, we brought in 8 inches of open graded base material, which is the key ingredient in a permeable system. Water moves down through the joints, through the base, and into the ground instead of sheeting off onto your lawn or into your foundation.

The field paver was laid in a herringbone pattern. The border uses a double sailors course - two rows of pavers running parallel to the edge. It gives the whole thing a clean, finished frame.

We also re-routed the northwest corner downspout into a permitted infiltration trench - 16 feet long, lined with geotextile fabric, filled with 2.5 inch river rock. It connects to the downspout for cleanout access, and a pop-up emitter at the trench handles overflow diffusion. The landscape beds got new vinyl edging, separation fabric, and 1.5 inch landscape rock. Every piece of this job ties together.

When you're dealing with drainage issues and you want a patio that actually lasts through Minnesota winters, the base system and water management matter just as much as the pavers themselves. This is what it looks like when all of that gets done right.