Foundation depth and materials.  Because of the freeze-thaw cycles a proper foundation is critical to keeping pavers and retaining walls from tipping or becoming unlevel.

Combating Lateral Earth Pressure to prevent toppling.  Interlocking segmental retaining wall blocks are engineered to withstand forces to keep them from falling over, but only with proper backfill, the correct type of block, and adequate drainage and retention materials.

Slope and Curvature.  Calculating the proper slope of a paver installation (patio, steps, walkway, egress, etc.) is important to drain water away from a home or building while remaining aesthetically pleasing.  Retaining wall or paver applications that follow any type of curvature require precise calculations for strength, stability, and a professional finish.

Without proper tools and heavy equipment, be prepared to do even more hard work and sacrifice some of the quality of the project.

Many specialized tools are required for a proper installation. Such tools can be quite expensive to rent, let alone purchase. Rental costs can also add up quickly if tools and equipment are rented for very long. 

Contractor grade foundation materials, weed barrier, retention materials, drainage materials, pavers, and retaining wall blocks offer significant performance over products available at retail box stores.