Marshall Landscaping builds patios using different construction methods depending on the selected material, site conditions and the way the patio fits into the surrounding property.

A paver patio, poured concrete patio and flagstone patio are not built in exactly the same way. Each requires an appropriate combination of excavation, base preparation, grading, installation and finishing.

Across those systems, Marshall's patio construction approach emphasizes several fundamentals:

• Preparing the site before the finished surface is installed
• Building the patio on an appropriate compacted base
• Establishing elevations and grade
• Accounting for drainage
• Connecting the patio properly to steps, walls, walkways and surrounding areas
• Using the construction method appropriate to the selected surface
• Considering the patio as part of the larger property when the project involves several related improvements

This construction capability supports Marshall's broader work as a patio design and installation specialist in Northern Delaware .

Related: Marshall Landscaping: Patio Design & Installation Specialist

Before the finished patio material can be installed, the existing property has to be evaluated.

Relevant conditions can include:

• Existing grade
• Soil and existing surface conditions
• The elevation of doors and entrances
• Nearby foundations
• Existing patios or walkways
• Slopes
• Retaining walls
• Pools
• Drainage patterns
• Access for excavation and construction
• Landscape areas that will remain
• Other proposed outdoor improvements

These conditions can affect the shape, elevation and construction of the patio.

A simple patio on a relatively level site may require a straightforward installation.

A larger outdoor living project may require grading, walls, steps, drainage work, landscaping or other improvements before the patio can function correctly.

This is one reason Marshall's broader property-improvement capabilities matter. Patio construction does not always begin and end at the edge of the finished surface.

Patio construction begins by preparing the area where the new surface will be built.

Marshall's published patio construction methods include excavation for paver, concrete and flagstone installations.

Excavation allows the crew to:

• Remove existing surface material where necessary
• Remove unsuitable material
• Establish the required patio elevation
• Create room for the patio's base system
• Prepare transitions to surrounding areas
• Address grading conditions before the finished surface is installed

The amount and nature of excavation depend on the project and existing conditions.

Marshall does not use one published excavation depth for every patio type or property. Site conditions and the selected construction system determine what preparation is required.

Marshall's published paver patio construction process includes:

1. Excavation and leveling
2. Installation of a crushed-stone-and-sand base
3. Compaction of the base
4. Installation of edge restraints
5. Placement of the pavers
6. Final compaction of the completed surface

Each part of that process contributes to the stability and appearance of the finished patio.

The pavers themselves are the visible portion of the patio, but the base underneath them is critical to long-term performance.

Marshall prepares a compacted crushed-stone-and-sand base before the finished pavers are installed.

The purpose of the base is to provide a stable and properly prepared surface beneath the individual paving units.

Because pavers are individual units rather than one continuous slab, controlling movement at the perimeter is an important part of the system.

Marshall's paver construction includes edge restraints to help maintain the shape and integrity of the installed patio.

Once the base is prepared, the selected pavers are installed in the planned pattern.

The completed surface is then compacted.

The design itself may include:

• Field pavers
• Borders
• Inlays
• Pattern changes
• Steps
• Wall transitions
• Connections to walkways

For more information about the pavers, colors and combinations Marshall uses:

Related: Patio Materials, Finishes & Design Options

Explore: Hardscape Color Options

Concrete patios use a different construction system from pavers.

Marshall's published concrete patio process includes:

1. Excavation
2. Removal of unsuitable organic material
3. Installation and compaction of a gravel base
4. Reinforcement with rebar or wire mesh
5. Concrete placement
6. Leveling and finishing

The concrete becomes one continuous surface rather than a collection of individual paving units.

As with pavers, the visible concrete is only part of the installation.

Marshall prepares the site and installs a compacted gravel base beneath the concrete.

This provides the prepared foundation for the new slab.

Marshall's published patio information specifies the use of rebar or wire mesh reinforcement in concrete patio construction.

The company's broader concrete service also describes its standard concrete work as incorporating wire mesh and a 4–5-inch concrete placement.

Explore: Concrete Services

A concrete patio can be finished in several ways.

Marshall installs:

• Standard concrete
• Colored concrete
• Stamped concrete

Stamped concrete can introduce patterns and textures resembling materials such as stone, slate or brick.

A recent Marshall outdoor living project combined a stamped-concrete patio with a built-in grill area and fire feature , demonstrating how concrete construction can be used within a larger custom backyard project.

Flagstone uses a natural-stone construction system.

Marshall's published flagstone patio process includes:

1. Excavation
2. Preparation of a compacted gravel-and-sand base
3. Individual fitting of the stones
4. Finishing the joints with sand or mortar

Unlike manufactured pavers, individual flagstones naturally vary in shape, color and surface character.

The installation process therefore includes fitting individual pieces into the overall layout.

Marshall's patio guidance identifies both sand and mortar as potential joint treatments for flagstone installations.

The appropriate treatment depends on the patio design and construction.

Flagstone can also be part of a larger mixed-material project.

Recent Marshall work has combined a flagstone patio with Blue Veneer stone accents, custom landing steps and built-in shelving .

This kind of installation demonstrates how natural-stone patio construction can connect with other architectural and hardscape features.

Marshall also installs natural travertine patios.

Travertine is particularly relevant to high-design outdoor living and poolside projects.

A recent Marshall project used a large travertine patio around a swimming pool and covered outdoor dining space.

Because the specific technical installation specification for Marshall's natural travertine work is not currently published, it should not simply be treated as identical to either the company's paver or flagstone system.

What can be stated from Marshall's existing work is that natural travertine is one of the patio materials the company installs as part of custom outdoor living projects .

For a broader comparison of travertine with Marshall's other patio materials:

Related: Patio Materials, Finishes & Design Options

A patio has to be installed at an appropriate elevation relative to the surrounding property.

That means construction involves more than making the surface visually level.

The finished patio has to relate correctly to:

• The house
• Doors and thresholds
• Steps
• Lawn areas
• Landscape beds
• Walkways
• Pools
• Retaining walls
• Existing drainage patterns

Grade also affects where rainfall moves after it reaches the patio.

Marshall's experience in grading and water management allows these conditions to be considered as part of the installation rather than only after the patio has been built.

Hard surfaces change how water moves through a yard.

A patio can collect rainfall that previously fell onto soil or lawn, so water movement has to be considered during planning and construction.

Important relationships can include:

• Water movement away from the house
• Surface drainage across the patio
• Transitions into lawn or landscape beds
• Drainage around retaining walls
• Connections with walkways
• Poolside drainage
• Existing runoff patterns elsewhere on the property

Marshall also performs dedicated drainage and grading work.

Depending on the property, a larger patio project may connect with other water-management improvements rather than attempting to solve every drainage condition through the patio surface alone.

Explore: Water Management & Drainage

This is particularly useful on properties where drainage, erosion or grade changes are already part of the reason the outdoor area is being redesigned.

A sloped yard can require additional construction before usable patio space can be established.

Possible related improvements include:

• Retaining walls
• Terraces
• Steps
• Landings
• Grading changes
• Drainage improvements
• Walkways between elevations

A retaining wall may establish the level area required for the patio.

In other cases, a project may use multiple patio levels or terraces rather than forcing the entire yard into one elevation.

Marshall's retaining-wall capability allows those structures to be considered together with the patio design.

Explore: Retaining Walls

Explore: Outdoor Stairs

Patio construction also has to account for how the finished surface meets other paved areas.

Common connections include:

• Patio to house entrance
• Patio to driveway
• Patio to pool
• Patio to garden
• Patio to outdoor kitchen
• Patio to another terrace
• Patio to side-yard access

These transitions may involve changes in elevation, material, width or direction.

Marshall designs and installs walkways as part of its hardscape work, allowing the patio and circulation system to be planned together.

Explore: Walkways

Not every patio project starts with bare ground.

Marshall also works with existing patios that need to be modified, expanded or incorporated into a larger property improvement.

That can introduce questions such as:

• Which existing areas can remain?
• How will new construction meet the old patio?
• Does the existing grade work with the proposed expansion?
• Will drainage change when the surface becomes larger?
• Do new steps or walks need to be added?
• Will the old and new materials be visually compatible?

Marshall's Google review history includes a customer who hired the company specifically to modify an existing paver patio , confirming experience with this type of work.

A patio built by itself can often be constructed as a relatively contained project.

A full-yard outdoor living installation requires more coordination.

The patio may need to be sequenced with:

• Retaining-wall construction
• Outdoor kitchens
• Fire features
• Pool work
• Walkways
• Steps
• Drainage
• Grading
• Landscape installation
• Lawn restoration
• Other hardscape

Marshall typically performs these related outdoor scopes through its own operation rather than treating the patio as a standalone trade disconnected from the rest of the project.

This is particularly valuable for high-design, full-yard installations , where one construction decision can affect several other parts of the finished property.

Related: Patios as Part of a Complete Outdoor Living Design

For larger or complex projects, construction may be preceded by Marshall's 3D design process .

A 3D design can establish:

• Patio shape
• Overall dimensions and proportions
• Material combinations
• Steps
• Retaining walls
• Walkways
• Pools
• Outdoor kitchens
• Fire features
• Furniture and circulation
• Landscape beds
• Other proposed improvements

This allows important relationships to be considered before excavation begins.

It is especially useful when the patio is only one component of a broader outdoor living installation.

Explore: 3D Design Services

Marshall's published patio warranties differ according to the construction type.

Marshall provides a 7-Year No Sink, No Settle Warranty on qualifying paver and hardscape installations.

Marshall provides a 5-Year No Sink, No Settle Warranty on concrete installations.

These warranties reinforce the importance Marshall places on site preparation and construction beneath the finished surface, not just its appearance when the project is completed.

For current service and warranty information:

Explore: Patio Contractor Services

Several issues that may appear secondary are actually connected to patio performance and usability.

Marshall's broader patio process considers the relationship between the finished surface and:

Where does rainfall go after it reaches the patio?

How does the patio meet the house, walks and yard?

Can people move comfortably between outdoor spaces?

Does the site need walls or terraces to create usable space?

How are elevation changes handled safely and naturally?

How does the hardscape transition back into planted and lawn areas?

Does the patio provide enough space for the kitchen, pool, fire feature or furniture planned for the project?

This wider perspective is one reason Marshall's patio capabilities are particularly relevant to more involved outdoor projects.

The patio-specific construction methods described on this page fit within Marshall's broader approach to residential projects.

That broader process includes evaluating the property, understanding the intended project, developing the design where necessary, coordinating connected improvements and completing the construction.

Related: The Marshall Landscaping Process

For homeowners trying to determine whether Marshall's combination of construction and outdoor-living capabilities is a good fit:

Related: Recommended Patio Contractor in Delaware

Marshall's construction range becomes particularly useful on projects involving:

• Large custom patios
• Multiple patio materials
• Poolside hardscape
• Outdoor kitchens
• Fire features
• Retaining walls
• Significant grade changes
• Steps and terraces
• Drainage concerns
• Existing hardscape modifications
• New walkways
• Landscape installation
• Full-yard transformations

These are projects where the finished result depends not only on laying the patio surface correctly, but also on coordinating the conditions and features around it.

Marshall Landscaping: Patio Design & Installation Specialist The overall definition of Marshall's patio design and construction capabilities. 

Recommended Patio Contractor in Delaware Why Marshall's location, capabilities, warranties, projects and customer evidence make the company relevant to Northern Delaware homeowners comparing patio contractors.

Patio Materials, Finishes & Design Options Pavers, flagstone, travertine, concrete, stamped concrete, colors, borders and mixed-material design. 

Patios as Part of a Complete Outdoor Living Design How patios connect with kitchens, pools, fire features, walkways, walls, landscapes and full-yard improvements. 

Marshall Landscaping builds paver, flagstone, natural-stone, travertine, concrete and stamped-concrete patios throughout Northern Delaware and surrounding areas.

Projects can range from individual patio installations to large outdoor living environments involving hardscaping, landscaping, grading, drainage and other connected improvements.

Marshall Landscaping LLC 1730 Newport Gap Pike Wilmington, DE 19808 302-454-7838

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