About Green Operations

Our Approach to Hardscaping in St. Louis

After two decades of building patios, retaining walls, and outdoor living spaces across the greater St. Louis area, we have refined an approach that prioritizes doing things right the first time. Every hardscaping project we take on follows a process that starts well before the first paver is laid and continues through final cleanup and walkthrough.

The first step is always a thorough site assessment. Travis visits your property in person to evaluate the grade, drainage patterns, soil conditions, and existing structures. St. Louis sits on some of the most variable terrain in the Midwest -- from the flat river bottoms in South County to the rolling hills of Jefferson County and the clay-heavy soil that runs throughout the metro. Each of these conditions affects how we design and build your project, from the depth of the aggregate base to the type of geogrid reinforcement we use in retaining walls.

Material selection is another area where experience matters. As an Authorized Unilock Contractor, we have access to the full line of Unilock paver products, including exclusive colors and textures that non-authorized installers cannot source. But choosing the right product is about more than aesthetics. We match the paver thickness, surface texture, and joint style to the specific application -- whether that is a high-traffic driveway, a pool deck that needs slip resistance, or a patio with intricate pattern work. The wrong product in the wrong application leads to premature wear, shifting, or cracking.

Base preparation is where most contractors cut corners, and it is where the long-term durability of your project is determined. We excavate to a minimum of 8 inches for pedestrian applications and 12 inches or more for driveways and load-bearing surfaces. Every layer of aggregate is mechanically compacted in lifts using a plate compactor, and we verify compaction before moving to the next layer. This step takes time and costs more in labor, but it prevents the settling and unevenness that plague projects built on a rushed or shallow base.

Finally, we treat every project like it is going to be judged -- because it is. Your neighbors will see it, your family will use it daily, and it reflects on both your property and our reputation. That mindset is what separates a contractor who does this for a paycheck from one who does it because the work matters. Green Operations has always been in the second category, and that is not going to change.