Project spotlight

Paver stoop & walkway rebuild
Burnsville, MN

Burnsville, MN
2024
Paver stoop & walkway — full rebuild
Tear-out · rebase · proper step heights
Completed paver stoop with block wall surround and paver walkway — Burnsville MN — Heritage Outdoors 2024
Project overview

Someone else started it. We finished it right.

Melissa reached out to Heritage Outdoors after a previous contractor walked off the job — leaving behind wrong step heights, insufficient base depth, and a pile of their own tools. The stoop was structurally unsound and didn't meet code. The previous work had to go.

After a site visit, Jacob diagnosed the core problems: the block structure was the wrong height, the base wasn't nearly deep enough to handle the weight of the stoop, and no proper drainage had been accounted for. There was no salvaging it — a full tear-out was the only path forward.

Heritage Outdoors stripped everything back to bare ground, excavated to proper depth, rebuilt the base correctly, and constructed a paver stoop and walkway that will actually hold up through Minnesota winters. The kind of job that should have been done right the first time.

Location Burnsville, MN
Project type Paver stoop & walkway rebuild
Completed 2024
Situation Previous contractor abandoned job
Demo required Full tear-out of previous work
Base Excavated & rebuilt to spec
Lead installer Jacob · Heritage Outdoors
What we found

An abandoned job site. Their tools still on the ground.

Wrong step heights. Nowhere near enough base for the weight of the stoop. And the previous contractor's equipment still sitting where they left it. This is what Heritage Outdoors walked into.

Abandoned paver stoop job with wrong block height — previous contractor left site — Burnsville MN
Abandoned paver stoop job site — previous contractor tools and materials left behind — Burnsville MN
Previous contractor tools left behind at abandoned stoop job site — Burnsville MN — Heritage Outdoors

Burnsville, MN — what the previous contractor left behind · 2024

The diagnosis

Three things that made a full tear-out unavoidable

01
Step heights were wrong
The block stoop was built to the wrong height — inconsistent risers that didn't meet code and created a tripping hazard. There's no patching this. The structure had to come out.
02
Nowhere near enough base
A stoop this size needs significant base depth to handle the weight and survive Minnesota's freeze-thaw cycles. The previous contractor hadn't excavated anywhere close to what was needed. The whole thing would have shifted within a season.
03
No drainage plan
Water management around a stoop is critical in Minnesota. Without proper drainage, water pools behind the structure, freezes, and destroys the base over time. None of this had been considered.
"When a previous contractor leaves tools on your lawn and drives away, it's not just inconvenient — it usually means the work they did wasn't right either. In Melissa's case, that was exactly what we found."
— Jacob · Heritage Outdoors

Melissa needed someone she could trust to tell her the truth about what was there — and then actually fix it. The honest answer was that nothing from the previous contractor's work was salvageable. Starting over was the only way to do it right.

During

Torn out. Rebased. Built to last this time.

Every bit of the previous work came out. The area was excavated to proper depth, base material was brought in and compacted in lifts, and the stoop was rebuilt from the ground up — correct heights, correct drainage, correct base.

Paver stoop walkway base screeded and leveled ready for pavers — Burnsville MN — Heritage Outdoors
Block stoop steps taking shape with plate compactor on site — Burnsville MN — Heritage Outdoors

Base screeded and ready · steps taking shape — Burnsville, MN · 2024

The solution

Done right. The first time we touched it.

Everything that was wrong got fixed. No shortcuts, no working around the previous contractor's mistakes.

Demo
Full tear-out of previous work
Every block, every bit of base material from the previous contractor came out. Clean slate — the only way to guarantee the finished product would actually hold.
Base
Excavated & rebuilt to spec
Excavated to proper depth, compacted base material brought in and packed in lifts. The base is what determines whether hardscape lasts 3 years or 30 — this one is built for the long haul.
Stoop & walkway
Correct heights, proper drainage
New paver stoop built to correct step heights with proper riser consistency. Paver walkway installed on the rebuilt base. Drainage planned so water moves away from the structure, not toward it.
The result

A stoop Melissa can actually be proud of

A properly built paver stoop with correct step heights, a matching paver walkway, and a base that will survive Minnesota winters. The kind of front entry that should have been delivered the first time.

Completed paver stoop with block wall surround and paver walkway — Burnsville MN — Heritage Outdoors 2024

Completed paver stoop & walkway — Burnsville, MN — 2024 · Heritage Outdoors LLC

"After my contractor bailed on us in the middle of our project, we reached out to a few landscaping companies but they were all booked out. Thankfully my husband found Heritage Outdoors on FB and they were at my house that very same day to take a look and see what could be done. I received the estimate the next day. We signed it and they completed the entire project in 3 days the following week after waiting weeks for our previous contractor to complete the work. I couldn't be more happier with the end result. Haven was wonderful to work with and their crew were very professional while on site. I strongly recommend and will definitely use them again!"

— Melissa R. · Burnsville, MN · Google Review · September 2024
Common questions

Paver stoop questions we hear all the time

How much does a paver stoop cost in the Twin Cities?

Paver stoops in the Twin Cities typically run $4,000–$12,000 depending on size, number of steps, block or paver material, and site conditions. A stoop with multiple steps, a paver walkway, and proper base preparation will be toward the higher end. We always provide a free on-site estimate.

What happens if a contractor does a paver stoop wrong?

The most common failures are insufficient base depth, wrong step heights, and poor drainage planning. When the base isn't deep enough, freeze-thaw cycles in Minnesota will shift and crack the work within a few years. Step heights that don't meet code are also a safety issue. In cases like this, the only real fix is a full tear-out and rebuild — patching over bad base work doesn't hold.

Do I need a permit for a paver stoop in Burnsville, MN?

In Burnsville, permits are typically required for stoops and steps attached to the home, especially when they involve structural changes to the entry. We always check permit requirements for your specific project before work begins.

How long does a paver stoop installation take?

A typical paver stoop and walkway project takes 2–4 days depending on size, number of steps, and base preparation required. When a full tear-out of previous work is needed, add a day for demo and disposal.

What paver materials work best for Minnesota winters?

Concrete pavers — like those made by Belgard, Unilock, or Borgert — are ideal for Minnesota's freeze-thaw climate. Unlike poured concrete, individual pavers can flex slightly with ground movement and can be reset if needed. The key is proper base depth and drainage, which prevents the heaving that ruins poured concrete over time.

Do you serve areas near Burnsville, MN?

Yes — Heritage Outdoors serves the entire Twin Cities metro including Burnsville, Eagan, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Prior Lake, and the full south metro. Call us at 651-219-3668 or request a free estimate.

Got a stoop that was done wrong?

Melissa waited weeks for her previous contractor. Heritage Outdoors was at her door the same day she called — and finished the job in 3 days. Call or request a quote and we'll get out to take a look.