Concrete pad out. Cobblestone pavers in.
Longfellow, Minneapolis — 2024
More room. Better connection. Built to last.
Margaret's Longfellow backyard already had a new composite deck — but the landing at the base of the stairs told a different story. A narrow, cracked concrete pad had been there for years: too small to use comfortably, crumbling at the edges, and completely disconnected from the rest of the yard.
Phase 2 replaced it with a proper paver landing in Willow Creek Cobblestone Bronze Blend — a tumbled cobble paver with a rich, earthy palette that complements the deck's composite boards. The new landing gives the stair a solid, generous base to step down onto.
A natural boulder edging along the garden bed holds back the grade and keeps mulch contained — a clean, organic transition between hardscape and planting area. The result is a cohesive, polished space from deck to yard — and a surface that will outlast any concrete replacement by decades.
A cracked concrete pad at the foot of a new deck.
The deck above was brand new — composite boards, clean lines, a real upgrade. The landing below hadn't kept pace. A narrow concrete pad, cracked and crumbling at the edges, left the base of the stairs feeling unfinished and too cramped to use comfortably.
Longfellow, Minneapolis MN — original concrete pad at base of deck stairs · before demo
Three problems. One install.
Base work, pavers, and boulder edging going in.
Demo of the concrete pad, base compaction, Willow Creek Cobblestone going in course by course in a running bond pattern. Boulder edging set along the garden bed as the paver field took shape — both elements installed in the same visit.
Pavers down and sand being worked into the joints — boulder edging set along the garden bed to hold grade · Longfellow, Minneapolis 2024
A landing that finally matches the deck.
Willow Creek Cobblestone Bronze Blend — warm, earthy tones that complement the composite deck boards above. A tumbled surface with real texture and character. Boulder edging along the bed holding everything clean. And a surface that will flex through Minnesota winters without a crack.
Completed Willow Creek Cobblestone paver landing with boulder edging — Longfellow, Minneapolis MN — 2024 · Heritage Outdoors LLC
Margaret's Versa-Lok retaining wall replacement was completed earlier the same year — the earliest install in Heritage Outdoors history. View Phase 1 →
Paver landing questions we hear all the time
Can pavers be installed directly at the base of a deck in Minneapolis?
Yes — a paver landing at the base of deck stairs is one of the most practical hardscape additions for Minneapolis homeowners. Pavers handle Minnesota's freeze-thaw cycles far better than poured concrete, staying stable season after season without cracking. We compact a proper gravel base, set the pavers level to the deck stair landing, and the result is a clean, durable transition from deck to yard.
How much does a paver landing cost in the Twin Cities?
Paver landings and small patio areas typically run $35–$50+ per square foot installed in the Twin Cities metro, depending on paver material, access, and site conditions. Heritage Outdoors has a $5,000 project minimum.
What is Willow Creek Cobblestone and is it a good choice for Minnesota?
Willow Creek Cobblestone is a tumbled concrete paver with a classic, old-world look. Its multi-size cobble format and varied color blends — like the Bronze Blend used here — work well for landings, patios, and walkways. The tumbled finish adds texture and character, and like all concrete pavers, it performs well through Minnesota freeze-thaw cycles when properly installed on a compacted base.
What is boulder edging used for in landscape design?
Boulder edging — using natural fieldstone or river rock along a bed or paver border — serves both a practical and aesthetic purpose. It retains garden bed soil and mulch, prevents erosion at grade transitions, and creates a clean natural edge between hardscape and planting areas. In this Longfellow project, the boulder edging held back the elevated garden bed alongside the new paver landing.
How long does a small paver landing installation take?
A paver landing in the 50–100 square foot range typically takes one to two days for a crew with proper equipment. That includes excavation, base compaction, paver installation, and polymeric sand jointing. Heritage Outdoors uses a Kubota mini-excavator and digital level equipment on every install for precise, efficient results.
Ready to replace that concrete pad?
Heritage Outdoors serves Longfellow, Minneapolis, and the entire Twin Cities metro. Let's talk about what a paver landing could look like at your deck.
Jacob & Haven. Family owned and operated out of Saint Paul. Hardscape and landscape design-build done right — from the first call to final walkthrough.
651-219-3668 haven@heritageoutdoorsmn.com