How to Choose a Patio Contractor in Indianapolis

Write down:

• Size and shape. Measure the area and sketch it, including any steps or level changes.
• Material. Pavers, stamped or plain concrete, or natural stone. Not sure? See pavers vs. stamped concrete.
• A budget range. Use our paver patio cost guide or stamped concrete cost guide.
• Rules that apply. HOA approval, easements on your plat, and your city's permit rules.

• Licensing. The Attorney General advises checking licensing requirements with your city or county¹. In Indianapolis, the City publishes a licensed-contractor lookup². Suburbs set their own requirements.
• Insurance and bonding. Ask for current certificates, and confirm the contractor is bonded and insured¹.
• Complaints. Search the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division and the Better Business Bureau¹.
• Concrete credentials. For poured or stamped concrete, PACA suggests asking whether the finisher holds ACI Flatwork Finisher certification³.
• Recent local work. Ask to see patios that have been through at least one winter.

For any patio

• How deep will the compacted base be on my soil? Local guidance calls for 6–8 inches on central Indiana clay⁴.
• Where will water go? What slope will the patio have away from the house?
• Who requests the Indiana 811 utility locate? It's needed at least two full working days before digging⁵.
• Who pulls the permit, if one is needed? The Attorney General advises not letting work start before a required permit is issued¹.
• What's the start date, the completion date and the warranty, in writing?

For pavers

• Which paver product, and does it meet ASTM C936?⁶
• What edge restraint and joint sand will you use?

For stamped or poured concrete

• How thick is the slab, and will it be reinforced?
• Is the mix air-entrained for freeze-thaw, and at what air content?⁷
• Where will control joints go, and how will it be cured and sealed?³

The Attorney General recommends getting written bids and being skeptical of bids far below the others¹. A low price often means less base or no drainage, and those are the parts you can't see later.

• The price and the payment schedule
• A detailed description of the work and materials, including colors, brands and patterns
• Approximate start and completion dates
• The contractor's name and address, plus a contact name and phone number
• The contractor's signature, and yours

Source: Indiana Attorney General, home improvement fact sheet¹, summarizing the Indiana Home Improvement Contract Act (IC 24-5-11)⁸. This is general information, not legal advice.

• Keep the deposit small. The Attorney General advises paying no more than one-third up front¹.
• Tie payments to progress. Pay later installments as stages of work are completed¹.
• Get lien waivers. Before the final payment, get proof that subcontractors and suppliers have been paid¹.
• Keep records. Keep copies of the contract, change orders, receipts and the written warranty¹.

Before we refer a contractor, we do basic checks such as the City of Indianapolis licensed-contractor list where applicable, proof of insurance and public reviews. That's a starting point, not a guarantee, so please run through this checklist too. Read how it works, or request a free estimate below.