Central Florida is hard on anything built outside. Daily afternoon rain, relentless UV, sandy soil that shifts, and a storm season that tests every screen panel and fastener you own. Outdoor projects here either get built for that or get rebuilt.
With pavers, almost every failure traces back to the base. A paver patio is only as stable as the compacted base underneath it, and our sandy soil punishes shortcuts. Proper excavation depth, a compacted aggregate base, and edge restraint are what keep pavers from settling into waves after the first heavy rainy season. The pavers themselves are the easy part.
Drainage matters just as much. Water has to go somewhere, and if the patio slopes toward the house instead of away from it, you've built a very attractive channel straight to your foundation. Slope gets set during base prep — it can't be corrected afterward without pulling everything up.
For screen enclosures, the screen type is worth a conversation. Standard fiberglass is cheapest and fine for many homes, but pet-resistant mesh survives dogs and cats that push against the lower panels, and no-see-um mesh keeps out the small insects that regular screen lets straight through. Choosing once, correctly, beats re-screening the same lower panels every year.
Sealing pavers is optional but changes both look and maintenance. Sealer brings the color back, locks joint sand in place, and makes the surface much easier to clean. It does need reapplication every few years — anyone who tells you it's permanent is selling something.
Planning an outdoor project in Orlando, Lake Nona, Windermere or Horizon West? Call or text REO Professional Services at (407) 802-9637 for a free estimate.