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Cambridge Pavers Home Additions & ADU: The Pasadena Owner’s Guide
Cambridge Pavers home additions and ADU projects in Pasadena typically range from $45,000 to $130,000 for the addition itself, with full ADU construction landing between $90,000 and $220,000 depending on size, foundation work, and finish level. We stock and install Cambridge Pavers-compatible paving systems and coordinate the full build with our general contracting team, so the paver work and the structure happen in the right sequence. We provide a written price before any work starts.
Most Pasadena homeowners reach out after they have already lived with the house for a few years and realized the backyard or side yard has more potential than the current footprint allows. Sometimes it starts with a cracked paver patio that was never built on a proper base. Other times the family has outgrown the kitchen and the ADU conversation begins in earnest. Either way, the Cambridge Pavers product is usually still in good shape structurally, which means the conversation turns to whether it can be incorporated into the new build or needs to be reset on a better foundation.
Which Cambridge Pavers Models This Applies To
Cambridge Pavers manufactures interlocking concrete paving stones in three primary product families that show up on Pasadena properties: the Ledgestone series, the RoundTable series, and the Maytrx series. The Ledgestone line has a textured, split-face look with irregular edges and is the one we see most often on older Pasadena patios and walkways. RoundTable is a tumbled paver with softer edges, and Maytrx is a smooth, contemporary paver with tighter joints. Each series uses different joint widths and base requirements, which matters when you are tying new paving into existing Cambridge Pavers work.
If you are matching pavers for an addition or ADU walkway, the fastest identification method is to measure one full paver and check the back for a stamped product code. Cambridge Pavers stamps a batch code on the underside of most pavers, and that code tells us the series, color blend, and manufacturing date. Color lots shift over time, especially with blends that include reds and browns, so we always order a few extra pavers from the current lot and test them against the existing installation before committing to a full pallet. For homeowners who cannot find the stamp, we bring a sample board to the property and match by eye against the actual stones in daylight. Pasadena’s strong afternoon sun changes how these colors read, so we never match from photos alone.
One compatibility note worth knowing: Cambridge Pavers are manufactured in regional plants, and the West Coast product line does not always carry the same color names as the Northeast catalog. If you bought pavers from an online seller or inherited them from a previous owner, the color name on your paperwork may not match what we can order here. We work directly with the West Coast distributor to cross-reference older colors to current equivalents.
Styles & brands we work with
Signs Your Cambridge Pavers Home Additions & ADU Is Failing
- Settling or sinking pavers near the foundation line. This usually means the original base was not compacted properly, or water has washed fines out from under the stones. In Pasadena’s clay-heavy soil, this is the most common failure we see after heavy winter rain. The pavers themselves are rarely the problem; the base underneath them is.
- Widening gaps between pavers, especially after rain. Cambridge Pavers rely on edge restraint to hold the pattern tight. When the plastic or concrete edging fails, the pavers start drifting outward. Left alone, the pattern pulls apart and the joints collect debris.
- Efflorescence, or white chalky film on the paver surface. This is mineral salts wicking up through the concrete. It happens more in Pasadena when irrigation water is hard, and it is cosmetic rather than structural. It can be cleaned, but it returns if the drainage issue is not addressed.
- Cracks running through multiple pavers in a straight line. A single cracked paver is a material defect. A line of cracked pavers points to a structural problem underneath, usually an uncompacted trench or a tree root. The pavers are telling you something about the ground, and resetting them without fixing the base just repeats the failure.
- Pooling water that sits for days after a storm. Cambridge Pavers are permeable when installed on an open-graded base, but many Pasadena installations were built on compacted sand or road base with no drainage plan. Standing water accelerates base erosion and eventually causes the settling described above.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
For Cambridge Pavers work tied to a home addition or ADU in Pasadena, the paving portion of a typical project falls between $3,500 and $11,000 for a patio, and $7,000 to $18,000 for a driveway, depending on square footage, base depth, and whether we are resetting existing pavers or installing new. A full home addition runs $45,000 to $130,000. A complete ADU runs $90,000 to $220,000. These are the numbers we give families before any work begins, and they do not change once the crew arrives.
Every Cambridge Pavers project we price includes the full base rebuild: excavation to the correct depth, geotextile fabric where soil conditions call for it, compacted aggregate base, screeded bedding layer, paver installation with edge restraint, and polymeric sand in the joints. We do not quote pavers on top of an existing base unless that base has been verified as sound. The price you see on paper is the price you pay at the end – no footnotes.
Our 365-Day Done Right Promise covers every completed project. If something is not right after the work is complete, we make it right.
See the difference
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AfterDIY or Call Us?
Cambridge Pavers are heavy, typically three to five pounds per stone, and a full patio project means moving several tons of material. The bigger risk in Pasadena is the base work. Clay soil expands and contracts with moisture, and a base that is not compacted in lifts with the right aggregate will fail within two rainy seasons. The pavers you can learn to lay. The base is where experience matters.
What you can safely do yourself: confirm the paver series by measuring and checking for the underside stamp, clear debris from the joints, and take photos of the current condition from several angles before you call anyone. That gives us a head start. For the actual reset or new installation, call (626) 714-2992 and we will schedule a walkthrough. We bring the sample boards, check your base, and give you a written price before any work starts. Shoe covers and drop cloths included, because we know the crew will be walking through your house to reach the yard.
FAQs
Cambridge Pavers themselves typically last 30 to 50 years with proper base installation. The base underneath is the variable. In Pasadena’s clay soil, a properly compacted base with good drainage will support decades of use, while a thin or poorly compacted base can start showing settlement within five years. The pavers rarely fail first; the ground beneath them does.
Yes, in most cases we can lift and reset a failing section of pavers, rebuild the base under that section, and re-lay the original stones. The challenge is color matching if any pavers need replacement. We address that by pulling pavers from a less visible area to fill the repair zone and installing new pavers in the less visible spot. Call (626) 714-2992 and we will tell you honestly whether a partial repair makes sense for your specific situation.
A typical patio or walkway installation takes three to five working days from excavation to final compaction. Larger projects tied to a home addition or ADU take longer because the paving work has to be sequenced with the structure, utilities, and inspections. We will give you a written schedule with the written price, and we will tell you which days the crew will be in your yard and what quiet hours we will respect.
We order Cambridge Pavers directly from the West Coast distributor for every project, which means we handle delivery, staging, and any shortage or damage claims. You do not need to source pavers yourself, and we do not charge a markup on our own ordering process. We also work with KraftMaid, Cambria, and Silestone for interior portions of home addition and ADU projects, so the whole build coordinates under one written scope and one responsible team.
Call for a Free Estimate
If you are planning a Cambridge Pavers home addition or ADU in Pasadena, call (626) 714-2992 to schedule a walkthrough. Graham Stein and the crew will measure your space, check your base, and give you a written price before any work begins. We answer the phone with a live person, 24/7, and we will leave your house with a photo of the clean-up before we go.
Written by Graham Stein, Owner, Elmstead Remodeling Pasadena at Elmstead Remodeling Pasadena, serving Pasadena and nearby areas.
