Courtyard Paving in New Orleans

Classic brick and stone courtyards in the French Quarter, Marigny, and Garden District tradition, built on a modern base that drains in tight enclosed spaces and holds its line for decades.

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The New Orleans courtyard is one of the oldest hardscape traditions in the country, and it is also one of the hardest to get right. A walled French Quarter or Marigny courtyard has nowhere to send its water, sits on soft delta soil, and lives under heavy rain and constant humidity. We build courtyards that honor the historic brick-and-stone look while solving the drainage and settling problems that wreck the ones laid the old way.

Why pavers belong in a courtyard

An enclosed courtyard is a bathtub waiting to happen. Surrounding walls trap runoff, and a poured concrete slab cracks, traps that water, and grows slick with mildew in the shade. Brick and stone pavers shed water through their joints, breathe with the humidity, and keep the timeless Garden District character. Best of all, when a root or a settled corner lifts a few units, we lift and reset them. Concrete gives you no second chance.

How we build it

Map where the water goes first, then set falls and pickups so an enclosed space actually drains
Compacted crushed-stone base with geotextile fabric over the soft alluvial soil
Brick, bluestone, or clay pavers laid in running bond, herringbone, or basketweave to match the period
Locked edge restraints against the walls and clean cuts around drains, planters, and tree wells
Polymeric jointing to hold the pattern, resist weeds, and stand up to wind-driven rain

Materials and patterns

Most New Orleans courtyards want a material with history. We work in reclaimed and new clay brick, bluestone, and tumbled stone pavers, set in the classic patterns you see behind the gates downtown.

Old brick running bond for the French Quarter and Marigny look
Herringbone and basketweave for a richer, more formal floor
Bluestone or large-format stone for a clean Garden District feel
Banding and borders to frame a fountain, planter, or seating area

Pairs well with

A courtyard rarely stands alone. We extend it to a back paver patio, connect the gates and side yards with walkways and pathways, and rebuild the entry transitions with new steps and stoops. When you are ready to plan one, get in touch for a written scope.

Serving the New Orleans metro

We restore and build courtyards in New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, River Ridge, Slidell, Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, and Abita Springs.

How do you drain a courtyard with walls on every side?

We set the paver field to slope toward channel drains or a discreet pickup, then carry that water out under the wall or to the street. Pavers help, because the open joints let water move instead of pooling on a sealed slab.

Can you match the historic brick in my older home?

Yes. We source reclaimed and new clay brick to match color and size, and lay it in the period pattern so the new floor reads as original to the property.

Do I need a permit for courtyard work in the French Quarter?

Historic districts have their own review on top of parish rules, and requirements vary by area and by parish. We check with the local office before we start and handle the paperwork as part of the job.

Will tree roots in the courtyard lift the pavers?

They can over time, which is exactly why pavers win here. We build tree wells and root barriers up front, and if a section ever shifts, we lift and reset those pavers instead of breaking out a slab.