Hand-set hardscape that lasts decades.
Hardscape is the bones of the outdoor environment. Get it wrong and the property feels assembled. Get it right and twenty years later it still reads as inevitable. We design and hand-set every paver, every joint, every transition.
Scope of work.
Paver patios & walkways
Travertine, shellstone, large-format porcelain, custom-shaped clay pavers. Hand-set joints, sand-swept or polymeric-locked. Engineered base for Naples soil.
Natural stone
Bluestone, fieldstone, limestone, flagstone — selected for the project, set by hand. Stone work that looks like the property has always been there.
Pool decks & coping
Designed as part of the pool composition, not bolted on. Custom coping profiles, anti-slip surfaces, integrated drainage for Florida storms.
Retaining walls & grade work
Block, stone-faced, poured-in-place. Engineered for the slope, dressed for the landscape.
Driveways & auto courts
Cobblestone, brick, custom-cut pavers, polished concrete. Designed for the architecture, sized for the property.
Common questions.
How do you install pavers in Naples, Florida?
For most patios, pool decks, and outdoor living spaces in Naples, we recommend installing pavers over a reinforced, 4-inch concrete slab. This creates a stable, long-lasting foundation that helps prevent settlement, reduces weed and ant intrusion, and properly supports heavy structures such as pergolas and outdoor kitchens. After the concrete cures, we apply a waterproofing and crack-suppression membrane before installing the pavers in a dry-pack mortar bed. Natural stone pavers can often be installed with tight, butt-jointed seams for a clean, grout-free appearance. Porcelain pavers are installed similarly to an interior tile floor, with consistent grout joints for proper alignment and durability. Sand-set installation is also available, but we generally reserve this method for driveways and select smaller hardscape projects. Our installation method is determined by the paver material, site conditions, drainage requirements, and the intended use of the space.
What paver materials hold up best in Naples?
Travertine and shellstone are gulf-coast classics for their feel underfoot and tolerance for salt. Large-format porcelain is gaining ground for hurricane-resistance and stain control. We specify per project.
Do you handle drainage and soil prep, or just the surface?
We handle everything below the surface too. Naples soil and rainfall require properly engineered base prep — geotextile underlayment, graded base, drainage integration. The work you do not see is what makes the work you see last.
What is the difference between hand-set and machine-set?
Every joint, every cut, every transition is set by hand on a Knaak project. Machine-set is faster and cheaper but you can see it ten years later. We do not work that way.
How long does a hardscape project take?
Depends entirely on scope. A patio replacement is weeks. A full estate hardscape installation runs several months and stages with the broader project.
Eleven consecutive Best of Houzz awards · 2020 HGTV People's Choice Award, Cape Coral
Begin a conversation.
Introduce the property and the vision. Rob personally reviews every inquiry — typically responds within two business days.
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