Start with the base, not the brochure
Interlock contractors can all show attractive pavers. The more useful question is what happens underneath them. Ask how deep the site will be excavated, what base materials will be used, how the lifts will be compacted and how the existing soil and intended use change that plan. A driveway carrying vehicles needs a different build than a light-use garden path.
Drainage should be explained before construction starts
Water needs somewhere to go. The contractor should be able to explain finished grades, how water will move away from the house, where downspouts or low points are handled and whether nearby beds, steps or neighbouring properties create constraints. A beautiful surface with poor drainage is not a finished solution.
Get the scope in writing
A useful quote should make the work understandable: demolition or excavation, disposal, base preparation, bedding layer, pavers, cuts, edge restraint, jointing material, steps or borders, restoration and cleanup. If two quotes are thousands of dollars apart, compare the scope before comparing the final number.
Ask about freeze-thaw details
Southern Ontario repeatedly freezes and thaws. Movement problems are often caused by poor base preparation, trapped water, weak edges or shortcuts around transitions. The contractor should be comfortable explaining how the installation is designed for local conditions rather than treating the base as an invisible place to save money.
Look at workmanship, not only finished glamour shots
Close-up photos of cuts, edges, steps, transitions and finished grading can tell you more than a wide photo taken on installation day. Ask for examples similar to your project and, where practical, work that has already been through a few winters.
Confirm insurance, timing and site responsibility
Before work begins, know who is responsible for permits if any are required, utility locates, access, material storage, protection of lawns and gardens, daily cleanup and final restoration. Confirm insurance and make sure there is one accountable point of contact.
Choose the plan that makes sense for your property
The right contractor is not automatically the lowest or highest quote. It is the one whose scope, preparation and communication make sense for the property and whose finished work matches the standard you expect.