Key Takeaways
A Belgard Authorized Contractor is vetted by Belgard, with insurance, installation certification, a workmanship warranty, and inspected projects.
Master Craftsman is the program's elite level, requiring years of experience, a longer workmanship warranty, and expert installation reviewed by Belgard.
Homeowners benefit from better design support, including Belgard's 3D design tools, and from an installer trained on the products.
You can verify any contractor's status yourself using Belgard's contractor locator.
Why the Installer Matters as Much as the Product
Belgard is one of the most recognized names in pavers, retaining walls, and outdoor living products. Homeowners see their work in magazines, showrooms, and advertising, and many arrive at a first conversation already hoping for a Belgard patio, driveway, or fire feature.
There is something worth knowing before you buy. The finest paver in the world performs only as well as the base beneath it, the drainage around it, and the hands that set it. A premium product installed poorly becomes a premium problem.
That is exactly why Belgard created its contractor program, and why the credentials behind it are worth understanding.
What Is a Belgard Authorized Contractor?
Belgard describes its Authorized Contractors as professionals who meet its standards for quality installation and reliable service. The program is not a sign you can buy. Contractors are vetted, and the requirements are ongoing, not a one-time event.
They generally include:
Proof of insurance and standing with Belgard's distribution network
Installation certification, such as CMHA certification (previously ICPI or NCMA)
A workmanship warranty of at least three years
Inspected installations. Belgard representatives review completed Belgard projects each year and approve the quality of the work.
Ongoing training on new products, design tools, and installation methods, including areas such as porcelain and permeable paving
In short, an Authorized Contractor has been examined, trained, and held to a standard, and is reviewed again every year.
What Is a Master Craftsman?
Master Craftsman sits at the top of the program. Belgard describes it as recognition for exceptional skill, extensive experience, and a proven record of outstanding results.
A Master Craftsman must first meet every requirement of an Authorized Contractor, and then go further. The requirements include:
At least five years of installation experience
A five-year workmanship warranty, longer than the standard level
Expertise across hardscape installation, reviewed and approved by a Belgard representative
Regular use of design software, such as Belgard's design tools, to plan projects properly
Significant annual installation volume across pavers, walls, and outdoor features, reviewed by Belgard
The result is a small group of installers recognized for both experience and consistency. At West Hills Masonry, we are proud to hold this designation and to carry one of Belgard's highest contractor recognitions.
What This Means for You as a Homeowner
Credentials are only useful if they change the outcome. Here is how this one does.
You get an installer who knows the product deeply. Belgard pavers, walls, and outdoor living elements each have specific installation requirements: base depth, compaction, edge restraint, joint materials, drainage, and pattern layout. Contractors who work with these products every year learn what matters, and what shortcuts to avoid.
Your project is planned with better tools. Authorized contractors can use Belgard's design software to show you realistic 3D renderings of your space before construction. Combined with our landscape architect partner, Lance, and our full-color design presentation, you see the project clearly before it begins.
Your work is reviewed. Belgard representatives inspect completed projects. That outside review is one more layer of accountability beyond our own standards.
Your installer stands behind the work. A workmanship warranty is a requirement of the program, and the Master Craftsman level asks for a longer one. To see how we describe our own coverage, read Built to Last, Backed in Writing: The West Hills Masonry Warranty.
You have access to the full range. From classic pavers to permeable systems, porcelain, retaining walls, and outdoor kitchens and fire features, a trained contractor can guide you to the right product for your property instead of the one they happen to know.
Where Belgard Products Shine
The projects where we use Belgard most often include:
Paver patios and terraces for dining, lounging, and entertaining
Driveways and motor courts that need strength and curb appeal
Pool decks where slip resistance, heat, and appearance all matter
Retaining walls and seat walls that shape grade changes into usable space
Outdoor kitchens and fire features built as part of one cohesive design
Walkways and steps that connect the spaces of the property
Across Newport Beach, San Clemente, Dana Point, and Newport Coast, these are the elements that give a home its outdoor identity.
Why Installation Quality Decides Everything
A great Belgard project is built mostly below the surface. Most paver problems, including settling, shifting, pooling water, and uneven joints, trace back to base preparation and drainage, not to the product.
That is why our process starts with design and planning. We study how water moves across the property, prepare the base properly, compact in the right layers, and plan edges and transitions with care. Then the pavers go in, and the finish you see is the result of everything you cannot.
How to Verify a Contractor's Status
Belgard makes it simple to check a contractor yourself. Their website includes a contractor locator that lists Authorized Contractors and shows their level. We encourage every homeowner to verify credentials, whichever contractor you choose.
A few questions are worth asking any installer who mentions Belgard:
Are you currently listed as a Belgard Authorized Contractor? At what level?
What is your workmanship warranty, and is it in writing?
Who on your team holds installation certification?
Can I see completed Belgard projects nearby?
How will you handle drainage and base preparation on my property?
Begin With a Design Consultation
If you are imagining a Belgard patio, driveway, wall, or outdoor kitchen, the best first step is a conversation. We will look at your property, talk through how you want to use it, and show you what is possible with the right product installed the right way.
To get started, visit westhillsmasonry.com/contact or call West Hills Masonry at 714-519-5009.
Related reading: Finding the Best Masonry Contractors Near You