Brick Paver Repairs in Progress

We are currently repairing a brick paver raised patio that has experienced considerable settling over the past few years. The homeowner noticed some settling a few years ago but ignored the pavers and walls until this past winter resulted in considerable failure.

Upon tearing down the modular retaining walls that were used to raise the brick paver patio, we noticed that the installing contractor did not use a geotextile fabric behind the retaining walls to keep the base material from filtering out. Also, the base in the trench under the modular retaining wall blocks was not wrapped by filter fabric either. A key installation item that was missed by the installing brick paver contractor was the lack of landscape or grade build up on the outside of the the raised brick paver patio walls. It is crucial to bury rows of blocks or build up the soil to bury the bottom rows of block to help avoid any flushing of base under the walls. The result of the wall failure was due to erosion and shifting of the base. As the base begins to erode,flush, or shift, the corresponding bedding coarse & pavers shortly follow by shifting and sinking.

We reinstalled the modular blocks over a re compacted base wrapped in filter fabric. After stacking the retaining wall back to the proper height, a geotextile fabric was installed behind the wall prior to re compacting base. We will wet the base and compact behind the wall a few times to try and maximize the compaction so the base will not settle and the brick pavers will not move either.

I explained to the homeowner that it is very important to address any visible settling of their brick pavers or retaining walls as soon as possible. A $100-200 brick repair a couple of years ago would have saved them the $1,600 repair of brick pavers they have now! We had to reinstall the retaining walls and lift & reinstall over 50% of the paver patio.

Brick Paver Repair Options

On many of my brick paver repair estimates, I am asked to give pricing options for the repairs of their brick paver patio, sidewalk, driveway, porches, steps, or retaining walls. Usually these pricing options include doing the paver repairs using the "band aid" approach or the total reinstalling of the interlocking brick paver or modular retaining wall project.

The dilemma for the homeowner is to decide whether to accept the "band aid" approach which is usually considerably cheaper, or biting the bullet and accepting the commitment to properly reinstall the paver project. Because of the price disparity of these approaches, their are considerable questions and angst by the customers.

The "band aid" approach is referred to as the "cosmetic" approach. The homeowner wants me to just "make it look better" at a minimal cost. I tell customers that the "band aid" approach is a short term repair method that will improve the appearance but not necessarily the long term performance of their brick paver installation. I usually have this request from people that are going to be selling their homes in the near future or if a pressing safety issue exists. Basically this approach is to "cosmetically" repair the paving stones or landscape walls without addressing the sub base below or the major issues that may result in future failures. I will only give a 90 day warranty on these type of repairs. I believe that this brick paver repair approach is more suited for minor settling or heaves from frost. The "band aid" approach should be used early on to correct any minor or small brick repairs that become visible. Too often customers let minor settling or heaving of pavers go unattended which results in major repairs & costs.

The other approach to brick paver repairs is to completely reinstall the brick pavers or modular retaining walls from the bottom up. This will require not only lifting up the paving stones or landscape blocks but completely removing and reinstalling the base & bedding course. Obviously the cost of this type of brick repair far exceeds the "band aid" approach. The customer does save the product costs which is the major advantage of interlocking brick pavers and modular retaining walls. I will usually warranty any total reinstallation project for 1-2years since I am completely reinstalling to my specifications which meet or exceed any brick paver manufacturer's, such as, Unilock or Belgard, recommended installation specs.

It is very disheartening to me for customer's to pay $1,000's of brick paver repairs after making a considerable investment in their paver patio, sidewalk, or driveway. Brick Pavers are NOT no maintenance. Paving stones & landscape blocks require some minor touch up maintenance to keep them beautiful and functional. It is much better to pay "band aid" prices of $100-$200 each couple of years with brick paver maintenance then to wait 5 years and let the pavers or walls collapse and cost $1000's to repair.