Raised Paver Patio Repair in Saline

This past week we performed an extensive raised paver patio repair in Saline. This multi-level brick paver patio was in distress and needed the raised patio walls & caps to be firmed up.  Brick Doctor Bill and his qualified staff was up for the challenge and the paver patio repair service began.

We first removed all the paving stones from each level so we could evaluate & re-compact the old base material. New paver base was added to set the proper paver patio height & pitches. The biggest challenge was to relevel and sure up all the modular retaining wall blocks & caps.  Most of the current retaining wall caps were loose and shifted. This resulted in alot of the paving stones shifting and eventually sinking & gapping. Loose caps also present a safety issue.

We removed all the caps, re-leveled blocks as needed, and reinstalled the caps to fit tight and accurately. Some new caps where needed for replacement and re-cutting proper angles. All caps were adhered using a SRW adhesive.

All the paving stones were reinstalled with proper brick paver installation techniques & pitches. It was necessary to use an additional bundle of a new style of paver around the inside of the raised paver patio caps laid in a sailor's rope pattern.  The reason we needed some additional paving stones was that the current style of pavers was no longer available.  When you reinstall most large brick paver projects, you will need to recut pavers as they will not all fit back into place.  The customer actually liked this new added detail and said it helped freshen up the look.

It is very important to keep the caps of any raised paver patio, paver porch, or steps secured so the paving stones do not begin to shift or gap.  The same holds true for the modular retaining wall blocks. As they shift or loosen, all base material & paving stones will follow.

A minor brick paver repair service call now will save $1,000's of dollars later as this homeowner experienced.  Remember that brick pavers are low maintenance, not NO maintenance!

Best Time to do Brick Paver Repair

Interlocking Pavers and Paving Stones

When the winter frost starts to come out of the ground in Ann Arbor, Michigan, brick paver customers begin to get anxious if they have brick paver or retaining wall repairs.  It is important to be patient about when those paver repairs are to be done.

I explain to my clients that it is important to wait until the ground has firmed up and is dry.  Winter freeze thaw cycles churn up the ground and make it very soft. My prior post explained some of the damaging effects of frost and what to observe when your paver patio or walk shows signs.

In Michigan and other Midwest states, we are fully aware of the numerous pot holes our roads experience in early Spring.  States impose "frost laws" on the roads which limits weight that can be hauled. This is intended to help save our roads from further damage as a result of the soft ground (subsoil) under our pavements.  The same holds true for interlocking pavers and modular retaining walls.

Barring any safety issues, the best time to do brick paver repair or retaining wall repair in Ann Arbor is usually June.  Usually after the April rains, May begins to have drier weather which allow the ground (subsoil) to firm up nicely. While performing brick paver repairs, it is important to recompact base material and reset your paving stones on a firm and compacted subsoil.

When a client reports a warranty or non-warranty brick paver repair, I assure them that their paver repair needs will be addressed.  It is always hard to pinpoint a date but we begin to address paver service calls in June to insure a proper repair process.  The biggest problem for us brick paver contractors in Ann Arbor is that June is our busiest brick paver installation month of the year.  So it is a double edged sword.  As a paving contractor, we have a limited time to be profitable with the Michigan climate and at the same time have the man power & resources to perform service calls.

Be patient with your brick paver contractor if it takes until Late Spring or Early Summer to perform some brick paver or retaining wall repairs.  I always make exceptions for paver repairs  that present a safety issue, such as, a tripping hazzard. As a client, it always helps the process by sending pictures of the needed repair to your brick paver contractor.

This dilemma for paving contractors and customers alike is why I have specialized in brick paver repair, cleaning, sealing, and paver maintenance service as our main focus of business. After almost 10,000 brick paver installations and repairs, it is time reinvent my business to the brick paver after-market services that clients desperately need.