A Paver Patio NOT installed by a Brick Paver Specialist

The other day I did a brick paver repair estimate for a paver patio in Ann Arbor. I immediately knew that this brick paver patio was NOT installed by a brick paver specialist. It was no surprise the client informed me that the Landscaper they hired installed this paving stone patio.

The first an foremost sign that an inexperience brick paver contractor installed this sub par paver patio is the absence of a soldier course row around the perimeter of the paver installation.  A soldier course row is usually the larger rectangular shape paving stones of the pattern, laid like a "row of soldiers", used to secure & frame the interlocking brick pavers.

The perimeter of most brick paver installations need a whole paving stone on the outside frame to better secure the diamond cut pieces of the pattern. Cut pieces will definitely sink or move if left on the outside edge of paving stones. Also, the paver edge restraint, whether plastic pvc or cement bead, will perform better.

The real advantage of "framing" your  brick pavers patio, walk, driveway, etc.. is the improved design appearance of the finished edges. Look all around your home for finished edges, tops, or bottoms, like trim molding, door & window jams, mason soldiers & ledges, and more. Not only are these "finished edges" functional but also ascetically pleasing. Your interlocking brick paver installation must have the same!

The second sign of this paver patio installation being installed by an inexperience landscaper is the rolling down of the paving stones on the outside edges. All too often, landscaping crews do not prep far enough out from the outside edges of the interlocking brick pavers.  Therefore, the outside edges will settle or "roll down" from the rest of the paving stones since the paver base material past the edges was not prepped or even installed.

For brick walkways, 4-5" minimum prep is needed past the edges of the interlocking pavers. Paver Patios minimum prep is 8"-10" and Paver Driveways 10-12" prep of base material past the edges of the paving stones. This will not only help prevent the ever noticeable edge "roll down" by inexperienced brick paver contractors but also give your paver edge restraint the proper base to be installed upon.

When getting estimates on your interlocking brick paver or retaining wall installations, make sure you do some research on the experience of the brick paver contractor you are hiring. Not all landscapers are inexperienced in installing paving stones, but a majority just add this service to their expanded repertoire.  Brick paver specialists and experts will perform all the major detail work and prep that will insure a long-term success of performance & appearance.

Small Paver Patio Repair after 5 Years Installed!

This past week in Ann Arbor, I did a small paver patio repair on a raised brick paver patio & brick walkway I installed 5 years ago. I am proud to see the results of this paver patio and the customer is as ecstatic today as the time we installed this project. The client had been frustrated with the constant upkeep & cost of a wooden deck. After years of substantial costs & sweat equity to maintain this wooden deck, the customer searched for a better solution.

The solution was a low maintenance modular retaining wall & paving stone constructed paver patio. I used UNILOCK's Pisa 2 retaining wall system to construct the paver patio frame and steps while laying Olde Greenwich Cobble as the paving stones.

This paver patio was installed in 2005 and after some severe winter climates and frosts in Michigan, it has remained intact and beautiful. The only repair needed was raising the paver soldier course along the back of the modular retaining wall caps. I talk about this paver repair in a previous post called "Top Brick Paver Repairs".

One of the major reasons that this raised paver patio and paver walkway has remained so beautiful and functional is due to the diligence of the homeowner. Each Spring they have swept in paver joint sand. A couple of years ago, they began using polymeric sand which not only aides in preventing weed & grass growth in the joints, it also helps prevent any erosion due to rain & snow. The homeowner also checked the modular retaining wall caps each Spring to make sure they were not loose. I had left them a caulking tube of Paver Bond adhesive so after my warranty they could keep them fastened.

After I completed this brick paver project, I took the time to educate the customer on the yearly maintenance requirements and the signs of possible future paver repair. I talk to them about the pros and cons of sealing pavers, what to do about the landscape around the paver installations, what not to leave on the paver patio in the winter, and when to contact me if certain areas begin to settle.

The most important tip that I gave this client was to contact me when there are signs of the paving stone soldier course settling along the back of the modular retaining wall caps on the raised paver patio area.  It took 5 years but they diligently did.  This $150 paver repair of the soldier course will protect this raised paver patio from excessively settling to avoid wall settling and a more costly repair.

The result of a proper brick paver installation & design, educating the homeowner,the homeowner performing simple maintenance, and a touch-up brick paver repair has been a beautiful & functional paver patio & walkway that this homeowner and contractor can appreciate. I am proud of this homeowner and more brick paver installations would remain this perfect if all involved would take pride in the effort and cost of paving stone installations.