Paver Tip: Sweep in Joint Sand to Winterize Your Pavers

Necessary paver maintenance for Winter

If your pavers patio, walkway, driveway, porch, etc.. is in need of paver joint sand this Fall, this is an important time to perform this brick paver maintenance service.  One of the most important steps in winterizing your pavers is making sure the paver joints are filled with joint sand.

Winter snow, ice, and melt off will run into paver joints that are not filled with joint sand and may create preventable settling, erosion, or heaving.  I gave some suggestions for preparing your pavers for Winter in an earlier post about winterizing brick pavers. A quick review will  help you insure long-term performance of your paving stones patio, walkway, or driveway.



Paver joint sand creates friction between paving stones causing vertical and rotating interlock to occur.  Paver joints play a cushioning role in preventing damage between paver to paver contact.  Angular or course joint sand will prevent sand movement and help sand retention in the paver joints, thus avoiding long term erosion or settling of your patio paving stones.

It is so simple to just sweep in paver joint sand. In the Fall, you can just concentrate on sweeping paver joint sand in the areas that are in need of joint sand.  Touch-up sweepings throughout the year will save you unnecessary paver repairs over the years. Neglect of this simple brick paver maintenance requirement will result in costly paver repairs.  So during this Halloween season, grab a broom from a witch and sprinkle in some paver joint sand from Lowe's and start brewing.

Common Paver Driveway Repair: Ruts into Garage

Interlocking pavers are perfect for driveways in Ann Arbor

We performed a brick paver driveway repair this week in Ann Arbor. This paver repair is a common repair you see not only for interlocking pavers, but also for cement, gravel, or asphalt driveways. Look at your current transition area between your driveway and cement floor and I am sure you have experienced imperfections, settling, chipping,and / or gaps.

Driveway ruts leading into the garage are very common and somewhat of a mystery.  Years ago I began reinforcing this area of pavers directly in front of the garage floor by installing extra layers of grid within the base material that was installed & increased layers of compaction.  I have seen good results but this area of a driveway, whether using brick pavers or not, seems to be susceptible to repairs or visible stress.

I have concluded that because this is an area of transition from one pavement, paving stones, to another pavement, usually cement, there is added load stress or frost damge.  One conclusion is that base material under the paving stones may slide under the cement floor of the garage during freeze thaw cycles. Another reason may be the load transfer from the cement surface to the paving stones creates vertical and/or lateral load force that stresses the paving stone & paver base material.

By adding additional reinforcement products like geo-textile fabric (below the base) and strata-grid (within layers of the base), extra layers of compaction (2-3" lifts), and stronger paver laying patterns (herringbone or random joints) have help eliminate the severity of this common brick paver repair. 

This paver driveway repair we performed in Ann Arbor this past week had approx. 8ft long ruts leading into all 3 garage door entrances.  When performing this paver repair, it is necessary to lift up the entire stretch across the garage floor, not just where the ruts exist.  Another brick paver contractor recommended to this customer that they lift and repair the actual rut areas only.  I easily showed the customer with a carpenter's level that the areas in between the ruts are usually raised and the paving stones are tilted.  The whole area in front of the garage was compromised and needed proper attention.

We lifted up the entire paving stone area in front of the garage, re-compacted the base, added more base material, screeded the area for proper pitch, and re-installed the pavers.  I expect that the problem of having future driveway ruts will be minimal but not entirely impossible. This paver repair will reinforce the area for years to come. 



When we were completed with this driveway repair, there was not visible evidence that this area had been repaired. This is the long-term benefit and beauty of using interlocking brick pavers for your next driveway installation!

Redesign & Restoration of Homeowner's Brick Paver Patio

Brick Pavers allow for easy add-ons & redesign possibilities

We just completed this brick paver patio redesign & restoration in Ypsilanti that the homeowner installed himself years ago.  The homeowner had built their home on a tight budget and needed a serviceable patio for his family, so he installed a simple square paver patio under his upper level deck .  Now five years later, it was time to complete their dream of a beautiful & functional paver patio under their deck so they could expand their Outdoor Living space.

We started by keeping in the current installed paver patio by the homeowner by restoring and repairing areas that needed attention. This saved the homeowner considerable costs since we did not need to completely reinstall his paver installation.  After restoring, we reswept in new paver joint sand and recompacted the pavers with a power plate compactor to relevel & relock the paving stones.

Our redesign of the paver patio included adding on additional paving stones to make the patio area under the deck larger & more functional for the homeowner's needs.  We also created a design layout that best utilized the new paving stones with the old paving stones currently installed.  The finished paver installation was a success by meeting our client's overall objective and appearance expectations.

Interlocking pavers are one of the most versatile pavements or products for Outdoor Living spaces  when it comes to modifications, redesign, add-ons, or replacement. Cement, asphalt, wooden decks, etc..  are much more restrictive and show ill effects if repaired, modified, or replaced. Given the variable of time, interlocking pavers and modular retaining wall systems offer the the best economical, appearance, and functional choice. A good brick paver contractor will specialize in coming up with redesign solutions that utilize your current paver products and materials that will result in cost savings to you.

Brick Paver Joint Sand: Change in my Recommendation

#1 Brick Paver Maintenance Requirement

For years now I have preached to my clients, "Do NOT sweep play sand into your brick paver joints!".  Well, I have a slight change in my recommendation for this yearly brick pavers maintenance requirement.  Play Sand generally is a fluffy yellow sand with very little granular substance to assist in bonding. In Ann Arbor, this type of sand graduation will splash or blow out of brick paver joints and make your experience with interlocking pavers frustrating. Silica Sand also does not perform well as a paver joint sand.

As mentioned in early posts, keeping your paver joints filled with joint sand is a crucial yearly requirement for the long-term performance of paver patios, walkways, driveways, porches, etc.. . Paver joint sand is essential in keeping proper lock-up of the paving stones and help deter the effects of erosion, settling, and weed growth.

Most brick paver manufacturers distribute an approved paver joint sand that is either privately labeled or from a national supplier.  Obviously these products are an approved paver joint sand to use for your interlocking pavers project but usually carry an unnecessary cost and not readily available to you geographically.

For the last 10 years I have been recommending and using Quikcrete's "all purpose sand" for paver joint sweeping. This all purpose sand had a similar sand graduation (sieve rate) as the more costly paver manufacturer's joint sand and is also screened, washed, and dried.  These processes are important to remove unwanted substances like dirt, weed seeds, and silt.

This past Spring I started to notice that  Quikcrete's "all purpose sand" was beginning to have a larger sand graduation (sieve rate) which was allowing larger pebbles to be present in the mix. These larger pebbles of sand either do not sweep into the paver joints or lodge themselves in the joint, thus not allowing proper filling of the paver joints.  We found ourselves having to discard about of 1/3rd of each bag. This was not only inconvenient but eliminated any cost savings.

I did some further investigation and discovered that Quikcrete's "Premium" play sand had a similar sand graduation (sieve rate) to the paver manufacturer's paver joint sand. It also is screened, washed, and dried. Unlike cheap or the original fluffy play sand, this "premium" play sand has a granular mix to assist in bonding & lock-up. It also has enough sand fines to allow for easy and successful filling of paver joints. 

I do want to say that I am not recommending "all" play sands. My investigation at this point has only concluded that Quikcrete's "Premium" play sand is an acceptable joint sand for your brick paver joints.


At Lowe's and Home Depot, this play sand runs @ $3.50 per bag. This is a considerable savings from the $7.50-$8 / bag for paver manufacturer joint sand bags. I understand that there is a cost for private labels and convenience, but this is an unnecessary cost for clients who can easily obtain an acceptable replacement at a local hardware store.

Brick Paver Steps Down to Basement Walkout Patio Replaced

New Brick Pavers Steps lead to Paver Patio

In Ann Arbor this past week, we replaced some unsightly and dangerous patio block steps that had deteriorated and eroded. These dilapidated steps lead down to a basement walkout paver patio that was also repaired and increased in size.  The step replacement was the customer's immediate need for our services.

The old brick steps were loose, sunken, and slippery which all contributed to an unsafe path down to the brick paver patio.  I see these make shift steps all the time leading from an upper grade down to the lower level.  A good design and execution of installing proper paver steps is essential for long-term success & beauty.


I decided to use UNILOCK's Siena Stone Coping Step Units for this particular application.  They are large massive units that when properly installed, should not fail. They have preset 7.5" rises, 4ft wide, and are 20" deep for a comfortable & safe tread.  These particular units weigh over 300lbs and require equipment placement or brute strength to set in place.  We used the latter with some aid from a tree ball cart.

We needed to strategize the placement of these concrete stone steps by evaluating the total height and slope.  Each set of these paver steps would require small brick paver pads in between to transition to each set of steps.  Because the grade in this area was inconsistent, we had a 2-5-2 placement of stone steps. An experience brick paver contractor can foresee or adjust to challenges when if comes to installing landscape steps.

The biggest challenge for designing & installing paver steps is to create a structure that can deter erosion.  Because of the natural slope of grades, water will travel faster and therefore challenge the ground or landscape.  I use two different application approaches when designing & installing paver steps.

Beating the Grade

The first is called "beating the grade" which I have coined over the years for installing the steps and/or paver pads above the grade. Thus, "beating" the grade so water flow does not go over the brick paver step installation but around.  This method is better suited for grades that are gradual and not steep. This is the method we used in today's job post.

Inset Steps

When the grade is steep, the second method  called "encasing or insetting" is the better approach. This "encasing or insetting" method is installing your paver steps "into" the grade and creating sidewalls to prevent erosion onto the paver steps or paver pads. This method is more expensive due to more product needed and added labor but the aesthetic value and appearance is unmatched.



Which ever method is used for installing brick steps down a grade, proper landscaping around the borders and edges is crucial.  Grass, wood mulch, or stone mulch is needed to protect any areas where water may erode.  If you experience any signs of erosion around or on top of your newly installed paver steps, make sure you address the area immediately to avoid unnecessary and costly future paver repair.

In terms of paver maintenance for steps, keep paver joint sand swept into the brick paver pads in between. The step stones or step blocks & caps do not need sand swept inside them but make sure the caps are secure and blocks do not gap. Keep one thing in mind, if a lower paver step begins to excessively settle or move, upper paver steps will soon follow so do not wait to address this need for repair.

Pavers Patio 5 Year Check up : Awesome!

Outdoor Living Space created by paving stones & retaining walls

Recently I received a call from a past client who wanted to have some additional brick paver work done. This was a great opportunity for me to perform a "check up" on the paver patio installation I performed 5 years ago. It is not often you get the time or opportunity to inspect paver installations from 5 years earlier.

This homeowner has been diligent in doing the basic brick paver maintenance requirements for paving stones. They have swept paver joint sand in the paver joints each Spring and made sure that the landscape (grass & mulch) around the edges have been maintained.  A few caps on the sitting walls had come loose over the years due to winter frost but the customer was able to easily re-glue with the proper adhesive.

It is important for any brick paver contractor to spend the time at the completion of the brick paver project to educate their customer on the ongoing paver maintenance requirements.  Not only does this help during the warranty period, but this will insure the long-term success and appearance of brick pavers and modular retaining walls.  This particular customer made a sizable investment in their landscape pavers and wanted to insure its performance.

This brick paver patio project was intended to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing Outdoor Living Space to entertain family & friends.  The biggest feature is the Firepit with accompanying Sitting Walls for roasting marshmallows & hot dogs. A built-in Grill and privacy retaining walls around the Hot Tub created a unique custom design.  The paver patio steps lead up to a composite deck for added beauty and stability. The final touch was the " lion pit" installed for the egress window. Not only was it a safe & functional project, but it was the best aesthetically pleasing and matching structure.

This old world tumbled paver was Unilock's Brussels Block pavers and Brussels Dimensional  retaining wall system.  The color was Mahogany which is a color mix of Limestone & Sandstone and creates a great "taupe" hue. Many of my customers prefer an unfinished natural look over a straight line manicured appearance.  Tumbled pavers and modular retaining wall blocks typically carry an additional 50% or more per unit costs. This extra cost is due to the additional production process of tumbling the paver products and the manual restacking onto pallets.

I have always advised my customers not to seal tumbled pavers.  Sealing pavers that are tumbled will remove the scratches & textures that make them looked aged & natural. If you ever choose to seal tumbled pavers, make sure you wait atleast a year to allow the dust to wear off the surface of the paving stones or wall blocks.  If you are concerned about the tracking or disappearance of the joint sand, polymeric sand is your solution without having to seal your paver patio, walkway, driveway, porch, etc.. .

If you want to have your brick pavers project maintain the same beauty & function as it did the day it was installed, you will need to perform some minor paver maintenance each year or hire a brick paver specialist to perform this service for you.  This particular customer wanted to protect their investment and today they are reaping the rewards!  Bring on the Smores and break out the Towne Club soda and lets party!

Brick Paver Porch and Steps: Total Porch Replacement

Porch replacement using brick pavers

We completed a Brick Paver Porch and Steps installation that not only improved our clients curb appeal, but also made their front porch more functional and safer.  This existing old cement porch and poured concrete steps had begun to settle and deteriorate. The homeowners main concern for safety was that the rises on the cement steps were over 9" each and the treads where only 9" wide.

The first objective for the new design of this paver porch and steps installation was to make the step risers and treads safer.  This would require us to add another paver step to decrease the overall step risers to reach the top of the porch.  Because the new paver steps could not go out any farther into the driveway, the new paver porch needed to have new dimensions to facilitate an additional paver step.

We completely removed the old cement porch and steps with sledge hammers, pry bars, and a diamond blade saw.  We were real close to renting an air jack hammer & compressor but after a pot of coffee and some Tim Horton's Tim Bits, this porch removal moved forward at a swift pace.  The dirt fill inside the old porch was removed to allow for crushed gravel to allow proper drainage.

We constructed the new paver porch using Fendt's Old World Country Manor for the porch walls & paver steps, and we used Fendt's Holland Paver laid in a 45 degree Herringbone pattern for the top landing inset. The newly created rises where a safe and comfortable 6.5" each.  The newly capped paver steps now had a 12" tread for added safety and beautiful finish.

This particular brick paver porch and steps installation was a TOTAL PORCH REPLACEMENT project. There are 2 other applications of paver porches that we perform.  Below is a brief description of the other two pavers porch applications.

PORCH OVERLAY:
When the existing porch's overall structure is sound but the top cement stoop is unsightly, a brick paver porch overlay application can be performed. As long as there is clearance for the door to open with the thickness of the pavers on top of the old cement porch, the pavers can be adhered along the outside borders and the brick paver pattern laid within these borders. A simple paver joint sand or polymeric sand can be swept in all the joints.  The 4-7" thick cement cap face is also hidden by adhering the pavings stones to the face. This technique requires a little strategy and sometimes we need to construct some temporary support until the adhesive sets. This paver porch installation is usually the cheapest of the 3 options listed in this post.

PORCH ENCLOSURE:

BEFORE

AFTER

When conditions allow and the old cement porch can not allow for a porch overlay application as described above, a paver porch enclosure is considered.  The porch enclosure application requires us to construct a modular retaining wall frame around the porch and then lay paving stones within this frame.  In essence, the old cement porch is "buried" and left as a foundation within the structure.  This paver porch application is used for more "cosmetic" improvement then for a structural need.  This option usually costs less than the total porch replacement application because the homeowner saves the removal & disposal cost of the old porch. The old cement porch condition will determine if this application can be performed.

The overall condition of the existing cement porch & steps and the objectives for the design of the pavers porch & steps will determine which paver porch application will work. We evaluate each situation and recommend the appropriate application that meets the customer's need and budget. Paver porches & steps dramatically improve function and curb appeal.

 

Paver porches have become the new trend in today's porch replacement needs of homeowners. Many new home construction plans are designing paver porches. Aside from roof replacement, porch replacements are one of the most common outdoor home improvement projects.

Paver Patio under Deck restored to original beauty!

Pavers Patio rejuvenated in Ann Arbor

Early this past week, we restored a brick paver patio in Ann Arbor that the past homeowner neglected and installed themselves.  The new homeowner was renovating the house and wanted to restore the current pavers patio to its original beauty and function.

The existing pavers patio had settled in several spots and the outside soldier course had creeped out and sunk.  The brick paver joints where full of dirt, moss, grass, and soot from water puddling areas.  This paving stone patio also pitched back towards the house and did not have any paver edge restraint.  The new homeowner was finishing their walk out basement and the pavers patio was a necessary part of their entertaining and enjoyment.

To save the customer some money, I suggested we reuse the current tumble pavers named Old World Vintage which is produced by Fendt in Michigan.  The homeowner wanted to expand the size of the pavers patio to accommodate a newly purchased hot tub.  We did inspect the current paver base material and found it to be sufficient for reinstalling. This also saved the customer a considerable cost.

We lifted up the current paving stones, power washed them off, excavated the additional areas to be paved, install the proper base material in the new areas, and recompacted the existing base.  We added additional base material to properly pitch the pavers patio out into the yard and away from the house.

Because the homeowner had increased the size of the existing pavers patio design, I suggested that we purchase some more Old World Vintage and use the new paving stones as the soldier course border for framing.  This paver design approach would give us enough square feet of paving stone to complete the pavers patio new dimensions and give the overall appearance some consistency.

We reinstalled the existing paving stones with the new pavers for the soldier course border and the end result was spectacular! The pavers patio was properly pitched out from the house to the yard and a cement bead edge restraint was installed.  The new paver soldier course border gave a fresh new look and texture that improved the overall appearance of this patio.

We finished off the project with paver joint sand after using the plate compactor to create lock up of the paving stones.  We left the homeowner an extra bag of paver joint sand for any future touch ups this Fall.  We instructed the customer to wait until next Spring to either seal their pavers patio or re-sweep in regular joint sand or polymeric sand.  

We spent about a half hour after the pavers patio was completed educating the homeowner on future brick paver maintenance requirements, sealing or polymeric sand options, and the landscape needs around the outside of the patio borders.  After receiving a hearty handshake and hug from the homeowners, we reminded them we enjoy outdoor parties and hot tubs too!

Gardenscape changed to Paver Patio

Interlocking Pavers show versatility

Recently I was hired to modify an existing brick paver Gardenscape into a fully functional Pavers Patio in Saline. This interlocking paver gardenscape design was very creative but really not functional for entertaining or casual use. This wheel & spoke design with a small inner hub did not allow enough room to be functional or allow for patio furniture. Properly designed paver patio projects will not only give years of beauty but ease of use .

I suggested that we remove the existing periwinkle ground cover and fill in the quarter circles with additional paving stones. I also suggested we use a different shape & color paving stone to achieve "paver quilting" design. Paver quilting is an brick paver industry term for mixing paving stone textures, shapes, colors, and laying patterns to achieve a quilt like design.  I also suggested we lay them in an opposite direction so they would stand out and give some additional contrast.

I also suggested we remove the center brick paver wheel & spoke design and install a fully functional Firepit made from Fendt's Fire Block kit.  These brick paver patio modifications will create a large back yard patio that will give years of enjoyment for entertaining, sun bathing, and roasting marshmallows! The homeowner wanted to have a large patio table & umbrella, multiple patio chairs, and loungers.

This brick paver project took 2 days to complete and the end result was spectacular. The beauty of interlocking pavers is that the homeowner could use their new paver patio and firepit immediately. Brick pavers do not require any dry setting so they become fully functional upon completion. That very evening our customer entertained guests and had  an attractive fire that all enjoyed making smores. This paver project serves as another brick paver installation that meets the needs of the customer! Always keep in mind that brick pavers allow for easy modifications to meet your ever changing needs or wants. Adding on or relaying pavers is one of the many advantages that interlocking pavers offer.

Retaining Wall Repair needed quickly in Ann Arbor

Repair of Landscape Wall

We were needed recently to repair a Retaining Wall in Ann Arbor that was beginning to collapse. The corner of this retaining wall was beginning to separate and slide off it's bottom foundation. The homeowner had recently noticed further gapping of the blocks and leaning of the wall towards his front walk.  Time was of the essence and the modular retaining wall needed total reconstruction.

The homeowner was frustrated because the original landscape architect & contractor would not properly address the issues regarding this landscape retaining wall.  Because of my 27 years experience constructing & repairing modular retaining wall systems, I had some theories as to the reason this block wall had drastically settled.

From my visual inspection, I had noticed that the 90 degree corner of this retaining wall had failed miserably and some lower modular blocks had "slid" off the ones below them. This particular retaining wall system is Fendt's Keystone Old World Country Manor and requires a fiberglass pin system to hold the structure together.  These modular retaining wall blocks also have a hollow center that requires to be filled with gravel.

I had concluded from my visual inspection that these  2 key factors contributed to the failure of this retaining wall system.  As we disassemble this landscape wall, my conclusions were accurate. See the pictures to the right to see the poor installation of these retaining wall blocks.

The corners of modular retaining wall systems are the most important part of any large landscape walls.  They require extra reinforcement because the brunt of hydro static pressure & gravity can compromise the weakest part of any retaining wall construction. This retaining wall lacked the basic requirement of fiberglass pins to help secure the blocks in place. The landscape contractor choose to just "glue" the corner blocks. The result was a lower landscape block "sliding" off the foundation block below and allowing the pressure to push the retaining wall out.

As we tore down the complete wall due to excessive gapping, leaning, & settling, we also observed that none of the block's hollow centers & gaps were filled with gravel.  Filling all voids in a modular retaining wall system is required to give the wall additional mass.  Landscape wall systems are engineered with minimum specifications to help insure long-term performance. This particular retaining wall failed to meet 2 key installation specifications.

We disassembled the entire retaining wall from the top down. We re-leveled and recompacted the gravel base, reinstalled the bottom blocks to the correct level, and reconstructed the modular retaining wall blocks one-by-one, using the correct number & location of fiberglass pins and filled all voids with gravel. The finishing touch was to re-cap the wall and touch up the surrounding landscape.

We paid special attention to the corner of this retaining wall.  We replaced the small blocks the past contractor used and used the larger blocks in the retaining wall system so we could properly pin the units. We also constructed the corner using the "log cabin" method of overlapping the corner units as each row was stacked, pinned, filled, and backfilled. 

This retaining wall repair situation is very common in Ann Arbor. The landscape architect & contractor had a good design and good use of product, but the execution of installing was poor.  It does take some expertise & experience installing modular retaining wall systems properly. This particular landscape wall construction should have started and constructed from the corner out. It only took "one" block to slide out and destroy the performance of this very popular retaining wall application.

Brick Paver Path and Step solves a problem

Interlocking Pavers have many uses

This customer had a problem with an area on the side of the house that would not grow grass. This area was also used by their lawn service company to enter & exit the backyard.  This problem area was always muddy and had ruts from the riding mowers.

The customer needed a solution for the lawn service company's access and they wanted a decorative appearance for this area.  Mulch, ground cover, or grass was not a viable option. The solution:  A brick paverpaver step path & off the porch would meet both the customer's needs.

Brick pavers are not always the most economical solution but they give added aesthetic and functional value that is unmatched.  We kept the overall price down by using the brick paver manufacturers overstock pavers and mixed colors too. The color mix of the paving stones gave a unique autumn color appearance.  We also laid a simple 90 degree herringbone pattern with a soldier course border and this kept the need for saw cutting to a minimum.

The paver step was added off the side of the front porch to facilitate the use of the brick paver path by the homeowner.  We finished off the inside of this paver path with a brick on edge along the inside of the paving stones to create a lip for mulch and soil around the plants.

The hidden gem here was that the customer now uses this brick paver path to receive packages in the back for their home business. Pavers can be a great solution for problems you have never thought of before.  We have created columns & pillars, grills and fireplaces, fire pits, driveway strips along the outside of concrete drives, sandboxes, and more!


 Did you know that paving stones can bring your unsightly porch back to life?  There are many different applications for porches and that will be demonstrated & explained in a future post.