New Life for Raised Brick Paver Patio

Raised Paver Patio in Canton Restored

Each day we are restoring Raised Brick Paver Patios in Canton that need immediate attention. Mainly due to the lack of routine long-term maintenance by homeowners over the last 15+ years, these interlocking paving stone patios have shifted & loosened over years of neglect & lack of joint sand sweepings. My team and I not only perform repair, cleaning, & sealing services, but we take the time to educate the homeowner on avoiding future costly repair costs.

If the paving stones, wall blocks, and caps are loose or drastically shifted, then the paver patio is in much need of attention.  Often the first sign of trouble is lack of paver joint sand in the paving joints. Weeds, dirt, moss, and grass take over the joints which are the most important function of interlocking brick pavers.

Another sign of distress is the "leaning out" of modular retaining wall blocks & caps that retain the patio.  Much of the "leaning" is caused by the settling of the paving stones behind the cap. When these paving stones settle below the top of the cap, water flowing over the patio begins to channel behind the wall blocks.  This slow long-term erosion and freeze thaw cycle pressure puts alot of hydrostatic pressure on the strength of the wall.  Mother nature will always win out so it is important to address these signs in a timely manner.

But not all is lost!  This particular raised paver patio in Canton was restored by my team and I for just under $2,000. We had to completely relay ALL the paving stones inside the wall blocks & caps, adjust an area of wall blocks, adhere all loose caps, and reconstruct the step at the doorwall.  We power wash cleaned the entire paver patio and swept in regular paver joint sand to prep for sealing with an approved brick paver sealant.

This particular homeowner inherited this distressed raised paver patio a few years ago when he purchased the home.  Had the original homeowner been diligent in maintaining the patio over the years, the enormous cost of repairs could have been minimal. Like any outdoor structures or pavements, touch-ups and routine maintenance is required.

If properly installed & maintained over the years, Brick Paver Patios still outperform wooden decks and stamped concreted.  A half hour of your time or paying as little as $50 each Spring to have paver joint sand swept in the paver joints can save $1000's and years of frustration & angst.

If you are experiencing the same signs or results of this once distressed paver patio, call a brick paver specialist, not a landscaper, before the winter freeze to avoid unnecessary costly repairs. Do not lose hope that your brick paver installation whether it be a patio, walkway, driveway, or porch can be restored to its original beauty & function!

Raised Pavers Patio Reconstructed

Elevated Brick Pavers Patio is Restored, Redesigned, and Upgraded from ground up to its original beauty

Recently in Ann Arbor, my crew and I were confronted with a collapsed & dilapidated Raised Paver Patio that was installed by a landscape contractor 8 years ago. The quality of work & design was inferior and poorly executed.  This multi-level pavers patio became unusable & unsafe to use, and unsightly to look at. This homeowner desperately needed help and we were here to help.
                                                    Here are some BEFORE pics:

 We started by totally tearing down this raised paver patio to the ground, removing & disposing of the paving stones & wall caps. The modular retaining walls blocks were in perfect structural condition and just needed to be power wash cleaned and reused for the patio walls. Any contaminated base was removed and additional base material was added as needed.
                                      Here are some TEAR DOWN pics

 

During this brick paver patio reconstruction, the homeowner took advantage of the opportunity to redesign the overall layout.  I recommended we make the raised patio all one level to increase the usable & functional space. We bumped the patio walls out and softened the sharp curves that served no purpose.  We created a functional landing & paver step out the doorwall and installed a curved paver step off the patio to the yard.

The homeowner also wanted to replace the original paving stones with a tighter fitting paver. I recommended a Holland paver laid in a herringbone pattern and bordered with a soldier course row. It is always a good idea to lay a full paving stone behind wall caps and not small cut pieces.  I then recommended we replace the old weathered wall caps so the total surface of this raised paver patio would be new.

                                 Here are some RECONSTRUCTION pics

Design & compaction are the biggest keys to a successful raised paver patio performance.  Constructing strong bonds, installing geo-textile blankets, and filling gaps tight will help insure long-term success.  By installing level walls & caps, performing quality cuts, and paying attention to detail, this brick paver raised patio turned out spectacular.  Our homeowner was so thankful and their Summer enjoyment began as soon as we packed up the trucks and left. 

                                 Here are some FINISHED PAVER PATIO pics

Elevated Patio Repair and New Extension in Canton

Many Elevated or Raised Pavers Patios in Canton need attention

This homeowner in Canton purchased this home a couple of years ago and inherited this elevated paver patio that needed immediate repairs. The paving stone surface and outside retaining wall & caps pitched back to the house, causing puddling and water in the basement.  The flexibility of interlocking pavers & modular retaining wall systems allow for the reuse of products to keep the overall repair cost affordable.

This raised paver patio had been in for over 10 years and it was obvious from the consistent settling that the original builders backfill along the foundation had settled.  Knowing the history of Canton through the building boom 10 years ago, I am sure this paver patio & landscaping was installed that Summer and the backfill was not allowed to go through a winter frost for proper settling.

While repair to the paver patio was going to be performed, the homeowner also wanted to expand the usable patio space to allow for a fire pit & sitting area.  After deliberating some options I supplied, the homeowner decided to save on the cost of us installing a block fire pit and use this cost to make the paver sitting area larger.  Today there are many creative & functional options for buying pre-made fire pits & chimineas.

We began by "shooting" the level of the brick patio with a transit so we could determine the exact spot where the brick pavers & walls and caps pitched back to the house.  We removed the pavers and wall blocks carefully, compacted the existing base materials, and added additional base so we could set the proper heights. Meeting 2 set points and making them appear natural is always a challenge with repair work.

The wall blocks & caps were installed first and feathered into the remaining walls and then the paving stones were reinstalled.  The sunken paver step at the doorwall was also re-installed for added safety and appearance.  We were able to achieve a positive pitch away from the house while giving the overall paver patio appearance its original natural look. The brick paver walk leading from the driveway to the patio needed some dips reset too.

After completing the patio repair, we then began the installation of the new fire pit sitting area. We located the same paving stones & colors at Fendt so we could best match the existing paver patio & walk.  The new fire pit sitting area will stand out from the new color but the layout facilitated this look.

The homeowner was ecstatic to regain the usable, functional, and beautiful appearance of their pavers patio while gaining some additional outdoor living space to enjoy a weekend fire & marshmallows. 

Interlocking pavers & modular retaining walls & caps are versatile and if serviced by an experienced brick paver contractor, it can be achieved at an affordable price.

Brick Pavers Repair, Cleaning, & Sealing requires a Specialist

Not all Brick Paver Contractors are the same

For years now I have been preaching to homeowners to make sure they hire a qualified & experienced brick paver contractor or installer for their pavers patio, walkway, driveway, porch & steps, and retaining walls. It is important to select a good pavers contractor whos sole business is interlocking paving stones & modular retaining wall systems.

When it comes to brick paver repair, cleaning, and sealing, not all brick paver contractors are the same.  Most contractors installing brick pavers are just interested in installing new patios, walks, drives, etc..  and not in providing for the "total" services needed for long-term performance and enjoyment.

The repair of brick pavers and retaining walls is much more challenging than installing new from scratch.  Forethought, experience, and expertise are necessary qualities of a quality brick paver contractor to successfully perform paver repair services.  Cleaning & Sealing of paving stones requires acute knowledge of products & techniques that most inexperienced contractors do not properly perform or care to perform.

Aside from totally tearing down & reconstructing a paver or landscape wall project, repair services have many more challenges than installing from scratch.  Meeting height restrictions and reusing existing products can be frustrating.  Lifting up installed paving stones is more tedious than taking them off a stacked bundle.  Cleaning off the products from dirt, sand, gravel, glue, and other debris is another added step.

Planning a strategy that best meets the need for a repair and homeowner's budget can further restrict the services performed.  I would love to re-design & rebuild from the ground up to insure success & functionality but homeowner budgets do not usually allow for this approach.  I do several estimates a week that other unqualified paver contractors say their project needs to be totally rebuilt but really is not necessary.

Unforeseen situations, lack of availability of older products & colors, and poor original designs will handcuff most inexperienced brick paver contractors.  In the past, I have found that you can not just send out any crew member to execute brick pavers or retaining wall repairs.  I find that sending an experienced foreman gives the best results for both the contractor and homeowner alike.

Most stories I hear from frustrated homeowners who have had paver repairs that have failed or have not met their expectations all end the same way ... "they sent some kid out to fix our bricks !"  Landscape contractors and psuedo brick paver contractors do not prioritize brick pavers and retaining wall service, techniques, or resources.  Sure, they are really interested when they give you an inflated quote which then will make it worth their time and effort.

 When getting pavers repair quotes, ask what percentage of their business is brick paver repair, cleaning, & sealing services.  We perform 80% services and 20% new installations.  You want a quality contractor who will schedule your repair services and not just get to it when they have time.
 It is important to select a local brick paver contractor who focuses and cares about the restoration services that you need to enjoy your investment for years to come.

Paver Patio and Step Repair & Cleaning completed!

We just completed this Paver Patio and Step Repair in Ann Arbor this week.  Our earlier post showed the before pictures of this extreme brick paver repair.  The homeowner was ecstatic with the results by Brick Doctor Bill's attention to detail and paver restoration.

After removing all the brick pavers, recompacting the sub base, adding more base, cleaning the paving stones, re-installing the paver patio & step pads, and sweeping in polymeric sand, the end result is a rejuvenated hardscape installation that they can enjoy for years to come!

The drainage issues are now resolved and the customer can now look out their walkout basement during their next party and not see such an eye sore.  Aside from the obvious safety issues, the repaired paver patio is now functional for entertaining and relaxing.

These paving stones are over 12 years old and are beginning to exhibit signs of weathering and wear.  Brick Doctor Bill will be returning in a couple of months to spot clean and seal the paver patio and paver steps with an approved brick paver sealant.  This will help restore the old color and aesthetics of the original paving stones.

A Brick Paver Repair to Avoid

Paving Stone Repair

Today I did a brick paver repair bid on a paver patio in Ann Arbor. Here is a picture of a common paver repair I see each Spring.  In the picture, you can see that the one paving stone that the leg of this fire grill is on has sunk. The most common occurrence I see of this effect is when people leave their patio furniture umbrella stand on the paver patio through the Winter.

This common paver patio repair is the result of the weight of the fire grill not allowing this individual paving stone and paver base below to flex to frost movements. Therefore, the surrounding pavers and paver base were able to flex to the freeze thaw cycle and the one paving stone the leg sat on did not. The result is the weighted down paver sunk into the base as the surrounding paver base flexed up.

Though this brick paver repair is minimal, it can be a nuisance and eyesore. In frost states like Michigan, it is important NOT to leave (stationary) any weighted items on your brick paver patios, walks, drives, or porches through the frost Winter months. Just simplly place items in your plant beds, garage, or yard until the winter frost has disappeared from your soil or paver base.