Brick Paver Walkway Brought Back to Life!

 Before

This homeowner had a brick paver walkway that was installed 32 years ago.  There has been no repair or maintenance work done to these pavers since the initial installation.  The homeowner considered having the brick walkway replaced with new pavers or concrete. 

After getting quotes for over $13,000 for replacing with new pavers and over $8,000 for a new concrete walk, this homeowner decided to go with my recommendation to "bring it back to life" with a brick paver restoration approach.  The cost for this "bring it back to life" paver restoration would be under $2,000.  The approach is to repair just some of the severely sunken pavers, but a lot imperfections would still remain.  

Before

Running a plate compactor over ALL the pavers would help improve performance by locking up the pavers.  This plate compaction also helps improve the overall appearance of the pavers.   

Powerwash cleaning the brick pavers and paver joints is a tedious job, even if using a 4000 psi powerwasher.  Great care is taken to reduce the mess from debris but using some common sense and experienced strategies makes the work successful.   

After

Clean up is done and then waiting for the pavers & pavers joints to dry begins.  The next day paver joint sand is swept in joints, blown off clean, and touched up to prepare for sealing.  

A high quality "matte" finish brick paver sealant is applied.  The first coat is a "flood coat" so it soaks into the joints, then shortly after, a light second coat is applied to adhere more sealant to the paver surface.  

After

The before & after pictures of this brick paver walkway tell the story. It is an incredible paver restoration & overall appearance but reversing the years of neglect is limited. 

I always advise if you stay on a routine brick paver maintenance program for your brick pavers, they can look like the day they were installed!

Brick Pavers Installed in the Midwest

Brick pavers patios, walks, and driveways

Brick Pavers in the last 30 years has evolved into one the most popular pavement options in the Midwest. The aesthetics and functional value of brick pavers make it the best financial choice for patios, walks, and driveways.  For purpose of this article, I will discuss grade (ground) level options and exclude elevated structures that compete with composite decks or landings.  In the Midwest, there are many challenges to pavement performance, mainly from the freeze thaw cycles (ground frost) we experience. 

The initial cost of installing brick pavers will exceed most cement and asphalt pavements.  Stamped concrete costs will be closer to the cost of a brick paver installation, but a variety of high end designed pavers will keep costs higher.  Brick paver manufacturers have spent incredible investment funds for research to improve the density, appearance, and performance of brick pavers.  Customer needs have changed over the past 30 years and meeting that need has improved the brick paver industry's response by giving many design, color, and texture options for homeowners.  

The cost of a brick paver installations have doubled over the past 15 years, mainly due to the cost of labor.  The brick paver market is a skilled labor that cannot be efficient or qualitative if done by a standard landscape crew.  Admittedly, it is not as skilled as masonry installations, but it takes an experienced and creative crew to execute the specifications and quality installation of todays brick paver designs.  General labor is still needed but this work is physical and time consuming.  Most brick pavers are installed for residential applications and each individual brick paver is handled and installed.  Mass installation of pavers by specialized equipment typically is reserved for large commercial or municipal applications.  Costs for base material has skyrocketed due the cost of mining and shipping.  Base materials are used for the base prep as well as the production of the asphalt, concrete, and brick pavers.

The cost advantage of brick pavers installation comes over time!  All pavements require some maintenance but asphalt requires the most frequent attention of surface maintenance and replacement.  Cement can be quiet for about 5 years in the Midwest but once cracks, shifting, and spalling occur, maintenance begins to accelerate for this pavement.  Replacement is the highest cost for cement pavements.  You can choose to do ongoing maintenance of crack filling, re-leveling, and staining but the aesthetic value declines considerably after 5 years.  

Brick pavers on the other hand give you the best value on costs over 10+ years.  Brick pavers do require some ongoing maintenance like sanding joints & sealing (optional) but these costs are nominal.  The aesthetic value is unmatched by other pavements as you can choose a design maximizing creative design, textures, and colors.  The functional value of brick pavers is the best pavement option for the Midwest's frequent freeze thaw cycle which moves or flexes all pavements during the Winter and early Spring.  I do not care how deep you prepare your base material for any pavement option, the earth will decide what it's going to do!  The beauty of brick pavers is that they have more flexibility to the movements of ground frost than asphalt and cement.  Brick pavers can easily be reset and do not require the replacement of the pavement over the long term.  Properly maintained brick paver applications like patios, walks, and driveways can last over 30 years before replacement may be considered.  

Raised Brick Paver Patio Rebuild in Plymouth MI

Experience is essential when doing Brick Paver Patio rebuilds

This past month we did a total rebuild and restoration of a Raised Brick Paver Patio in Plymouth, MI.  After 15 years of brutal winter frost / freeze thaw cycles, poor original installation, lack of routine maintenance, and just plain total neglect, we were able to bring this brick paver patio and steps back to life!

All the brick pavers and paver blocks & caps were lifted up and rebuilt to similar shape, design, and dimensions.  Any loose original base material was re-compacted and additional base material was added to raise, relevel, and properly repitch from the house.  

Deconstructing the current brick paver patio is a planned method and a strategy that we have developed over the years to maximize the re-use and function of the current products.  

Great care is taken to insure that products can be re-utilized and properly reconstruct the paver patio to its original design and beauty.  

After careful base prep and optimized heights are determined, the original brick pavers and paver blocks & caps are re-installed.

After the raised brick paver patio was totally reconstructed using the same brick pavers and paver blocks & caps, we cleaned and sealed to complete the restoration project.  See the results that you can have for your brick paver patio, walk, steps, driveway, and more!

Our brick paver company is one of the top rebuild and restoration brick paver contractors in Metro Detroit.  This is our signature work and our specialty.  Hiring the right brick paver company is essential for getting the best work & service done when repairing & restoring brick pavers.

Paver Patio Restoration in Canton, MI

Cleaning and Sealing Brick Pavers Patios

Our most common brick paver restoration service is cleaning and sealing of brick pavers patios.  This brick pavers patio we restored in Canton, MI this past Fall. The pavers patio had some minor touch up repairs but for the most part it needed some attention to its appearance and paver joints.


Mold and organic growth had overtaken over the brick paver joints and surfaces. The paver joints had many voided spots due to lack of maintenance and attention over the years. The brick pavers and paver joints were thoroughly cleaned and then we re-sanded the joints with regular paver joint sand.

We then sealed with a high quality matte finish brick paver sealant which helped stabilized the joint sand and enhanced the color & protection of the brick paver surface.

We educated the homeowner on the the routine maintenance requirements and signed them up for our Spring Service program.  As a new routine customer service policy, we returned approx. a month later to do an inspection and courtesy "touch up" service for the joint sand.

Brick paver patios can be the outdoor living space that you imagined when you purchased your home. Do not give up just get it restored to its original beauty and function!

Brick Paver Joint Sand: Facts & Fiction

Sealing vs. Poly Sanding brick paver joints

After being in the brick paver business for 36 years now, I have been able to experience the true facts and results of sealing or poly sanding brick pavers & paver joints. The number one request in our industry by clients is that they want a "permanent" solution for paver joint sand. Unfortunately, this request is not totally achievable or feasible with any brick paver joint approach.

Lets start by saying that brick paver joint sand is the most essential part of brick pavers. Paver
joint sand is the essential part that keeps brick pavers "locked up" laterally and helps reduce the erosion or deterioration of the sub base (below the brick paver).  Keeping brick paver joints filled also "helps" and "inhibits" the growth of organic materials like weeds, grass, moss, etc.. . this is NOT absolute.  Paver joint sand is the number one maintenance need for brick pavers and also the most neglected!

Prior to the last 15 years, using just "regular" paver joint sand was the norm. Like any industry, the development of products has evolved.  Brick paver sealants and polymeric (bonding) sands were developed to meet consumer demands and help improve performance of the brick pavers & paver joints.  In this post, I will help guide you to a educated decision of which process or product may work best in your individual situation.

Below are my opinions and conclusions from "real" results over the past 37 years of experience and research using these products. My results are drawn from executing decades of paver maintenance programs.  My goal is for you to make an informed decision on which approach is best for you and the optimum performance & appearance of your brick pavers.  I have done brick paver work in both Michigan & Florida and though the climates are extremely different, the performance of brick paver joint sand is very universal.  I understand there are many varying opinions from other contractors, product manufacturers, and online posts that may contradict with my assertions.  As I have always told my customers & potential clients, if you agree with a contradicting opinion, please move on or hire the contractor that best fits your own conclusion.


FICTION: There is a "permanent" solution for my brick paver joints so I do not need to sweep sand or I will never get any weeds, grass, or moss in my brick paver joints again!

FACT:  There is NOT a "permanent" solution for brick paver joint sand!  Routine joint sand maintenance for brick pavers is essential and required for optimum performance of your brick pavers.  The whole brick paver system is based on a flexing and floating system whereby it moves to the effects of winter frost/freeze thaw cycles, water erosion, wind, foot or vehicle traffic, and slight earth movements.  The brick paver joints take the brunt of these movements and climate effects.  This is an outdoor structure that will require joint sand replenishment on a routine maintenance program.


FICTION:  Sealing my brick pavers & paver joints or Poly sanding my paver joints, I will not have to maintain my brick pavers anymore!

FACT:  Again, there is no permanent solution to brick pavers joints, but sealing or poly sanding your brick paver joints will "help, reduce, or inhibit" the need for frequent paver joint maintenance or the occurrence of weeds, grass, & moss in the joints.  Sealed or Poly sanded paver joints will still slowly settle, erode, crack, and disappear as time goes on.  In Michigan, winter freeze thaw cycles are the biggest culprit.  In Florida, heavy thunderstorms are their demise.  Water erosion over your pavement (brick pavers) is the biggest contributor to paver joint sand maintenance.

FICTION:  If I have both sealing and poly sanding done for my brick pavers, I will have better results!

FACT: WRONG!  It is highly recommended not to do this process.  Here are few reasons why.

• You never want to mix sealer with poly sand. You never know if the chemical make up of these products will be adverse.  If there is an adverse reaction, it will not be reversible without total replacement of the damage brick pavers and paver joints.
• Sealer can improperly puddle and cloud up.  If you were to use poly sand in the joints, you must properly wet the poly sand to let it set up.  You cannot use the sealer as the wetting agent for poly sand!.  Once the poly sand is set, sealer cannot properly soak into the paver joints and will puddle or accumulate in the paver joint which will lead to clouding and/or yellowing.
• Using both products is redundant.  Both sealers and poly sands are made to work strictly on their own. Using them together does not add any additional performance.
• Cost vs Benefit:  If you are to use both these products together, the cost of doing both options far exceeds any benefit you would get.  

FICTION:  I do not have to CLEAN my brick pavers &  pavers joints prior to re-sealing or re-poly sanding joints

FACT:  FALSE.  You always have to CLEAN your paver joints prior to applying sealer or re-
sweeping in poly sand.  The only time you do NOT need to prior clean paver joints is when you are doing "touch ups" within a couple months of the initial work.  When it comes to re-sealing, you cannot just seal the brick pavers and paver joints with dirt, soot, and organic matter on the surface of the pavers or in the paver joints.  The same holds true with poly sanding the paver joints.  Crumbling, cracking, molding old poly sand needs to be removed and remaining poly sand needs to be cleaned thoroughly. The degree of cleaning for both options will depend on the current condition of the brick pavers and paver joints.  Our customers that stay on a 2-3 year cleaning and re-sealing (or re-poly sanding) maintenance program reduce the cost of cleaning from the initial restoration because the cleaning time is faster and less invasive.


FICTION:  Sealing or Poly Sanding is most of the cost of restoring my brick pavers.

FACT:  Excluding any repair or re-leveling work, cleaning (or prepping) the brick pavers and paver joints is a little over half the cost of a restoration project. In particular, the paver joints are the hardest and messiest work.  The more severe the paver joints that have grass, weeds, moss, etc.. the more time, effort, and clean up is involved.  Prepping for sealing or poly sanding is more time consuming than actually sealing or poly sanding the joints.


FICTION:  Once I seal my brick pavers, I have to seal every 2-3 years.

FACT:  FALSE.  If you decide that you did not get the benefits of sealing that you envisions, you can just let the sealer wear off your brick pavers.  Most brick paver sealants last 18-36 months depending on weather & climate during this time period.  The biggest reason for re-sealing on a routine schedule is to keep the appearance of the brick pavers consistent.  Areas that are exposed more to sun, wind, rain, traffic, etc.. will wear quicker and areas that are protected will last much longer. This same process will hold true with poly sand in the paver joints.  To keep your brick paver structure protected and the appearance even, the recommendation is to re-seal (re-poly sand joints) every 2-3 years.  The difference from 2 to 3 years really falls on the customer's preference.  We routinely contact customers the 3rd year as we feel this is the optimum time to have this service performed.  Many customers like the fresh look done every 2 years to keep a new appearance up to date or they have a special event that year.


FICTION:  Sealing my brick pavers will make them shiny and slippery.

FACT:  This is not true if you use the right brick paver sealants. High gloss solvent (chemical based) brick paver sealants are no longer the norm.  Over the past 5 years there has been an increased movement to use high quality "water based" sealers.  Water based sealers are not only environmentally safer, they produce a more natural appearance and perform much better with paver joint sand stabilization.  The brick paver sealants are less slippery as they do not create a heavy pills on the surface.  Any wet surface can have some slip but water base sealers help keep the texture of the surface in tact.  The "matte" finish is the normal now for outdoor brick paver structures.  In 2017 and 2018, we used 100% water based "matte" finish brick paver sealants.


FICTION:  After having my initial restoration work done on my brick pavers, I can wait until 2-3 years later to have any maintenance work done.

FACT:  Paver joint maintenance is an ongoing process with brick pavers.  The "in between years", the seasons between cleaning & sealing (poly sanding), should have seasonal (usually Spring) sweeping of regular paver joint sand to keep voided joints filled.  This maintenance program service is our largest brick paver service.  Except for customers that do it themselves, most of our customers take advantage of this seasonal service.  We begin every Spring in Michigan with this service for our current clients before taking on any new clients!


FICTION:  Sealing my brick pavers and paver joints is more expensive than just poly sanding the joints!

FACT:  FALSE.   I have done a cost analysis of both processes over the years using product cost and labor time that concludes the cost is about the same .  The cost of cleaning & prepping is the same in both options.  You cannot just clean the joints for poly sanding and not the brick pavers too.  So, the cost of cleaning in either restoration choice is constant.  Without going into complicated details, the cost per square is very close when using either product. This is why we charge the same restoration cost whether you use sealer or poly sand for your brick paver structures.  Keep in mind that poly sand is not used for modular retaining wall systems (block & caps for steps, walls, & patio retaining walls) but with sealing you get the added value.


SEALER vs. POLY SANDING:
I usually advise my customers to do the sealing option for their brick pavers & paver joints.  The main reason is that you get the same results with paver joint sand stabilization but sealing gives your brick pavers added surface protection and color enhancement.  The costs being pretty much the same, this is a no brainer decision.   For customer who are concerned about having too much "sheen" to the appearance, we are able to dial in the mix of the high quality brick paver sealant we use.  We can reduce the solids in the sealer somewhat to give a more "natural" appearance to the brick paver surfaces but need to make sure a good balance in the mix so not to deter the joint stabilization effect.  There are some circumstances where the poly sanding option fits best but this is on an individual basis.


WARNINGS & ADVICE:

• Make sure when restoring your brick paver structures you contract with a qualified "brick paver contractor" to perform this task.  Using a landscaper, lawn service, or handyman service can be a disaster.  Lake of experience, knowledge, and patience can result in a poor or non-reversal effect that you will pay for dearly.  In our case, we actually are solely focused only on brick paver repair & restoration services, no longer design & installation.  Our resources, training, and scheduling adhere to this specific service. Flexibility & patience is key to a good sealing or poly sanding job especially with weather variables.  Larger companies want your business, but due to the lower profits of your work, they do not prioritize in their schedules.
• Sealers and Poly Sand products should NEVER be purchased at big box stores!  Not only are they inferior in quality but they are not totally specific to high density concrete brick pavers. We purchase, as you should if doing yourself, sealers & poly sand from brick paver specific manufacturers and suppliers.  If your brick pavers are sealed or joint sanded with inferior cheap products, the bad results may be irreversible. 
• Make sure that the contractor you are using does a 2 coat process when applying sealer.  This 2 coat process is not sealing twice (returning when first coat is dry).  This 2 coat process is spraying a "flood" coat first to allow the sealer to properly soak into the paver joint sand.  Then shortly after, spraying a second coat to adhere to the surface of the brick pavers.  Keep in mind this is using a high quality "water based" sealer.
• Make sure that the contractor is NOT using a Poly Sand product with "cement" used as the major bonding product in the sand. This is a complete NO NO! Products using Portland cement as the bonding agent will surely leave a "haze" on your brick paver surfaces. We use a high quality polymer bonding agent based product that does not leave any "hazing" appearance and gives the best joint stabilization in the market!
• The level of joint sand is always "down" in the joint, NOT flush with the top of the brick pavers.  Optimum is 1/4" down but this level varies due to the levelness of your brick pavers and the style of brick paver.
• Joint sand is for the brick pavers to keep them locked up, NOT wall caps seams & gaps which are glued in place.
• Make sure the contractor you are using does a "follow up" service! A couple of years ago we decided to improve our customer service to include a one-time follow up and inspection service to do some touchups after the initial work is done.  Because there will always be some initial settling of joint sand when cleaning & sealing (or poly sanding), we return within about a month to inspect and touch up any problem areas.  The other benefit is we are able to see if there is any concerns from water run off.  We routinely find spots where water from the roof, gutters, or landscape exceedingly erode the joints.  We are able to inform customers of an issue so they can address appropriately.

The Function and Beauty of Brick Pavers is in full effect!

Repair & Restoration services for brick paver patios is soaring!

The ground is freezing in Michigan and the ever expanding nature of pavements, such as, interlocking brick pavers, begin to stress under this Winter occurrence.  Pushed to the limit, brick pavers will look wavy, pushed up, or contorted.  Our clients who we educate that this is a normal and natural event needs to exhibit some patience before getting discouraged about the performance of their brick paver patios, walks, steps, driveways, etc.. 

As Spring approaches, we will begin the inspection and bidding process. To properly assess any need for paver repairs to damaged or failed brick pavers, the ground frost must have exited the ground below to make an accurate estimate.

Brick pavers maintenance is a growing need for our clients and we reward them (and us) by contacting them each March regarding our yearly brick paver services available.  We start every Spring by offering to service OUR CLIENTS first!  We contact our clients prior to doing any estimating of new business to allow them to get on our schedule.  Aside from touch-up repairs or the releveling of the pavers, we offer the following brick pavers services each Spring: 

We begin each Spring season offering our valued clients our Spring Sand Sweeping and Compacting service.  We re-compact their brick pavers using a plate compacting machine or tamper to help re-lock the brick pavers and hopefully knock back down any pavers left sticking up.  We then finish with sweeping regular paver joint sand over their pavers to help refill any voided joints from the Winter snow, ice, & thaw.  Keeping paver joints filled is the number one maintenance need of brick pavers to help avoid erosion, shifting, & weed growth.

The next popular service we offer each Spring is Cleaning, Sanding, and Compacting of our clients brick paver patios, walks, driveways, etc..  This valuable service just adds cleaning of the brick paver surface and joints.  Clients usually take advantage of this service every 2 years as dirt, moss, mildew, or vegetation growth may reappear.


Brick Paver Sealing is becoming our largest growing service over the last 5 years as customers want to restore the original look and preserve the appearance of their paver patios, walks, and driveways.

Cleaning, sanding, & compacting is always included in this sealing service, so basically, its a total restoration of your brick pavers. Sealing of brick pavers is usually performed every 2-3 years depending on your personal preference of  their appearance. 

We offer these valuable services to ALL clients, old and new.  Once you have become one of our clients, you will get priority each Spring to have your brick pavers maintained and preserved to your liking for many years to come!  This is our goal and this is our business!We service Canton, Plymouth, Northville, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Belleville, Michigan areas.

Raised Pavers Patio Repair and Restoration

Brick Paver Patio in Canton restored to its original beauty and function

As the 2017 summer continues in Michigan, we are hard at work bringing back some of the original beauty and function of raised brick paver patios.  It has been 20+ years now since the new home building boom in Canton, Plymouth, and Northville, Michigan.

There are many factors over these years that have contributed to the settling, deterioration, and excessive movement of raised brick paver patios.  One obvious reason for settling is winter frost which has ill effects on all pavements in frost states like Michigan.  Also evident for the settling of raised paver patios is the grade settling along the basement foundation of homes over the years.  Another contributing factor of raised paver patios excessively settling was from the original installing contractor not compacting the base in 4" layers or lifts as they built up to

the finish height.  But really the biggest reason for excessive deterioration of brick paver raised patios is the neglect by the homeowner to perform or hire an authorized brick pavers contractor to maintain these structures.

Simple touch up repairs and Spring sweeping of joint sand in the paver joints and periodic compacting will do wonders for maintaining these awesome outdoor living spaces.  Keeping paver joints filled is required for long term performance and compacting the brick pavers to help relock is also essential to the structure.

We also recommend that all brick pavers, especially raised paver patios, are cleaned and sealed every 2-3 years.  Sealing pavers contributes to keeping joint sand harder, thus slowing down any erosion or invasion of foreign organic matter.  Protecting the surfaces of paving stones and  paver blocks & caps will greatly improve the appearance and structural integrity of these popular patio structures.

Simple Pavers Patio Repair and Restoration in Plymouth

Before

Repair, Cleaning, and Sealing of brick pavers patio brings new life

This simple pavers patio in Plymouth, MI was restored this past summer to the delight of the homeowner.  Once left for dead due to neglect and many years of winter frost damage, this brick pavers patio still had enough life for us to bring it back to its original beauty and performance.

So many of our clients believe there is no hope for repairing and restoring their brick pavers patios, walkways, and driveways but hope can happen and we are just the company to perform this magic! 



 

Before

The biggest selling point about brick pavers is that we can in most cases re-use the existing pavers.  With repair & releveling, cleaning, re-sanding joints, and sealing these brick pavers, we can bring back from the ashes the appearance and strong structure that once graced the outdoor living space. 

 

AFTER

Performing this brick pavers restoration requires experience and more expertise than an original installation.  The challenges for a qualified brick paver contractor are numerous and should not be put in the hands of a handy man or landscaper.  Nothing can replace knowledge and experience when it comes to brick paver repair, cleaning, & sealing. 

Brick Pavers Patio Repair, Cleaning, & Sealing begins for Spring 2016

Restoration and Spring Maintenance for paver patio in Canton starts the new season

Brick Doctor Bill and Team has started the 2016 season with a brick pavers patio & walkway repair, cleaning, & sealing.  Contacting a qualified and experienced brick paver contractor is crucial to a successful and rewarding experience having your paver patio and walkway restored.

Before

This raised brick paver patio in Canton, MI is well over 12years old and required some immediate attention and restoration.  The upper level brick pavers had sunk below the height of the outside raised patio wall blocks & caps, therefore water could not drain off the patio and creating a serious trip hazard.  The paver step leading into the doorwall had fallen apart and due to the lack of any routine maintenance, weeds & dirt had taken over the brick paver joints.


Brick Doctor Bill and Team lifted up the entire upper level paver surface, recompacted the existing base, added additional base to raise & relevel the patio for proper drainage, rebuilt the brick paver step at doorwall, and secured any area of the outside raised patio wall blocks & caps that were loose.

AFTER

After we performed the brick paver repairs listed above, we cleaned the brick pavers, wall blocks & caps, and paver joints to prep for sealing.  We finished this brick paver patio restoration by sealing the entire structure with an approved brick paver sealant.

The client can now enjoy the beauty and functionality of this raised brick pavers patio that is was intended to perform.  Do not wait to call a qualified brick paver contractor to have your patio repaired or restored before it deteriorates even more or becomes a safety hazard.  After restored, some nominal maintenance cost or time each Spring will insure long-term performance and appearance.

Over 30 Years Experience In All Our Paver Projects

Brick Pavers Restoration, Repair, Cleaning, & Sealing

The brick pavers industry in Southeast Michigan during 2015 faced a lot of challenges and twists & turns.  After a record Winter, the Detroit Area had a prolonged ground frost that stalled the start of the brick pavers and other pavement projects.  As the ground finally thawed during mid April, the onslaught of severe rainy weather continued well into late Summer.  As Fall weather has been normal, we are finally back on

BEFORE

track as production stays on schedule and restored brick pavers steam ahead for customers looking to improve the safety and appearance of their patio, steps, walks, drives, etc.. .

As weather continued to pound on brick paver contractors and landscaper alike this Spring and Summer, Brick Doctor Bill and crew continued to provide timely and quality brick pavers services for pavers patios, walkways, driveways, pool areas, and more!  Cleaning, sanding, and sealing pavers was faced with many scheduling challenges that only a committed brick pavers full service company can meet.

AFTER

Brick Doctor Bill and crew have committed their resources and experience to providing after market brick pavers restoration services that best meets customer's budget and needs.   Brick pavers require routine maintenance and our company structure offers these services in a timely and affordable manner. Estimates are done within a week and quotes are quickly recommended and detailed.restoration services that best meets customer's budget and needs.

BEFORE

 
We have been a top brick pavers contractor on Angie's List and many other referral sites & services.  Fendt Builder's Supply and Unilock, Inc recommend our brick pavers services with confidence.  We do not print advertise as we receive many referral leads, as well as, internet exposure and reviews.  We are always committed to brick pavers restoration issues and educating you on the proper maintenance and care involved with pavers patios, walkways, driveways, pool areas, and more.

AFTER

We have serviced the Canton, Plymouth, Ann Arbor, Northville, Novi, and  Livonia areas for over 30 years. We only work with interlocking brick pavers application and our experience and expertise shows!  We are a perfect balance of quality & price and our follow up services are unmatched.  Take the right step in restoring the performance, appearance, protection, and structural integrity of your brick pavers today, call Brick Doctor Bill for you house call!

Brick Pavers repair, cleaning, sealing, & maintenance has sprung in Michigan!

Restoration of pavers patios, walks, steps, & driveways performed in Canton,Plymouth,Northville, and Livonia, MI

The ground is thawing in Michigan and the ever expanding nature of pavements, such as, interlocking brick pavers, begin to stress under this Spring occurrence.  Pushed to the limit, brick pavers will look wavy, pushed up, or contorted.  Our clients who we educate that this is a normal and natural event needs to exhibit some patience before getting discouraged about the performance of their brick paver patios, walks, steps, driveways, etc.. 

Easter is here and we will begin the inspection and bidding process later this week. To properly assess any need for paver repairs to damaged or failed brick pavers, the ground frost must have exited the ground below to make an accurate estimate.

Brick pavers maintenance is a growing need for our clients and we reward them (and us) by contacting them each March regarding our yearly brick paver services available.  We start every Spring by offering to service OUR CLIENTS first!  We contact our clients prior to doing any estimating of new business to allow them to get on our schedule.  Aside from touch-up repairs or the releveling of the pavers, we offer the following brick pavers services each Spring: 

We begin each Spring season offering our valued clients our Spring Sand Sweeping and Compacting service.  We re-compact their brick pavers using a plate compacting machine to help re-lock the brick pavers and hopefully knock back down any pavers left sticking up.  We then finish with sweeping regular paver joint sand over their pavers to help refill any voided joints from the Winter snow, ice, & thaw.  Keeping paver joints filled is the number one maintenance need of brick pavers to help avoid erosion, shifting, & weed growth.

The next popular service we offer each Spring is Cleaning, Sanding, and Compacting of our clients brick paver patios, walks, driveways, etc..  This valuable service just adds cleaning of the brick paver surface and joints.  Clients usually take advantage of this service every 2 years as dirt, moss, mildew, or vegetation growth may reappear.


Brick Paver Sealing is becoming our largest growing service over the last 5 years as customers want to restore the original look and preserve the appearance of their paver patios, walks, and driveways.

Cleaning, sanding, & compacting is always included in this sealing service, so basically, its a total restoration of your brick pavers. Sealing of brick pavers is usually performed every 2-3 years depending on your personal preference of  their appearance. 

We offer these valuable services to ALL clients, old and new.  Once you have become one of our clients, you will get priority each Spring to have your brick pavers maintained and preserved to your liking for many years to come!  This is our goal and this is our business!

Brick Paver Patio Repair & Redesign in Canton, MI

One of our biggest request this year from homeowners who seek repairs to their brick pavers patios is to redesign the patio to be more functional.  In the past, multi-level raised paver patios were designed with aesthetics in mind but not always functionality.

This brick paver patio in Canton, MI needed some extensive repair to it's settling wall block & cap retaining wall and sunken brick pavers.  The homeowner was also frustrated with the design because it functioned like 2 small patios instead of one large one.  After placing their patio furniture and outdoor accents, they found flow of traffic very difficult.  When entertaining friends & family, most people had to
co-mingle in the yard.

My recommendation was for us to raise the lower ground level area of the paver patio to the raised or elevated portion.  We re-used most of the current paver products and obtained additional wall blocks, caps, and some more paving stones to complete this redesign.

Repairs and releveling was performed to the elevated portion of this paver patio and the new raised patio area was made flush to create one larger and functional outdoor living space.  The homeowner was very happy with the final product and immediately ordered some new patio furniture so they could entertain and enjoy Summer sunsets.

One of the major advantages of brick pavers is it's versatility and opportunity to make changes or repairs without any obvious signs or flaws.

3, 2, 1, ...Let's GO! Brick Paver Repairs

As Michigan flutters between Winter & Spring this week, the rush by homeowners to begin there Spring projects is ready to explode.  The anticipation of Winter ground frost exiting the earth is teasing and slow this March in Southeast Michigan.  Once it is clear, the seasonal madness of brick paver repair, installation, cleaning & sealing, and maintenance will begin!

Each day the weather is warm or sunny, my phone line is busy.  Each day the weather is snowy & gray, my leads come to a halt!  The reality is that Spring is coming soon and to wait will only delay a homeowner's time frame for having their brick paver restoration project completed.

Many proactive homeowners have contacted or contracted with us since late January to insure an April or May completion of work.  The position on the calendar is more important than the current weather outside.  Spring will come fast! 

From 0 to 60 we will be in full brick paver production in a few weeks.  As always, if you require some type of brick paver repair or installation services, hire a qualified and reputable brick paver contractor over an inexperienced landscape contractor or handy man service.  See you soon!

Brick Paver Manufacturers I use in Southeast Michigan

Using a high quality Paving Stone or Paver Block is essential to maximum results

For over 30 years now, I have been using and recommending two major brick paver manufacturers in Southeast Michigan.  The first is FENDT Builders Supply which is headquartered in Farmington Hills, MI.  The second is North America's largest brick paver manufacturer - UNILOCK.  UNILOCK has a manufacturer plant in Brighton, MI.

FENDT Builders Supply is a local Michigan company that has over 80 years of experience & knowledge. Offering a wide spectrum of concrete paver products, tools, accessories, and support, FENDT has positioned themselves as a supplier of affordable, quality & attractive paving stones and modular retaining wall systems.

UNILOCK is an international brick paving manufacturer that has lead the innovation & production of brick pavers and modular retaining wall systems in North America.  UNILOCK has positioned themselves to offer a full pricing range of low cost to high end products.


My commitment to these two quality manufactures arises from their wide range of products, colors, shapes, textures, warranties, and availability offered.  Unlike paving stones offered at big box home improvement stores, FENDT & UNILOCK offer many outlets for obtaining their products.  They also maintain an adequate inventory of products and allow for purchase directly at their manufacturing plants.

There are other good brick paver manufacturers that produce here in Michigan or ship into the State, but their availability and sufficient stock of inventory usually is lacking. All my bidding & design utilizes FENDT or UNILOCK products. My crew and myself are very familiar with the possibilities and limitations of these products.

My 30 years experience with these companies has allowed me to witness their commitment to guaranteeing their respective products.  If it is not right, they will replace their products.  Both manufacturers have a Sales & Service representative structure that will advise & train contractor or homeowner alike.

When bidding a paver project, I usually do not favor any one manufacturer over the other.  I evaluate the homeowner's need and budget before recommending which products, colors, textures, etc..  should be proposed.  I am confident in the quality & performance of both paver manufacturer's products so the overall project design, color, and paver shape will determine which manufacturer will be recommended.

Snow Removal for Brick Pavers

Brick Paver Driveways, Walkways, Front Entrances, Parking areas, and Porches

As snow begins to fall here this Winter in Ann Arbor, it reminds me of one of the popular questions asked by homeowners..."can I use my snow blower or have my brick pavers driveway plowed?"  The answer is Yes.  Brick Pavers can be treated like any other pavement.

Most brick pavers have beveled or angled edges that help create a continuance smooth surface.  Any pavers that are lifted or sticking up prior to Winter should be repaired.  You want to avoid any "lippage" which is the occurrence of paver edges sticking up from another paver.  This "lip" can be caught by shovels, snow blowers, and snow plows.  Lippage also occurs with cement slab cracks & relief joints and cracks & large ruts in asphalt.  Due to Winter ground frost, the occurrence of any lifting can not be avoided.

Below are some key items to help you avoid any damage or scarring to your brick pavers, stamped or textured concrete and stamped asphalt. 

Home snow blowers usually do not damage any pavement surfaces.  The smaller ones usually have rubber paddles to avoid scarring or scratches.  The larger snow blowers with "auger like" rotating blades are usually design to avoid any scarring or gouging. Make sure you consult with the dealer that you purchase these snow blowers from to insure they do not damage surfaces. So, snow blowing or shoveling brick pavers is usually of no concern.

Snow plowing of brick paver driveways, lots, street scapes,or parking areas may require some more special attention.  Snow plowing blades that are metal can scratch, gouge, chip, or damage brick pavers. A common issue is leaving some rust stains too. This is no different that what these blades can do to cement, stamped concrete, asphalt, etc.. . No plowing contractor can guarantee that signs of plowing will not occur.

There are a couple of solutions that can minimize if not avoid any signs of damage or scratching to your brick pavers. Keep in mind that these options are not always readily available from snow plowing contractors.  In most cases, these options will cost you alittle more in expense.

The first solution is to hire a plowing contractor that will use a rubber or polyurethane blade on their plow.  Rubber blades easily adjust to irregular road surfaces & pavement without scarring, gouging, or leaving rust stains.  Polyurethane blades which are commonly used at airports is resilient, and therefore absorbs impacts and conforms to the surface being plowed rather than damaging the plowing surface, making it the ideal choice for use on concrete, brick, pavers, cobblestone, or any other uneven surface.

The second solution is to hire a plowing contractor that will use a skidsteer (tractor) or truck with a large rotating broom or brush.  Though this practice is more common in commercial or municipal applications, most plowing contractors do have this type of equipment.  The one negative to this option is that the plowing process must be done with less inches of snow fall.  So in turn, you may have to pay for more "plowings" than the standard truck snow plowing.  Also, in residential applications, the skidsteer or tractor will need to be trailed over each time adding to the cost.

In conclusion, brick pavers can be treated much like other pavement surfaces.  If you are concerned with any unnecessary damages or scars, then pursue the options above.  Keep in mind that one of the biggest advantages of brick pavers over concrete, stamped concrete, and asphalt is that any individual pavers that are damaged can easily be replaced with no signs of repair or replacement.