Old Paver Patio Replaced with New Brick Pavers

Homeowner elects to replace old Brick Pavers if total rebuilding of Patio is required

This homeowner in Ann Arbor, MI had Unilock Classico Pavers for a patio for over 16 years.  The trend in the mid 90's for paving stones was circles, fans, and spirals to create fancy designs & European styles.  Though this homeowner enjoyed this creativity of pavers for many years, they now wanted a more conservative design that best met their change in style.


The current brick paver patio required some extensive rebuilding & repair.  The paver patio had not had any maintenance done for over 16 years and the paving stones had become uneven, loose, gapped, and areas pitched back towards the home.  The paver joints had been taken over by dirt, moss, weeds, and other organic matter due to neglect and lack of sand sweeping over the years.  

My recommendation was for total re-installation & cleaning of the paver patio.  The "band aid" approach of repairs was not an option in this case.  Cleaning & sanding would only be a temporary improvement to the appearance unless the extensive repairs where done.  Due to the cost of this paver repair & restoration service, the customer wanted to explore the option of replacing the existing paving stones with a new style of paver.  Though the overall cost of the restoration project will be more, the paver patio will be brand new & updated!

They now wanted a style of brick pavers that was more linear, geometrical, and tighter fitting, while having some flexibility of being creative.  I suggested using the traditional 4" X 8" Holland Paver shape.  Even with it's simple shape, there are many laying patterns & colors that allow for some easy creativity at an economical price.  By using "quilting" techniques like colors, textures, & shapes to achieve creative designs, brick paver contractors can use re-invent boring old paver patios, walkways, driveways, and more.

Every paver repair &  restoration project that I quote, there needs to be a cost / benefit analysis by the homeowner as to the approach to take in restoring their brick pavers.  Function & performance is always the most important approach.  Improved appearance, creativity, and design is then evaluated whether the additional cost is worth the benefit.  For this homeowner, the additional cost to use new pavers was well worth the additional costs.

We slightly changed the dimensions of this paver patio and installed an impressive design that the customer loved and admired.  The size was increased to create two usable patio areas, one for seating & dining and the other for casual seating, lounging, or sun bathing.  The homeowner plans on adding a decorative fire pit or chimnea to complete their outdoor experience.

 The simple creativity of this new pavers patio is not only functional, but improved the appearance of the home's landscape. Now educated and aware of simple routine maintenance, this homeowner will never need to restore their paver patio again. What turned out to be a undesirable situation for the homeowner resulted in a very positive experience and new addition to their outdoor living space.

Paver Walkway updates Historic Home in Ypsilanti

Aesthetics and Function play role in this Brick Paver Walk installation

This past week a homeowner wanted us to update the look and accessibility of this historical home in Ypsilanti, MI.  The homeowner was looking to improve the experience of Historic Home visitors at this Summer's home tour. I designed a simple traditional look using modern interlocking brick pavers to create a subtle meandering walking with flares at each end.


The product of choice was Fendt's Holland Paver in Rustic Blend color. The laying pattern was a common "runner bond" or "staggered joint" pattern with a soldier course border frame.  The traditional 4" by 8" brick shape pavers are usually your most economical solution.  With some design creativity the traditional brick shape can be laid in several patterns to give some distinct contrast or quilting effect. The use of multiple colors is another effective technique of this brick shape to achieve added variety & character.

The end result was a simple ,dignified , and economical solution to a need for improved appearance and function.  My crew was able to install this brick paver walkway from start to finish in one day and brought a smile to the homeowner's face. With routine Spring sand sweeping of the paver joints, this paver walk will give endless years of performance.

The 2013 budget has already been set to replace and expand the current back concrete patio area with matching brick pavers which facilitates the event's cookout & gathering location.

Old Neglected Pavers Patio is Redesigned, Rebuilt, and Restored

New Patio in Ann Arbor will bring endless enjoyment and entertaining

When I came across this old neglected brick paver patio in Ann Arbor, I was surprised to its condition since it was in an affluent neighborhood.  The homeowner admitted they rarely used this patio the past 10 years and in turn, had neglected keeping it up.  Now that their time of traveling for work had subsided, it was time to update their outdoor living space for personal enjoyment and entertaining.

We discussed their current needs and wants for a functional and aesthetically pleasing raised paver patio.  The current size was sufficient for their needs and they liked the multi-level patio layout.  We also discussed the feasibility of using the existing Holland pavers and disposing of the old railroad tie framing.  A patio sitting wall was designed to create additional seating and divide the appearance of the different patio levels.

  I gave them the cost option of replacing the current pavers and we both felt it was worth reusing the current bricks.  I assured them we could clean the current pavers to bring back some of the color.  We also would mix in some new bundles of pavers since we were going to add a brick paver walkway from the paver patio to the driveway. Sealing of the pavers was contracted for later in the year to further enhance the color.

The old railroad tie framing was upgraded to a new modular retaining wall blocks and caps. In this installation, the customer selected FENDT's Country Manor Stonegate for the raised patio walls, paver steps, and sitting wall.  I also recommended a curved design to soften the geometrical shapes of the house.  

The homeowner was ecstatic with this transformation from an old neglected and dilapidated paver patio to a new exciting outdoor living space.  I took the time to educate them with the minimal maintenance requirements so they can avoid ever seeing the eye sore they had created in the past.

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