Brick Pavers Patio Restored

Cleaning, Sanding, and Sealing performed on neglected Paver Patio

This past week we restored the original beauty of a brick paver patio in Ypsilanti. Due to unfortunate circumstances, the homeowner had not been able to maintain this paver patio the past few years.  Lack of attention and joint sand sweeping led to the ominous condition of the paver joints resulting in a neglected & unsightly appearance.

I assured the homeowner we could bring their brick paver patio back to life and create the original beauty they once enjoyed. This brick paver patio brought much joy and relaxation to her and husband in the past.  My team and I wanted them to once again let them experience the solitude & pride they cherished, especially during these tough personal times.

Repairs to the pavers were minimal but the cleaning & re-sanding was tedious and messy.  After the brick pavers and paver joints were dry a day & half later, we applied a generous coat of brick paver sealant to enhance the color and overall appearance. The paver sealer will temporarily keep the joint sand hard until needed touch-ups of sweeping the years to follow.  They should get about 3 years from the brick paver sealant but on-going joint sand sweeping will be needed.

As the homeowner became overwhelmed with emotion from this transformation, I explained to here that we offer at a small nominal charge a Spring Sweeping Maintenance service to maintain the beauty and function of interlocking pavers. This also gives us the opportunity to yearly inspect their pavers patio for any needed patio repair or signs of distress.

If you do not have the time or resolve to keep up with the minimal maintenance requirement need for joint sand sweeping, please set up a program with a brick paver contractor who can help you maintain the beauty & function of your brick pavers for years to come.  Something that may cost you $50 each Spring may save you $1,000's years later.

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.

Protecting Brick Pavers and Steps from Winter damage

Options for protecting your paving stones and steps from de-icing materials

I was recently contacted by a civil engineer in eastern Pennsylvania about solutions to protect interlocking pavers and modular retaining wall blocks & caps from the ill effect of de-icing materilas during the winter months. Below is his email and my response for helping his clients protect their investment in high density concrete pavers & blocks.

Civil Engineer:

Bill,
I enjoyed finding and reading your blog today.  I am a civil engineer in eastern PA and so I spec a lot of modular retaining walls, but have never seen a contractor provide the detail and information that you do for post-installation maintenance.

I did have one question that i would like to pick your brain about, if you have the time.  Quite a few of the people who install these also salt the modular retaining wall steps over the winter and I've seen them crack, chip and deteriorate even sometimes after just one or 2 winters.  Is this normal and should I warn them about salting the stairs?  Because it seems that affects the block more than the temperature variation.

My Response:

Kyle,

Good to hear from you.  I am assuming you are referring to commercial or municipal applications which use alot of rock salt during the winter.  There are a few things that I believe will help this problem. Modular retaining walls & caps are denser than poured concrete so there absorption rates are less.  Assuming you are specifying a quality product, it should considerably outlast poured concrete but corrosive materials will still break down their structural integrity or surface.

The first and easiest step would be for them to reduce the amount of rock salt used. I know liability is a factor but excessive use of rock salt will break down any concrete product. Also, the use of liquid de-icers are showing better results too.

The second option is for them to use a calcium chloride based product or similar "ice" melt (white pellets), NOT rock salt.  I know this is not usually reasonable with municipalities. Residential applications can easily switch to this option. This option is more expensive but preserves the life of the concrete products and is better for the surrounding landscaping.

Another option would be to seal the high density concrete pavers, walls, & caps with a water base paver sealant.  This is a tricky situation in commercial or municipality applications.  The reason is that the areas need to be cut off from access for prep cleaning, sealant application, and curing.  If you do in sections, the result of  the sealer may show some noticeable differences due to weather & temperature conditions during appliapplicationo, the sealer will initially be slick which can create some liability issues if wet. This sealant will wear in over a few weeks.  Residential applications can easily be controlled. 

One last option that comes with an initial large cost but is greatly recouped over the years is the use of heating coils. There are several options of heating the paving stones & modular retaining wall system and I can not claim on being an expert on their use but only on their results.  When you consider the cost savings of salt application (labor & product) and long-term replacement cost versus the added electric bill (or natural gas) and initial installation cost, melting snow & ice with an effective heating system makes financial sense.

The Step treads should be modular retaining wall cap units that are adhered to the wall blocks that create the rise.  These caps units can be pre-sealed weeks before installing them since they do not require any compaction. These cap units take the brunt of traffic and weathering.  Modular retaining wall & cap units do not have the same density as the paving stones.  The faces of the wall units used for step rises can also be pre-sealed if the project is not too large. Pre-sealing paving stones is not feasible.  Pre-sealing will add to the installation cost and needs to be included in the initial bidding specifications. Keep in mind that good paver sealants in normal conditions only last 2-3 years and will need future application.

I also need to stress the use of a quality product.  High density & low absorption rates are critical.  Unilock, Inc is one of the best throughout the Midwest and your area. They have plants in New York and I am sure they are distributing in your area. There are many other good paver & wall block manufacturers and if you are considering one, check there independent test results for density (psi) and absorption rates. Cover yourself in the initial specifications by specifying minimum rates.

The damaging effects of Winter, frost heaving & de-icing materials, are one of the main reasons interlocking pavers and modular retaining wall systems were created. But the biggest threat to the structural integrity of concrete products are de-icing materials.  De-icing materials, especially rock salt, can penetrate the concrete products and begin to etch & deteriorate the surface, therefore speeding up the ill effects of weathering. The options above will help you avoid future repair & replacement costs from the effects of Winter.

Brick Pavers Dirty Little Secret : Paver Joints

Paver Joints are the most important part of your Brick Pavers Installation

It amazes me every day when I am doing estimates on brick paver repair & restorations that homeowners had no idea they needed to keep paver joints filled with paver joint sand. More than the paving stones themselves, paver joints have the most important function of interlocking brick pavers.  Here are paver joints dirty little secrets.

Paver joints are the whole purpose for brick paver "lock-up".  Paver joints for interlocking paving stones allow for the bedding coarse to shoot up and lock the paving stones together during plate compaction.  As the plate compactor vibrates across several paving stones at once, the paving stones depress and force the bedding coarse sand or slag to "jet up" into the paver joints and lock up the paving stones laterally.


The next important step is to sweep in proper paver joint sand to completely fill the paver joints. Full paver joints will help prevent the paving stones from loosening, shifting, and unnecessarily settle from erosion.  What is so perplexing is that sweeping in paver joint sand is so easy and effortless and most homeowners will not perform this basic paver maintenance requirement. In Ann Arbor, sweeping is usually necessary each Spring as the Winter frost, snow & ice, and Spring rains wash away the top of the paver joints.  The upgraded use of Polymeric Sand will greatly reduce the amount of paver joint sweeping due to the strength of this bonding sand. Here are some paver repair projects that we used Polymeric Sand to help avoid future repairs.

Keeping paver joints filled with paver joint sand is important to help keep weed seeds from establishing .  If the joints are not filled with sand, this presents a perfect setting for weed seeds or dirt to settle in and promote growth.  Dirt, weeds, and grass inhibit the proper flow of water through the joints and does not allow for application of a paver sealant.


 Paver joints absorb the winter frost effects of heaving so the paving stones do not crack, grind, or chip. While protecting the structural integrity of interlocking pavers, paver joints will lose joint sand over time. Sweeping in new paver joint sand is a small price to pay for protecting the beauty, appearance, and performance of your brick paver patios,walkways,driveways, and more.

In frost states like Michigan, it is highly recommended not to fill the joints of high density concrete pavers with mortar.  I see many outdoor applications using mortared interlocking paving stones that will some day fail.  Mortared paver joints in a frost State does not stand up to the flexible heaving of base laid pavers. The other important factor is that high density concrete pavers are much stronger than mortar. As the paving stones expand slightly they will crack or break up the mortared joints. This will become and unsightly and costly future repair.

After years of neglect, paver patios without paver joint sand may require us to completely  re-sweep in new joint sand and re-compact the whole patio with a plate compactor. This will help re-lock the paving stones into the bedding coarse. We will then finish off the top of the paver joints with an approved joint sand.

Most homeowners believe that you must protect the paving stones with a sealer which is not true. Sealing brick pavers is an option and is mainly for aesthetic purposes.  The best way to protect your interlocking pavers is to keep the joints filled with paver joint sand. This is a simple and very cheap way to avoid costly and unnecessary paver repairs.

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.

A Paver Patio NOT installed by a Brick Paver Specialist

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paver Repair and Installation #1 Tool

The number one tool in repairing or installing brick pavers and retaining walls is the simple "contractor's level" or "transit".  It amazes me how most landscapers and "wanna-be" brick paver installers do not utilize this amazing tool! It is a minimum requirement for installing or repairing interlocking brick pavers and modular retaining walls.

Brick paver patios, walkways, driveways, and retaining walls require some expertise in dealing with grades, slope, and pitch.  When properly used, this contractor's level or transit can solve a lot of these challenges with ease.  Landscapers and brick paver contractors who "eye ball" or use string lines with bubble levels are asking for trouble, which in turn, means trouble for the homeowner!

We are currently finished a brick paver patio repair in Saline where the center of the patio was installed 5" above the height of the basement walkout. The water pitched back to the house and water has seeped into the basement.  When the homeowner called the landscaper who installed the paver patio, their solution was to install a drain box at the doorwall to catch water flowing back towards the house.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Install the paver patio with a positive pitch!  The drain failed and because these homeowners were not the original owners who hired this so-called brick paver contractor, there was no warranty on the workmanship.

When installing a paver patio, the good rule of thumb is to achieve a 1inch pitch or slope per 10 ft to insure a perfect pitch without noticing the slope to the naked eye.  This pitch ratio is not etched in stone and factors may modify this parameter.  In the end, positive pitch is the minimum requirement for a good draining brick paver installation. Here you will see our finished paver patio with a new positive pitch out into the yard!

The contractor level or transit is the first tool a "real" brick paver contractor needs to use when installing a brick paver or retaining wall installation.  We also use it with most of our paver repairs so we can better solve our customers paver repair problems. It is usually the first item we set up on our interlocking paver installations, repairs, or patio replacements, well maybe second to setting down our lunch boxes & coffee thermos!

Brick Paver Repair or Winter Frost Effect

The Winter frost in Michigan is going to begin to thaw in March. Like most freeze thaw cycles, the devastating effects will push all pavements, even brick pavers, to their extremes. Spring is just around the corner and most homeowners will begin to come out of hibernation and stretch their arms & legs. One of the first thing homeowners do is inspect their paver patios, walks, or drives.

The beauty of interlocking pavers is their capability to expand from winter frost with minimal or no damge. The paver joints absorb the effects of frost and the high density & low absorption rate of the brick pavers keep them from cracking.  But when you are dealing with mother earth, there are no guarantees that brick repairs will not be needed from shifting or heaving.

I always receive calls from frantic customers in pre-Spring weeks that their brick patio has a huge heave or raised area.  Good News! this is interlocking brick pavers at work! After the winter frost works its way out, your brick pavers will reset. No cracks, warps, or expensive repair costs.  As the temps float over and below the freezing mark, you can literally watch your paver patio move like a waterbed mattress.

Pavers that are raised or heaved, will go down. Pavers that are down, most likely will not come up. So, you may now have some type of brick paver repair that will need to be addressed. Do not confuse that brick areas are low because other brick areas are raised.  It is not unusual in Michigan during late March to early April to see your brick patio look like pizza dough be tossed at a pizzeria.  It should all level off when it gets warm and dry and you can enjoy this one free topping.

Once the Spring weather gets warmer & dryer, do not forget the most important brick paver maintenance requirement .... sweeping joint sand in the paver joints! As mentioned in earlier posts, this will deter lateral paver shifting, base erosion, and weed growth.  So, before you call your brick paver contractor for patio repair work, make sure the winter frost has completely thawed.