Brick Paver Spring Maintenance in Ann Arbor

Time to perform spring maintenance on your brick paver patio, walks, & driveway!

Spring has sprung in Michigan and the threat of any further freeze thaw cycles is done.  This means it is time to strategize on the maintenance objectives of your brick pavers.  Assessing the needs and care that are to be taken to ensure long-term performance is upon you.

 

Take the time to inspect your brick paver walks, patio, and driveway for sunken or lifted pavers.  If sunken, it will take some effort to lift out, add some base, and reinstall.  If raised, it may only take tamping down with a hand tamper or power plate compactor.   Make sure you do not mistake sunken or raised pavers areas because the other is true.  For example, slightly sunken paver areas may look like the surrounding area is raised.  Evaluate which circumstance is true and execute the correct action.

 

The brick pavers in Spring may seem a little loose due to the thawed base under the pavers.  Also, the lack of paver joint sand in the joints will let pavers rock back and forth slightly.  This signals the most important step in maintaining your brick pavers…. Spring sand sweeping!  It is important to keep your paver joints filled with joint sand.  On a dry day, drop a bag or more of paver joint sand and spread over all your brick pavers.  Sweep generously over all the pavers and paver joints to insure filling any empty joints.   Blow off all your pavers with a light passing of a blower, insuring you don’t blow the sand out of the joints.  Any excess sand on top of the pavers will wash off with Spring rains but don’t leave any piles of sand on your pavers.

 

This is the most basic and beneficial service for your brick pavers.  This needs to be performed every Spring, preferably in mid to late April.  For the purpose of this article, I have not talked about cleaning & sealing of your brick pavers.  These are premium services that I discuss in detail in many other past articles.  Basically, if you feel your brick pavers need cleaning before adding new joint sand, just power wash the pavers & paver joints, let dry completely, and then sweep joint sand.  When it comes to sealing your brick pavers, I recommend it every 2-3 years, and you should perform the steps of cleaning and sweeping of joint sand prior to any sealing.

 

I want to further note that your Spring touch up of paver joint sand is “regular” paver joint sand, NOT polymeric sand (hardening sand).  Polymeric sand is another premium service which requires cleaning of all paver joints prior to sweeping in.  When working with polymeric sand, great care needs to be taken to make sure you avoid a disastrous result.  

 

Brick pavers will perform excellent if you just perform this basic paver maintenance each Spring.  Paver joint sand is the blood line of all brick paver installations.  Spring brick paver maintenance can easily be performed by you the homeowner, or performed by an experience brick paver contractor at a reasonable cost. Contact us at brickdoctorbill@gmail.com if you want a qualified brick paver contractor to perform this service for you.

Old Brick Paver Patio & Steps Replaced in Ann Arbor

Updated Pavers Patio & Steps will improve house value

Brick Doctor Bill and Team replaced an old dilapidated and neglected brick paver patio and steps in Ann Arbor, Michigan this past week.  This old paver patio was sunken and was taken over by organic matter which inhibits the performance and appearance.


Like many clients we do work for, this homeowner inherited this neglected paver patio when they recently purchased the home.  The homeowner was embarrassed by the appearance and frustrated by the lack of its functionality.  It was time to have us perform a solution!

This client had done some good research and had set a reasonable budget for us to replace the unusable brick paver patio and install an updated outdoor living space they could be proud to use.

We took a simple traditional Holland 4X8 brick paver and improved the appearance by laying in a 45 degree herringbone pattern.  With modern color choices and detailed design patterns, we greatly improved the visual appeal of this brick pavers patio.





We did a simple paver block & caps paver step structure that will need less maintenance over the years.  35+ years of experience and analysis has showed us that step structures that are of solid blocks  & caps, no use of actual brick pavers, hold up much better. Paver steps and landings in rectangular designs are structurally stronger and more functional. Also, we have moved away from 1/2 circle or curved paver steps that require frequent maintenance and repair.

The final installed new brick paver patio and paver step is simply spectacular! We set them up on our yearly brick paver maintenance program.  Now our client will no longer be embarrassed to have friends & family over and the function of this pavers patio will be enjoyed for many, many, years to come!

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!

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.

Pavers Patio & Step Repair and Restoration

Brick pavers repair, cleaning, and sealing brings this Pavers Patio and Step in Canton, MI back alive!

This raised brick pavers patio  in Canton, MI needed some real attention.  After years of neglect and no paver maintenance, this pavers patio and paver step was beginning to show serious signs of failure and poor appearance. This patio and step was becoming a safety hazard for tripping.



We assured the homeowner that all is not lost and we can repair and restore their raised brick paver patio and paver step back to its glory days!  We reset and releveled the brick pavers and paver step where needed,  re-compacted the pavers to help relock an loose paving stones, did a professional cleaning, re-sanding all paver joints with regular paver joint sand, and sealed with an approved brick paver sealant which gave great color enhancement, surface protection, and joint (sand) stabilization.

Upon completion of this raised pavers patio and step repair & restoration, the homeowners where very pleased and amazed of the transformation from the old & neglected patio to the new and improved outdoor living space.


Now with minor routine (yearly) maintenance and attention, this raised brick paver patio and step will look beautiful for many decades!  We advised the homeowner to have the patio and walk sealed every 2-3 years and keep joint sand in the joints at all times.

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!

Pavers Patio Restored to Original Beauty!

Patio repair, cleaning, sanding, and sealing is performed

This past month we performed a complete restoration of a pavers patio in Livonia, MI.  Due to some neglect and severe Winter frost damage, this paver patio had seen better days.  The homeowner contacted us to see if we can restore this brick pavers patio and paver steps to their original beauty and performance.

BEFORE

We began by performing repair to the brick pavers around the perimeter of the wall block caps and reset
them flush.  The paver steps needed some releveling and adhering of caps to make them safe & functional.  We also ran the power plate compactor over the entire pavers patio to help relock loose brick pavers.

AFTER

Upon completion of the brick paver repairs, we power washed and cleaned all the paving stones, paver joints, wall blocks, and caps.  We resanded the paver joints with regular paver joint sand.  It is highly recommended not to use any poly or bonding sands when sealing your brick pavers.

We returned a couple days later when we where confident all was dry, touched up the paver joints with sand as needed, and applied an approved brick paver sealant.  This customer choose a "wet look" glossy sealer.  We also offer a "matte" satin finish sealer for those customers who do not want the gloss look. Paver sealants will last approximately 2-3 years but most of our repeat customers like to reseal every 2 years to get a fresh new look.

With routine Spring sand sweeping of joint sand and touch-up repairs & plate compacting of the brick pavers, this newly restored pavers patio will remain in pristine condition for a long time.  The performance and appearance will benefit the customer for many years to come!

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.

Elevated Brick Pavers Patio & Steps are Rebuilt

This week we performed a total rebuild of a highly elevated brick pavers patio and steps that had severely settled.  The landscape contractor that installed this pavers patio 3 years ago would not address their original warranty period.  After 2 years of frustration & safety issues, the customer contacted us to help them.



The outside paver block retaining walls had drastically settled and pitched back to the home.  The paver
steps coming out the doorwall and leading down to the yard off the paver patio were crumbling and loose.  The brick pavers on top had sunk almost 3 inches below the height
of the retaining wall caps.  This paver structure was eroding fast and after this years winter frost, it was in threat of collapsing.


The only solution in this paver repair situation was to totally rebuild the structure.  There was no feasible way
to "band aid" this poorly installed brick paver patio.  I assured the homeowner that we will re-install this raised paver patio & steps in a stronger and better appearance than the original installation.



We completely tore down the outside paver block & cap walls to the ground.  We re-installed the retaining walls with a slight pitch from the house on recompacted base.  The wall caps where re-cut and adhered with the proper adhesion.  The paver steps were more of a challenge but we completely rebuilt them too.  The final step was to remove the brick pavers (surface).  The existing base was recompacted, additional base was added, and the existing brick pavers were reinstalled properly and at the right height.

When the customer returned the last day to see their paver patio and steps repaired, it ended 2 years of disappointment and frustration.  They commented that it looked better and cleaner than the original installation and they looked forward to entertaining this coming Summer.  Another successful Brick Doctor Bill brick paver restoration!

Push to complete Fall Brick Paver Restorations in Full Gear

Completing Paver Repairs prior to Winter in Michigan is Essential

Our Fall season push for completing Brick Paver repair, sanding, cleaning, and sealing is in full gear.  Fall restoration of paver patios, walkways, driveways, paver steps, etc.. is essential to be completed prior to late Fall rains & Winter ground frost.  Both rain and ground frost are the biggest contributors to expanding the occurrence and size of paver repairs.

Compromised or settled brick pavers & retaining walls are stretched to their limits if left unattended or not properly reset.  Water flowing into settled pavers areas & paver joints results in face paced erosion and further damage.  Winter ground frost will heave and expand the structure and if the brick pavers or retaining walls are not properly set,  the whole interlocking paver system will begin to fail.

Before

When I am bidding in the Fall, I often hear the response from homeowners that "we may wait until next Spring to have this done".  This can be a costly mistake.  Aside from the compromised areas increasing in size and thus more labor or material costs, Fall prices are usually less than Spring prices for services.  Most brick paver and landscape contractors in Michigan are slowing up in demand for services in the Fall.  Once Spring arrives, the demand is incredibly high and the pencil is not so sharp! 

After

I also explain to my customers that usually after Jan 1, our renewals for businesss, auto, workmans comp,& liability insurance occur. These costs are always rising.  Crew member wages usually increase beginning each Spring too. Labor is the largest cost variable in our brick paver services.

This past week we performed some brick pavers restorations that not only improved the performance & appearance of their pavers, but insured that their cost for repairs will not increase by waiting until Spring.  When Spring arrives, these homeowners will enjoy their newly restored pavers and not have to wait to have done when the weather breaks.  Most important is the cost savings having done in the Fall versus the Spring!

Pavers Patio Replaces Old Concrete Patio in Canton, MI

Brick Pavers create a new Beautiful & Functional Patio and Step

The number one request we receive when installing brick pavers is replacing old, cracked, sunken, and deteriorated concrete patios, steps, and walks.  In Canton, MI this month we replaced this unsightly cement patio that drastically sloped back to the house, resulting in water problems around the foundation.  Because the cement patio had sunk, the rise on the cement step was over 12" and causing a safety issue.  It was time for the homeowner to address this unsightly and unsafe outdoor living space.

The homeowner was referred to us by a couple of clients that we had installed pavers patios for over the past few years.  The homeowner did get a couple of quotes from other brick paver contractors in the local area but they did not compare to us in ideas, dependability, and confidence.  Our price was in the middle of the 2 other contractors but the homeowner had complete confidence in our expertise and professionalism.  We did not disappoint!

After removing the old concrete patio & step, we prepped the base material and established the new height of the pavers patio and step.  Not only did we create the proper pitch from the house foundation, but we built the new pavers patio slightly above grade (yard level) to allow proper drainage off the patio.  Using extra base material to set the height, the patio had the appearance of a raised pavers patio without the cost of installing a retaining wall block & cap.

We transitioned the height of the pavers patio with the existing lawn height by stripping an additional 3-4ft of lawn.  We installed topsoil from the outside row of pavers gradually down to the lawn height. This created a new raised landscape bed for the customer to plant dwarf bushes, perennials, or annuals and cover with an organic mulch or stone mulch.  We also installed some flagstone paths off the pavers patio through the landscape beds to allow access into the yard.  You can just install grass, sod or seed, instead of a landscape bed but keep in mind it will have some slope.

The new pavers step was constructed with solid modular retaining wall block & caps.  This helps prevent any ongoing repair to brick paver inlays.  The only drawback is your paver steps or landing must be rectangular and not curved.  We created comfortable and safe 7" rises from the doorwall down to the paver block step and from the paver block step down to the pavers patio.

The homeowner took advantage of increasing the size of the new pavers patio to better facilitate there outdoor living space needs.  The popular "kidney" shaped design met their needs while softening the angles on the home.  The actual size of the patio was determined by placing all the furniture, grill, fire pit, etc.. out and outlining the needed space.  The outline can be executed by using marking paint, stakes, or the garden hose.

We properly installed this new pavers patio and step by meeting or exceeding all industry specifications of installing brick pavers.  The design was both aesthetically pleasing and functional.  The homeowner was educated on future maintenance requirements to insure long-term performance.  The end result was a completely satisfied homeowner and a proud brick pavers owner & crew!