Brick Paver Patio Repair in High Demand for 2021

Canton, Plymouth, & Northville bids for patio repair & restoration soars 

Due to the pandemic, homeowners are requesting more than ever to have their brick paver patios updated, repaired, and restored to accommodate more entertaining and their family relaxing outside.  Brick pavers patios are the most popular outdoor living space throughout Southeast Michigan.  

The most popular style of brick paver patios is the Raised Paver Patio.  This patio is raised off the ground or grade level and is usually supported by modular retaining wall blocks & caps. The are very attractive and functional, but they do require more ongoing maintenance & repair than the basic ground level (grass level) brick paver patio.

The Raised Paver Patio was on fire during the 1990's and 2000's replacing wooden decks as the most designed outdoor living space extension in Metro Detroit.  During my company days, we removed more decks and cement patios than I can count.  Rarely did a homeowner request for a ground level patio.  The Raised Paver Patio design offered a more prominent structure and elegance.  I often would design a Multi-Level Raised Patio that offered some height variety & function for improving the landscape and home appearance.

As 15 years has past, the long-term feedback became apparent with Raised Paver Patios.  They require more upkeep than the traditional ground level paver patio.  The main culprit is the natural climate.  In Southeast Michigan, winter ground frost is that culprit.  Assuming the brick paver contractor installed the paver patio to the standard specifications, routine maintenance & repair like all outdoor structures is still needed. 

Homeowners wanting to entertain for this coming Summer and future years, need their brick paver
patios in top notch condition.  Appearance, safety, and functionality is paramount. Years of neglect and tolerance have gone out the window since this pandemic started in Spring 2020.  Creating an improved outdoor experience and necessity for 2021 is soaring as restoration contractors are overwhelmed with early season leads.  Homeowners are smart to get a jump on having this brick paver repair & restoration work contracted early so they can enjoy their Spring and Summer outside.

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!

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 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!

Simple Repair & Cleaning of Brick Pavers Patio and Walk in Plymouth, MI

Repairs, Cleaning, Sealing, and Maintenance of Brick Pavers is on fire!

This past week we performed a simple restoration of a brick paver patio and walkway in Plymouth, MI.  This is our most common brick paver service: simple touch-up repairs of sunken or lifted pavers, cleaning of the paving stones and paver joints, re-sanding of the paver joints, and re-gluing or loose block wall or step caps .  Some customers will elect to have sealing of their paver installations but this is completely optional.

This paver patio and walkway was installed about 12 years ago and this was the first attention it received.  The cost for our service on this particular raised paver patio and walk was $1,150.  This price did NOT include sealing with an approved brick paver sealant. Had this customer elected to seal this paver patio & walk, it would have been an additional $400.

All paver restoration jobs are priced custom and require different services and costs.  Repairs are the biggest variable when pricing restoration projects. Paver Step repair or patio wall blocks & caps are usually the most expensive repair to perform.

Cleaning & Sanding is very reasonable when performed during repairs.  The current condition of the paver surface & joints determines the overall cleaning cost.  Sealing is always optional and our costs includes using the "right" paver sealants that run approx. $175/ 5 gallon drum.  Many pseudo contractors are using imitation or the wrong sealers for high density concrete pavers.  I can not tell you how many times customers call me when things go wrong with sealing from other contractors or themselves.

Simple paver patio restorations can bring back the life of your outdoor living space.  Hiring a qualified brick paver contractor, not a landscaper or handy man service, is the first step in getting a quality job done.  The next step is being diligent and not neglecting your brick pavers.

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!

The "Interlock" in Interlocking Brick Pavers

High Density Concrete Paving Stones were developed to achieve proper Interlock

Brick pavers made from high density concrete have been a popular paving option for almost 35 years in the United States.  Pavers were first widely used as walkways or paths.  They quickly evolved into functional and aesthetically pleasing patios.  As pavers have matured in the market place, the use of residential driveways and municipal city scapes & parks have grown exponentially.

Today, I am still amazed how many homeowners and even contractors, do not understand how interlocking brick pavers work.  Often I go on estimates where homeowners do not believe they actually have interlocking brick pavers, when in fact they do.

 Most homeowners believe that the only interlocking brick paver is the one that are key shaped or has several angled sides.  They believe that they lock together like a jig saw puzzle piece. The most popular shape for brick paver installations is the traditional 4" by 8" rectangle shape.  Laid in a herringbone pattern offers the best performing interlock or lock-up.

The simple truth is that the "Interlocking"of brick pavers is achieved by the method they are installed.  Below is a definition of "Interlock" described by the Intelocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI):

"Frictional forces between paving units that prevent them from rotating, or moving horizontally or vertically in relation to each other, also defined as the inability of a concrete paver to move independently of it neighbors.  The friction forces enable load transfer among the paving units." 

 "The three kinds of load transfer are vertical interlock, horizontal interlock, and rotational interlock.  Vertical interlock is achieved by shear transfer of loads to surrounding units through sand in the joints. Horizontal interlock is primarily achieved through the use of laying patterns that disperse forces from braking and accelerating vehicles.  Rotational interlock  is maintained by the pavers being of sufficient thickness & density, placed closely together, and being restrained by a stationary edge restraint on the borders."

  To achieve the above  interlock or lock-up needed for a high performing paving stone pavement, the method of installing brick pavers is essential. It is the installation process that achieves interlock. Without boring you with all the minor installation details, below explains how we accomplish the three "Interlock" load transfers with brick pavers.

First you install a compacted crushed stone base to the proper specifications recommended  for the particular paver installation  (patio, walk, driveway, etc..).  A strong base will aid in Vertical interlock by transfering "load" back to the paver units.  A strong base will keep the paver units from settling or sinking into the ground and allow the paver units to spread the load between them.

Second you install a sand bedding or leveling course by spreading it over the compacted base approx. 1-1.5" thick.  You will then "screed" (level) the bedding course with the proper heights & pitch that is needed for the final product. You will then lay the paver units over the bedding course in the design & laying pattern determined. After all cut ins are complete and the edge restraint is installed, joint sand will be swept into the joints.

Then the most important step in installing brick pavers will be performed.  You will run the power plate compactor over the paver units in several passes and angles.  Here is where Horizontal interlock occurs.  As the power plate compactor runs over the pavers units, if vibrates several pavers down at the same time.  As the paver units are pushed down into the bedding course..."Jet up" or lock-up of the pavers will occur.  This locks the brick pavers horizontally keeping them from shifting side-to-side.


The final step is to finish sweep all the paver joints with more joint sand.  Rotational interlock is accomplished by butting pavers up to each other, not leaving an excessive gap between each paver units.  This will avoid any "rocking" back and forth of an individual paver unit.  It is also accomplished in the planning stage of selecting the proper thickness, laying pattern, and density of pavers. Specifying the proper paver unit , design, & laying pattern for the particular application is essential.

In summary, the shape of your brick paver unit does not exclude it from the interlocking brick paver application.  The methods of installation will allow any shape or composition (clay, concrete, rubber, asphalt) of pavers to "interlock" into place.

Brick Paver Patio Sealed in Ann Arbor

Sealing Brick Pavers should be performed by a Qualified & Experienced Contractor

We completed this Brick Paver Sealing of a paver patio in Ann Arbor this past week.  This paver patio was installed by another brick paver contractor only a year ago. The homeowner was frustrated with the original installing contractor because they had no interest in cleaning and sealing the patio they installed.

With a little prodding by the homeowner, the original installing contractor finally gave them a quote that was twice the cost of our quote.  The homeowner was fully aware that the contractor was not interested in performing this service and just tossed out a high quote.  We were here again to meet a homeowner's need at a very reasonable price!

 I see this all the time where a brick paver or landscape contractor is only interested in installing brick pavers and do not offer affordable & timely after services that homeowner's need.  Oh, they will do the job if you are willing to pay the high quote they throw out there! 

True brick paver contractors will not only give you a competitive quote, they will schedule your brick paver repairs, cleaning, sanding, sealing, etc.. like any other project.  They will also offer a seasonal maintenance program that will offer long-term performance and appearance of your brick pavers.  For homeowners on a tight budget, they will educate their clients on how to perform these paver maintenance services themselves.
 
This brick paver patio needed a general cleaning and the removal of one stained area in the middle.  The paver patio was re-sanded and we returned a day & half later when all was dry.  We carefully applied an approved brick paver sealant to this paver patio including the bordering sitting walls & pillars.

Fall is still a good time to clean & seal brick pavers.  Our pricing for these paver services are typically 15-20% cheaper than our Spring prices.  As long as temps are over 50 degrees, sealing pavers can be performed safely.  Other than budgeting for paver services, there is no advantage in waiting until Spring.

Raised Paver Patio Repaired After Collapse

Elevated Brick Paver Patios need special attention to avoid expensive repairs

This Raised Brick Pavers Patio in Belleville, MI had a severe collapse of its outer retaining wall block & cap.  The brick pavers above sank and washed out making this patio virtually unusable and unsightly.  Finally, the wall blocks & caps fell over this Summer and this brick pavers patio was at a great risk of deteriorating further.

The homeowner noticed about a year after this pavers patio was installed by an inexperienced landscaper that the wall blocks & caps were leaning out.  The outer rows of brick pavers behind the wall caps had sunk lower than the height of the caps.  The homeowner ignored this sign of stress for the pavers patio and eventually he sits here today with a costly repair.

I pointed out to the homeowner that this particular wall block & cap system was not the proper retaining wall system for a raised pavers patio.  This particular wall block the landscaper used is for low height landscape or gardenwalls around the landscape to border beds or create accents.  When the correct modular retaining wall system is used and properly installed, raised pavers patios will give you the best economical performance over the years.

 For raised paver patios, a strong engineered modular retaining wall system must be implemented.   The cost to replace ALL the current wall blocks for a more sophisticated wall system was too cost inhibited for the homeowner so he elected to reconstruct the paver patio with the same products.   With low cost routine maintenance, he will save money then totally replacing the old wall blocks & caps.

My crew and I reconstructed the outside retaining wall for this patio from the ground up, compacting each layer as we go, and filling any voids.  The brick pavers above were pulled up a few feet into the patio and re-installed in the same shape & design.  The end result was a total revival of this homeowner's pavers patio!  We performed several other touch-up repairs to the patio, steps, and walk.  We also cleaned the pavers and re-sanded with new joint sand.

I took the time to explain to the homeowner that even though the landscaper made a huge miscalculation of  using this product, his own neglect to address the early signs of stress contributed to the severe condition and collapse of this pavers patio.  I explained that any time the outside row of pavings stones sink below the height of the wall cap, they must be reset to allow water to flow over the top of the caps, not behind and under them!

Brick Pavers Maintenance Tips to do this Fall

Simple Paver Maintenance tasks will insure long term performance

 Fall has arrived and as you begin to do your lawn & landscape pre-winter maintenance tasks, do not forget about your brick paver patio, walkway, porch, steps, driveway, etc.. .  There are some simple paver maintenance tasks that need to be performed in the Midwest before Winter.  If your prior brick paver contractor or landscaper did not properly educate you on these needs, I am here to help you.

 Here is an earlier article I posted regarding Winter Maintenance for Brick Pavers that will help insure endless years of beauty & function of your paver patios, walkways, and driveways.  After 29 years of experience, analysis, & visual feedback, I have spent more time educating my clients on paver maintenance requirements that in turn leads to the reduced need for added future paver repair services. 



I would like to expand on a couple of my paver maintenance tips from the earlier post so we can keep up with the ever evolving feedback I witness and receive back from clients.

The first piece of advice is to remove ALL items from your paver patio, walkway, etc.. that will stay stationary over the Winter.  This includes your patio table.  Each Spring I witness patios with 4 sunken pavers where each leg of the table meets the paving stones.  Just place your patio table in your landscape beds or lawn for the Winter. Do Not forget to remove the umbrella base too!  I am often asked about the grill since most people still use there's during the Winter months.  Just try to relocate (roll) slightly a few times during the winter so the legs & wheels do not stay on the same paving stones all Winter.

Second, touch up sweep any brick paver joints that lack joint sand going into the Winter.  We want to make sure that water during any rains or melt-off this Winter will flow over and off the pavers, not down into the joints.   If you have a raised paver patio with a modular wall block & cap on the outside perimeter, pay special attention to the joint between the outside brick paver and the block cap. This is the same for pavers inside block caps of paver steps and porches.

I am very passionate about the brick paver industry and I never install, repair, or restore a brick paver project with the intent to have to come back and repair.  My goal is to functionally create or bring back to life a paver patio, walkway, driveway, etc.. , educate the customer on maintenance needs they can easily perform themselves, and then be there when the customer needs our brick paver services.

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!