Brick Paver Patio Restoration in Ann Arbor

Pavers Repair, Cleaning, Sanding, and Sealing brings back the beauty of patio

Neglected Pavers Patio

One of the biggest rewards in this brick paver industry is the satisfaction of pleasing homeowners who have given up on their pavers patio, walks, drives, porches, etc.. .  Most homeowners are despair and overwhelmed by neglected and deteriorated paver installations.  This Brick Doctor is here to make House Calls!

We like to offer a pavers restoration package that includes options for brick pavers repair, cleaning, re-sanding, and sealing with an approved brick paver sealant.  Sealing of brick pavers is the one option that customers toil with after I explain the pro's & con's of applying paver sealer. 

Restored Pavers Patio

To restore some of the original beauty & function of the brick pavers requires professional repair, cleaning, and re-sanding.  With some simple maintenance education, homeowner's can now maintain a rewarding outdoor living space for years to come.  A true brick pavers contractor will also offer follow-up maintenance services to better serve homeowner's who are busy and seek professional help.

Pavers Patio Sealed

This pavers patio in Ann Arbor is a perfect example of the many patio restorations we perform on a daily basis.  The homeowner had no idea what to do or where to go until they contacted us for services.  We completed the repairs, cleaning, and sanding in one day and returned in a couple of days to apply the proper paver sealant.  Time to enjoy the backyard as this pavers patio was intended!

Raised Pavers Patio is Redesigned to be more Functional

Multi-Level Paver Patio is reconstructed to One Level for added space

Old Multi-level Patio

This Raised Pavers Patio in Saline, MI was installed by a local landscaper over 5 years ago.  Though the design concept was appealing for the homeowner, the execution of a quality installation and functional design failed.  The quality of detail & cuts was poor to say the least, but the biggest complaint by the homeowner was the lack of useable space.  The scaled drawing they supplied looked so nice on paper but it did not serve the needs of this young growing family.

 The homeowner hired us to re-design this pavers patio to be more functional while using as much as possible the current products on-site so the project was economically possible.  This is where a true experienced brick pavers contractor works at their best.  Any contractor can start a paver project from scratch with nothing there!  Qualified and highly trained brick paver contractors know how to maximize current products and foresee issues & obstacles that may arise. 



My first suggestion was to make the entire pavers patio one level.  This would create one larger patio giving the added space needed for patio furniture, chairs, grill, fire pits, etc.. .  Multi-level raised paver patios are aesthetically pleasing but unless you have a very large design, you end up with 2 smaller patios.  Sometimes the smaller of the two is unusable like in this homeowner's situation.


The pavers patio redesign required us to reconstruct the paver steps coming out the doorwall.  We wanted to make sure they had a safe 3ft out landing step for the young ones & guests.  Because we eliminated the upper level patio and the steps leading down to the lower level patio, the paver steps needed to be transferred to the landing step at the doorwall.  With 12" wide treads, these paver steps were a comfortable and safe transfer to the newly expanded patio.

After disassembling the existing upper level patio pavers, block steps, & sitting wall, the back breaking work of removing the upper level base material began.  We needed to lower the base to the level of the lower level patio so we could install the paving stones flush with the current lower level patio height.  This took 4 workers approx. 7 hours to accomplish. We could not excavate with equipment since it would have disturbed the lower level patio which was to remain.  Many times you have to weigh the decision and trade offs of using good ole fashion man power versus power equipment use.


We completed this redesign and reconstruction of the raised pavers patio in 2 days.  We finished by completely power washing the patio & joints, and sweeping in new paver joint sand.  The transformation was incredible and the homeowner's were ecstatic.  The homeonwers had an upcoming party where they wanted to show off their newly designed patio.  Now, they had enough room for seating and Summer enjoyment!

Pavers Patio and Walkway Restored after 25 years

Brick Pavers are resilient and offer the best long-term pavement solution

 
We recently restored this Pavers Patio and Walkway in Ann Arbor that was originally installed 25 years ago.  The homeowner gave up about 5 years ago removing weeds from the open & gapping joints. I assured the homeowner that we could re-use the existing brick pavers and re-install the paver patio and paver walkway to their original dimensions, design, and appearance.  Aside from the normal effects of weathering, the original function of the paving stones would be restored.

We completely lifted up the brick pavers, removed any organic matter, re-compacted the original base material, added additional base as needed, and reinstalled the paving stones in the original shape, size, and design.  We cleaned the pavers and re-sanded with regular joint sand.  We then returned a week later when all was dry and applied an approved brick paver sealant.  The main purpose for sealing was to protect the paving stones from any further weathering.


  The homeowner was never instructed by the installing contractor that they needed to keep the paver joints filled with joint sand. The installing contractor at the time told them that "brick pavers are NO maintenance" and they " will never move".  This was a constant theme I encountered through the early years of brick pavers in Southeast Michigan. 

At the completion of this brick paver restoration project, we spent the much needed time educating the customer of the minimum maintenance requirements of interlocking pavers.  Spring sand sweepings of the paver joints and periodic spot repairs of any settled pavers will insure endless years of beauty and function.

Pavers Patio Repair, Cleaning, & Resanding in Ann Arbor

Restoration of Paver Patios is becoming our #1 Brick Paver Repair Service

This past week in Ann Arbor, we were able to transform this neglected Pavers Patio back to its original beauty & function. The homeowner was having a graduation party this Summer and needed help!

 Covered in moss, mildew, dirt, weeds, and grass, this paver patio hid some much needed repair to settled & loose paving stones and spreading paver joints.

We see this condition of brick pavers on a daily basis all too often.  I have always believed that once things get this far out of hand, homeowners give up.  This particular homeowner stopped maintaining this paver patio about 5 years ago and it shows. Neglect is the number one reason for the failure and unsightly appearance of paver patios, walkways, driveways, etc.

 This homeowner stopped sweeping joint sand each Spring about 5 years ago. This lead to moss, weeds, grass, and other organic matter taking over the paver joints. Other areas began to settle due to base erosion under the paving stones from the lack of joint sand in the joints.  As you can see in the before pics, this paver patio gave interlocking brick pavers a bad reputation.

After performing our routine repairs, re-compaction of pavers, cleaning of the paving stones & paver joints, and re-sanding the joints with the proper joint sand,  we were able to bring this paver patio "back to life" and beauty.

Now the homeowner can get a new start on maintaining this beautiful paver patio or sign up for our affordable paver maintenance program to insure endless years of enjoyment & performance!

Raised Paver Patio, Steps, and Planters Revitalizes Pool Area

Interlocking Brick Pavers and Modular Retaining Wall Blocks and Caps are versatile

This past year we were hired to transform this backyard poolside area. The current homeowner inherited this eyesore when they purchased the home 3 years ago.  Though they were satisfied with the current layout, it was time for us to replace the old deteriorating clay pavers, rotting timber planters, and unsafe steps.

I suggested we use FENDT Country Manor blocks & caps to construct new paver steps and planter retaining walls.  We used the traditional 4"X8" shaped FENDT Holland paver to replace the old cracking & chipping clay paving stones used for the raised patio.

We discussed in detail the pros and cons of replacing the cement areas around the built in pool. Since the cement was still in good shape and properly pitched away from the pool, we jointly decided to keep the current concrete in for now. We decided that replacing the cement with paving stones would be a phase 2 project in the future.

We did power wash clean the cement areas to give it an improved appearance and polymeric sanded some open joints & minor cracks. We did saw cut out some small cement areas to install paver pad transition areas and modify the planter wall layout.

As seen from the photos, the transformation of this poolside area is dramatic.  Interlocking pavers and modular retaining wall blocks & caps create beauty, functionality, and low future maintenance & replacement costs. 

Raised Brick Pavers Patio is Rebuilt in Canton

Brick Pavers Elevated Patio with Pillars, Steps, & Sitting Walls Reconstructed

As a qualified and professional brick pavers contractor, it is always disappointing to see a brick paver patio installation failing so miserably.  The appearance of severely distressed paver installations is not indicative of a properly designed & installed project.

Usually by inspecting a failed paver installation, the signs of stress and settling will give me the clues and evidence I need to conclude the causes.  Using a simple "cause & effect" approach will reveal the needs for restoration, re-design, and long-term performance rebuilds.


Most brick paver repair situations arise due to both installing contractor and homeowner.

The contractor usually has failed in the design & execution of installing the paver project.  The contractor also has failed in educating the homeowner of the ongoing maintenance needs of brick pavers. 

The homeowner is usually guilty of neglecting and ignoring their paver installation. Most homeowners I deal with in extreme paver repair projects have done no maintenance on their brick paver patios, walkways, porches, driveways, etc.. over the years.  Often I am told by homeowners  " I gave up the last year or two" or "my contractor never told me I needed to perform any maintenance".  Even simple sand sweeping of joint sand in the paver joints would have tremendously reduced the amount of damage over the years.



By the time I see these extreme brick paver repairs, it is obvious that the needed repairs did not just happen in the past year.  It is usually a compilation of neglected years.  So, I can not let some homeowners off the hook for ignoring or putting off the need for a service call.  The more you wait, the more the paver repair costs will increase exponentially.

This recent rebuild project of a Raised Paver Patio in Canton was just that, a poorly executed installation and years of homeowner's neglect that put this pavers patio on the brink of collapse. Another winter frost could have given this homeowner a hot tub ride they would never forget!

The raised patio walls were leaning & gapping. The paver steps leading off the patio were caving in. The curved paver step at the doorwall was falling apart and sinking. This curved paver step was unsafe and made it impossible for their Yorkshire terriers from getting up and down.  The paving stone surface was collapsing around the inside of the sitting walls & pillars and drastically pitching back to the house foundation.


Upon close inspection, the upper paving stone surface had severely settled from water erosion. Any and all low spots began to push water into the patio retaining walls and back toward the house foundation. The flow of water was originally trapped in by the sitting walls going around the perimeter of the patio and eventually water was going to win.

Several paving stones had sunk inches below the surface and created tunnels or drains for water to flow into.  The raised patio walls did not have any filter fabric material on the inside securing the base from leaking through the wall joints.  Lack of joint sand in the paver joints was evident and by the homeowner's admission they had never swept any sand in the joints.

This ongoing process of erosion was stressing the outside raised patio wall blocks and they began to push out and fall apart.  This raised paver patio was in extreme stress and dangerously close to collapsing into the yard.  Another winter freeze thaw cycle may have been the "straw that broke the camel's back" sending homeowner & hot tub on a white water rafting ride into the yard.

We were hired to reconstruct this raised paver patio to its original beauty & function.  The homeowner's budget did not allow for replacing the current raised patio walls with a more structural wall block but I was confident that if properly reconstructed and maintained, this pavers patio can last a 20+ years.

We began by completely tearing down the raised patio wall blocks that retained the patio.  We reconstructed from the ground up, burying block below grade, installing the necessary filter fabric behind the wall that was originally missed, and designing in "relief" gaps to allow water to flow off the patio through the sitting walls.

After the outside raised patio walls were reconstructed, the upper paving stone surface was reinstalled in like design and the proper pitches away from the house foundation and into the sitting wall "relief" gaps was executed.  The paving stones were power washed cleaned and sanded.  The two sets of paver steps between the pillars leading down off the patio where releveled and the curved paver step at the doorwall was reassembled with safe rises to accommodate the yorkies.


A raised paver patio repair like this one requires a very experienced brick paver contractor to perform.  The challenge is meeting several fixed heights with products that have a variable tolerance.  Foresight, tools & equipment, experience, and detail orientation are necessary for proper execution of this brick paver repair service.  It would have been easier to perform this paver work if nothing was there to start but for the homeowner was able to save the cost of products.

Should you wait until Spring to have your Brick Pavers Repaired?

The decision to wait to have your Brick Paver Patio or Walkway repaired can be more costly

This time of year I have alot of potential clients who decide to wait until Spring to have their brick paver patios, walkways, driveways, porches, etc.. repaired or restored.  In many ways, this decision can be much more costly.  It is important to heed the advice of a reputable and honest brick pavers contractor who will explain the pros & cons of when you should have these paver repair services performed.

I am a consumer too so I always believe that a good qualified contractor should not always be trying to get the work or job today. A good brick paver contractor will present you with the best economical & timing options that best meet your needs and budget.

This all came to light recently when we performed some major repair & design change work to a large raised paver patio installation in Plymouth, MI.  The homeowner was in dire straights with a paver patio that was collasping quickly.  An unqualified landscape contractor did the original work only 4 years ago. This patio installation was unsafe and close to collapsing into the back yard.

This raised brick paver patio needed approx. 50-60% rebuild and the customer did not have the budget for this work at this time.  The homeowner was considering waiting until Spring and using next years tax return to fund the repairs.  The issue became that by waiting through another Winter, this raised paver patio will suffer more damage & settling which will effect the remaining 40-50% of installation.  This of course will greatly increase the cost needed to repair & restore this paver patio.

I spelled out a 2 phase plan that would be more economically feasible for the homeowner at this time while protecting the rest of the raised paver patio from further damage. The first phase was to rebuild & redesign the outer retaining wall foundation of this raised paver patio to keep it from collapsing into the yard and protecting the upper level from further damage.  Much like a house, you must secure the foundation first, then address the rest of the structure in the future.

The second phase will be to return in the Spring and redesign & repair the paver steps leading into the house,  relay the ground level patio & walkway, and rebuild the sitting walls & pillars.  When we complete this total restoration of these multil-level paver patios & walk, the homeowner will deservedly enjoy their paver installation as originally expected.

The extent of repairs for this brick paver installation is an embarrassment to my profession. The lack of attention to construction detail & execution from this landscape contractor has resulted in a "scar" for the appearance, performance, and industry of paving stones and modular retaining wall blocks & caps.

The point made here is that by waiting to repair or restore the settling of brick pavers or wall blocks will result in additional areas settling, leaning, or gapping at an exponential rate. Winter frost will be the most damaging force on compromised paving stones and wall blocks.

The biggest concern I see on a daily basis is the settling of the paving stones directly behind the wall caps.  Instead of rain water flowing over the top of the the caps and off the patio or steps, it runs down behind the wall blocks & caps and slowly erode the base. The hydro static pressure on the walls, especially when frozen during the Winter, will certainly push on the retaining wall system and result in extreme leaning and/or collapsing.

Sometimes the simple cost of repairing or resetting pavings stones will protect the extensive & expensive cost of repairing wall blocks. I have mentioned several times in earlier posts that sweeping of paver joint sand seasonally is the most important factor of brick pavers, but making sure your paver installation is in optimal condition leading into the Winter is the next.

If your brick pavers patio or walkway will require complete reconstruction, it usually does not matter whether you have it done in the Fall or Spring.  The main concern would be safety or risk of water getting into the home during Fall or Winter.  Once the ground is frozen, proper paver repair services can not be performed.

The other factor to keep in mind about whether to have your pavers repaired in Fall or Spring is the cost.  Most brick paver contractors like myself will give a better price to perform these restoration services in the Fall over the high demand of our services in the Spring.  Typically, my prices are 10-15% less in the Fall because we will have gaps in our schedule to fill due to lower demand & leads.  In contrast, Spring prices reflect new higher costs of products, labor, insurances, etc.. that need to be covered to meet minimum margins. 

I know it is easy to put off your paver patio or walkway repair for the Spring, but for those that are cost conscious, it will behoove you to consider doing these repairs this Fall to save costs and/or added future repairs. Remember that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!"

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.

Raised Paver Patio Replaces Old Wooden Deck

Homeowner chooses lower maintenance & aesthetically pleasing advantages of Brick Pavers

Many of our installation projects are replacing old worn & high maintenance wooden decks with interlocking pavers and retaining wall blocks and caps.  With the versatility of paving stones & modular retaining wall blocks, multi-level or raised paver patios and steps are possible.  When properly installed and maintained, raised paver patios are unmatched in beauty, function, and long-term costs.

This homeowner was tired and frustrated from the continued maintenance costs & time of their wooden deck.  It was time to consider another option and my team and I were here to satisfy their need.  After reviewing the layout & heights, I was able to design a raised paver patio that met their need for function, space, and pleasing appearance.  My team executed a timely & detailed installation that will insure optimum performance for years to come.

Paving stones offer a variety of colors, shapes, and textures that will complement any home structure or yard.  After careful selection of products and colors, this plan came together with a shared vision of homeowner & contractor. The new pavers patio needed to be elegant and simple with a strong design and construction for long-term success.

We began by completely removing the existing wooden deck. We then began to construct the modular retaining wall blocks & caps, FENDT's Country Manor in Limestone color, to build the outside framing of the new raised paver patio while filling up the structure with base material, all along compacted in 4-5" each lifts.  A back wall was constructed along the elevated four seasons room to insure strength and avoid cave in.
   
Filter fabric was used behind the wall blocks to restrict any base material from filtering through the blocks.  This step of installing a geo-texile blanket behind walls is often missed by inexperienced landscape contractors who install raised paver patios or retaining walls.

Once the outside framing was complete and the base material was set at the proper height, we spread the bedding course material for screeding. After screeding the entire paver patio, the pavers, FENDT's Hollandstone Paver in Polar Ash color, were laid in a herringbone pattern with a soldier course border. The soldier course border is laid inside the wall caps and along all other edges butting up to the house or steps.  The diamond saw cutting piecing was completed, joint sand was swept in the paver joints, plate compaction was performed, and then another sweeping of joint sand was executed.

We completed the project by cleaning up the site & installing soil around the new raised paver patio until the homeowner can properly landscape. Landscaping around paver patios is crucial to long-term success by reducing or preventing any erosion that may compromise the installation.  We left the homeowner an extra bag of joint sand for future touch-ups of paver joints and explained the expectations for on-going low maintenance needs.

These homeowner's were originally reluctant to bring a brick paver patio into their landscape but were now ecstatic with their decision.  I was confident we would meet or exceed their expectations and needs.  This combination of four seasons room and raised paver patio is now the envy of this condo development.  So when you finally have had it with your old high-maintenance wooden deck, consider the option of installing a raised brick paver patio.

New Life for Raised Brick Paver Patio

Raised Paver Patio in Canton Restored

Each day we are restoring Raised Brick Paver Patios in Canton that need immediate attention. Mainly due to the lack of routine long-term maintenance by homeowners over the last 15+ years, these interlocking paving stone patios have shifted & loosened over years of neglect & lack of joint sand sweepings. My team and I not only perform repair, cleaning, & sealing services, but we take the time to educate the homeowner on avoiding future costly repair costs.

If the paving stones, wall blocks, and caps are loose or drastically shifted, then the paver patio is in much need of attention.  Often the first sign of trouble is lack of paver joint sand in the paving joints. Weeds, dirt, moss, and grass take over the joints which are the most important function of interlocking brick pavers.

Another sign of distress is the "leaning out" of modular retaining wall blocks & caps that retain the patio.  Much of the "leaning" is caused by the settling of the paving stones behind the cap. When these paving stones settle below the top of the cap, water flowing over the patio begins to channel behind the wall blocks.  This slow long-term erosion and freeze thaw cycle pressure puts alot of hydrostatic pressure on the strength of the wall.  Mother nature will always win out so it is important to address these signs in a timely manner.

But not all is lost!  This particular raised paver patio in Canton was restored by my team and I for just under $2,000. We had to completely relay ALL the paving stones inside the wall blocks & caps, adjust an area of wall blocks, adhere all loose caps, and reconstruct the step at the doorwall.  We power wash cleaned the entire paver patio and swept in regular paver joint sand to prep for sealing with an approved brick paver sealant.

This particular homeowner inherited this distressed raised paver patio a few years ago when he purchased the home.  Had the original homeowner been diligent in maintaining the patio over the years, the enormous cost of repairs could have been minimal. Like any outdoor structures or pavements, touch-ups and routine maintenance is required.

If properly installed & maintained over the years, Brick Paver Patios still outperform wooden decks and stamped concreted.  A half hour of your time or paying as little as $50 each Spring to have paver joint sand swept in the paver joints can save $1000's and years of frustration & angst.

If you are experiencing the same signs or results of this once distressed paver patio, call a brick paver specialist, not a landscaper, before the winter freeze to avoid unnecessary costly repairs. Do not lose hope that your brick paver installation whether it be a patio, walkway, driveway, or porch can be restored to its original beauty & function!