Brick Paver Driveway Repair and Restoration

Repair, Cleaning, and Sealing of Pavers Driveway

This past week we performed brick paver repairs and restoration, cleaning & sealing, to a pavers driveway and entrance in St Petersburg, Florida.   This pavers driveway and entrance was installed about 7 years ago but never had any routine pavers maintenance performed.  The homeowner was becoming concerned about the appearance and performance of their brick pavers.The paver repair areas were minor so we were able to reset the brick pavers in a few hours.  The biggest pavers maintenance issue that needed to be addressed was cleaning, re-sanding the paver joints, and sealing of the

brick pavers.


This brick paver driveway had a lot of hard water rust stains from the irrigation system.  We were able to get great results cleaning these hard water stains. Other stains, like oil and grease, were reduced but complete removal is very difficult or cost inhibited.  The best approach to these oil & grease stains is replacement of the brick paver itself.  During the cleaning process, we removed most of the paver joint sand that had been compromised by dirt, debris, vegetation, and moss/ mold.

After cleaning the pavers surfaces and paver joints, we re-installed new paver joint sand.  After tedious sweeping, blowing, and joint touch ups, we applied a generous coat of Seal 'n Lock sealer to give the brick pavers a high quality protection and appearance to this brick pavers driveway.  The customer wanted a "matte" non-gloss, non-slippery finish that would further protect the brick pavers from weathering & etching.  It is highly recommended to have your brick pavers cleaned & sealed every 2-3 years for long-term performance & protection.  The improved visual appearance of the brick pavers is the best benefit for most customers. 

Keeping your brick pavers on a routine pavers maintenance program will insure a life time of performance and enhanced appearance.  Most customers are not educated by the brick paver installer or contractor as to the pavers maintenance needs.  In most cases, the first repair and restoration service we perform costs the most due to the current adverse conditions of the neglected brick pavers. Routine pavers maintenance over the future years should cost less as long as you keep on a 2-3 year pavers maintenance program. 

Brick Pavers Repair, Cleaning, & Sealing Peaking this Summer

This past week we completed some intricate brick pavers repair, cleaning, and sealing jobs that restored some of the original beauty & function. Each of these brick paver installations have been installed over 10 years.  After we completed our restoration service, they all looked like they had been installed yesterday!

With high school graduations, weddings, and parties an integral part of Summer events, restoration of brick pavers patios, walks, driveways, and pool areas are at an all time high request for us brick paver contractors.  Balancing needs with budgets is always a challenge for homeowners but an optimum plan of attack has always been manageable.

Each paver restoration project this week required some extensive and touch-up repairs of areas that had failed or where neglected over time. Each project was power washed & cleaned and paver joints were restored. 

The  "coup de gras" was each project was sealed with an approved brick paver sealant to enhance the color and give the brick pavers the much popular "wet look" appearance.

 Each homeowner has committed themselves to a routine maintenance program that will insure long-term performance and appearance.  Minimal routine paver services will help avoid any costly future restoration needs. We educated these homeowners about simple steps to take to maintain the appearance of their pavers and explained the need to observe the signs of distress that may lead to future expensive repairs if not addressed early.

Brick Paver Driveway need is easily resolved

Driveways constructed from Interlocking Pavers allow for easy maintenance solutions

In Ann Arbor this past week one of our brick paver driveway repair & maintenance customers had a unique request.  They wanted us to improve the appearance & curb appeal of their paver driveway and replace a dozen damaged paving stones. Though we did not initially install this 5,000 sq.ft. paving stone driveway, we have been contracted to perform ongoing maintenance services.

The original brick pavers contractor did not leave the homeowner any extra paving stones for future replacement of damaged or stained bricks.  This customers brick paver driveway was a special run of color and buying extra pavers was not available.  The resolution for this special need was then conceived.

We decided to create a design within the paver driveway that would allow us to obtain extra needed paving stones for current & future replacement and at the same time, rejuvenate the curb appeal at the street.

We removed @100 sq.ft area of Cobblestone pavers at the bottom of the driveway and installed a traditional and distinctive herringbone pattern using Holland pavers. The herringbone pattern is a strong lock up design and is a perfect application for brick paver driveways. We then replaced a few damaged & stained paving stones and stored the rest neatly in the homeowners garage. 


We will be returning later this Spring to power wash clean the entire brick paver driveway and paver joints, re-sweep new paver joint sand, and then apply an approved brick paver sealant. It is important to have a brick pavers contractor who performs ongoing maintenance services so they can resolve your special paver needs.

2011 will be a good year for Brick Pavers in Ann Arbor

Paver Patio Installations, Repair, Cleaning, and Sealing is on the rise!

As the economy in Ann Arbor, Saline, Canton, and Southeast Michigan improves slightly in 2011, homeowners are now reconsidering their brick paver patios & walkway needs. Paver Patios and walks have dominated the Outdoor Living spaces market for the last 30 years but has suffered a tremendous downturn due to the economic turmoil the past few years.

As a hard working brick paver specialist and contractor the past 28 years, I noticed the pendulum starting to swing back to more brick paver interest and needs during 2010.  I expect 2011 to make huge strides in the installation, repair & restoration, cleaning, sealing, and maintenance of interlocking pavers and modular retaining walls.

All service areas for paving stones are on the rise and good brick paver contractors are offering the spectrum of services that homeowners need.  Below are the reasons I am so optimistic about the 2011 brick paver season.

Installations:

As the economy has slightly ticked up, so has new home building. Though it is minimal, new home building has began to re-emerge.  Up until about 2006, 50% of my brick paver company revenues came from "new" home installations. In 2008, it fell to less than 10% of my total revenues.

Brick paver contractors lived and died by the new home construction sword if they were not diversified with offering "all" brick pavers services.  New home paver installations are the most profitable projects for brick paving contractors and this slow insurgence of new home building will help make this concrete paver industry more attractive.

Repairs & Restoration: 

The flip coin of homeowners not being able to sell their homes or build new ones was the insurgence for the need of "existing" brick paver patio, walkway, driveway, and porch repair. Homeowners quickly realized they were staying put and there was an immediate need for their brick pavers and retaining walls to be repaired and restored.

It is easy for homeowners to neglect their paver patios since it was not a financial necessity.  But as homeowners came to the conclusion that they were remaining in their current homes for years to come, they focused on home improvements.  With a little touch-up and re-focused attention too, paver patios could once again be an attractive and functional family outdoor living space. I predict that my paver repair & restoration projects in 2011 will double due to the emphasis by homeowners to improve what they currently have.

Cleaning, Sanding, and Sealing:

Good brick paving contractors will educate their homeowners to the benefits of touch-up repairs, cleaning, sanding, and sealing (optional) of paving stones.  In Ann Arbor, there has been a tremendous interest in these brick pavers services.  Interlocking brick pavers and retaining wall maintenance is now in the forefront.

With new and improved products for paving stones hitting the market each year, the needs for these opportunities to improve the appearance of paver patios has come to the attention of homeowners. From removing moss, efflorescence, and rust stains to polymeric sand to varying sealer appearances, paving stones products are revitalizing the attention too paver patios, walkways, driveways, and paver porch maintenance.

In conclusion, there is a resurgence in the attention for interlocking brick pavers and modular retaining walls services throughout Michigan as the economic uncertainty is stabilizing. Homeowners are reinvesting in their current homes while new home builidng begins to reappear. Capitalizing on these diverse services of paving stones will improve profits during 2011 for any good brick paver contractor who pays attention to this opportunity.