Brick Paver Steps Down to Basement Walkout Patio Replaced

New Brick Pavers Steps lead to Paver Patio

In Ann Arbor this past week, we replaced some unsightly and dangerous patio block steps that had deteriorated and eroded. These dilapidated steps lead down to a basement walkout paver patio that was also repaired and increased in size.  The step replacement was the customer's immediate need for our services.

The old brick steps were loose, sunken, and slippery which all contributed to an unsafe path down to the brick paver patio.  I see these make shift steps all the time leading from an upper grade down to the lower level.  A good design and execution of installing proper paver steps is essential for long-term success & beauty.


I decided to use UNILOCK's Siena Stone Coping Step Units for this particular application.  They are large massive units that when properly installed, should not fail. They have preset 7.5" rises, 4ft wide, and are 20" deep for a comfortable & safe tread.  These particular units weigh over 300lbs and require equipment placement or brute strength to set in place.  We used the latter with some aid from a tree ball cart.

We needed to strategize the placement of these concrete stone steps by evaluating the total height and slope.  Each set of these paver steps would require small brick paver pads in between to transition to each set of steps.  Because the grade in this area was inconsistent, we had a 2-5-2 placement of stone steps. An experience brick paver contractor can foresee or adjust to challenges when if comes to installing landscape steps.

The biggest challenge for designing & installing paver steps is to create a structure that can deter erosion.  Because of the natural slope of grades, water will travel faster and therefore challenge the ground or landscape.  I use two different application approaches when designing & installing paver steps.

Beating the Grade

The first is called "beating the grade" which I have coined over the years for installing the steps and/or paver pads above the grade. Thus, "beating" the grade so water flow does not go over the brick paver step installation but around.  This method is better suited for grades that are gradual and not steep. This is the method we used in today's job post.

Inset Steps

When the grade is steep, the second method  called "encasing or insetting" is the better approach. This "encasing or insetting" method is installing your paver steps "into" the grade and creating sidewalls to prevent erosion onto the paver steps or paver pads. This method is more expensive due to more product needed and added labor but the aesthetic value and appearance is unmatched.



Which ever method is used for installing brick steps down a grade, proper landscaping around the borders and edges is crucial.  Grass, wood mulch, or stone mulch is needed to protect any areas where water may erode.  If you experience any signs of erosion around or on top of your newly installed paver steps, make sure you address the area immediately to avoid unnecessary and costly future paver repair.

In terms of paver maintenance for steps, keep paver joint sand swept into the brick paver pads in between. The step stones or step blocks & caps do not need sand swept inside them but make sure the caps are secure and blocks do not gap. Keep one thing in mind, if a lower paver step begins to excessively settle or move, upper paver steps will soon follow so do not wait to address this need for repair.

Major Brick Paver Step Repair for Paver Patio & Porch

Step Repair and Reconstruction

We spent alot of time & effort tearing down and rebuilding some major brick paver steps for a paver patio and porch this past week in Saline. This was another example of a reputable local landscape contractor installing interlocking pavers and modular retaining wall steps well above their capabilities.  The design was good but the execution of these paver patios, walks, & paver steps was poor. Appearance & safety became the urgency for the paver repairs to these brick steps. It did take some time and expertise to solve this step problem.

Most contractors can install flatwork of brick pavers but the truly experienced brick paver contractor is needed for the proper design, layout, and execution of intricate paver steps, raised or multi-level paver patio walls, or elevation changes.  For the amount of money that customers pay for this premium landscape upgrade of paving stones, they deserve the best installation possible.

From the "before" pictures of these brick paver steps, you can easily notice the amount of gaps through out the blocks & caps. The landscape contractor did not take the time & effort to properly install these paver steps.  Base material behind & below the retaining wall blocks easily eroded and settled and therefore allowed the paver steps & paving stones to shift, slide, and fall.  With a family of 3 young children, this customer needed to address this safety issue quickly and did not have time to haggle with the landscape contractor anymore.

 We tore these brick paver steps completely down and rebuilt them from the ground up. We needed additional retaining wall blocks to help with a stronger redesign and structure.  Aside from the gaps throughout the structure, the paver step structures where installed on top of paving stones instead of anchored below grade for stability. These massive paver step structures were just sliding out over the paving stones. The rises were also way off and inconsistent.  The paver patio step landing had a 11" rise going into the doorwall!

We just performed the simple installation techniques that should have been done originally for these brick paver steps.  We began by using a transit to shoot heights we could set the wall blocks properly to insure safe & consistent rises. It was necessary to add another bottom paver step in the paver patio to eliminate the 11" rise into the house.  We also reset the paving stone areas around this step structure to make sure the water pitched away and into the yard.

We also set the retaining wall blocks below grade on proper compacted base, and though tedious with this particular product, we saw cut each block to close any & all gaps that would allow base material to filter out.  Compaction under, behind, and next to all brick paver step structures is crucial and usually ignored by inexperienced installers. Brick paver specialists pay attention to these details!

As you can see from these "after" pictures of the brick paver patio steps & porch steps that we reinstalled properly, the appearance & safety has been greatly enhanced. The homeowner was so happy that their brick step ordeal was resolved.

 

I always preach that the more intricate brick pavers & retaining wall projects are best installed by the pavers expert. Please do not be a victim of this kind of work by an inexperienced landscape contractor selling you a package.

We are currently on another brick paver patio steps & porch step repair that will be my next post this coming week. The house calls keep coming and we keep getting pavers healthy.

No Heat, Rain, or Sleet will stop our Brick Paver Repair

We are currently working on some severe brick paver step repairs in Saline.  Even though the heat has been 90+ with heavy periodic rains and occasional sleet, we are pushing forward with our paver repair services. Keeping hydrated, taking shade breaks, and ending our work days early has kept us producing. We also have an unconventional way of cooling off (see pic).

As Ann Arbor and Saline has been hammered with severe weather this summer, the need for properly draining interlocking brick pavers and safe brick steps has never been so important.  If current paver patio repairs are not addressed, the sunken areas will increase and become more costly & unsafe for the homeowner.

We are working feverishly through this hot & wet summer to insure safety & appearance of brick paver patios, walkways, driveways, porches & steps, etc.. .  Brick paver repair work will continue into December before the frost sets in. It is never too late to get your brick pavers restored or revived.

The next post will be a pictorial "before & after" of reconstructing some brick paver steps that needed immediate repair & reconstruction.  This week's weather seems more tolerable and we will continue meeting the needs of our customers.