This Fall my crew and I did a brick paver repair project in Downtown Saline, Michigan. Due to safety and aesthetic issues, we replaced old mortared brick paver strips with a new dry laid clay paver installation. After years of repairing distressed and faulting areas, it was time to properly install paving stones as originally intended.The existing mortared clay paving stones where set on an impermeable base material, mortar & concrete, that did not allow for drainage or winter frost flexibility. The result was extreme heaving and cracking of the mortared joints. The clay pavers where lifted and wavy causing a tripping hazard for pedestrians.
My crew and I removed the existing mortared pavings stones, removed the mortared and cemented base material, installed a proper draining base material, and re-installed new high density clay pavers. The final product was a safe and long-term solution to the ongoing brick paver maintenance needs.
The result was a low maintenance cost for the paver repair and restoration of these paving stone strips. Commercial uses of brick pavers create some challenges that you do not see in residential applications. The excessive use of de-icing chemicals and lack of routine maintenance accelerate the need for costly paver repair and restoration.As a qualified brick paver contractor for over 29 years, I highly recommend that any paving stone design should never include strips of paving stones in between cement pads. Interlocking pavers better perform in areas larger than 3ft by 3ft. Small brick borders, strips, and pads will not properly perform over time. If architects and engineers would consult with installation contractors first, designs and paver installation projects would be more successful.
