Brick Paver Polymeric Sand for Paver Driveway

This past week in Ann Arbor we did a brick paver repair, cleaning, and polymeric sanding of a paver driveway. The paver repair was minor but we needed to do an aggressive cleaning of the pavers and paver joints. The customer complained he was experiencing weeds, grass, and excessive moss growth in their paver driveway.

The customer told me that they had the paver driveway installed about 5 years ago but they have not had any brick paver maintenance done. They have NOT swept in any paver joint sand since the paving stones have been installed!

Due to this neglect, the paver joints have been a breeding ground for the growth of weeds, grass, and moss.  The paving stones exhibited black soot and mold growth on the surface, thus inhibited the beauty and color of their interlocking pavers.

We started by spending over 6 hours aggressively power washing the paving stones and paver joints. We first made wet the paver driveway and agitated it with a stiff bristled brush and combination of water, bleach, and Oxy Clean solution. This special concoction helped cleaned the surface but power washing was necessary to completely deep clean the surface of the paving stones.

We then returned a couple of days later when all the paving stones and paver joints where dry so we could properly sweep in polymeric sand. In this particular paver driveway project, we used Pave Tech's SANDLOCK polymeric sand. We find this product to be durable and long lasting.

After vigorously sweeping the polymeric sand into the paver joints at a 45 degree angle, we use a simple leaf blower to blow off carefully the excess polymeric sand from the surface of the paving stones. It is important not to blow the polymeric sand out of the paver joints.

The final step is to wet the polymeric sand so the bonding of the polymers can begin. We began by gently misting all the paving stones and paver joints to begin the process. After lightly wetting the paver driveway, we gently misted paver areas so the polymeric sand was thoroughly soaked. We started at the highest point and worked our way down to the street, making sure that there is no run off or puddling. If there where any puddles, we used a simple wisk broom to remove excess puddled water.

When we completed the polymeric sand application, we instructed the homeowner to stay off the paver driveway for 24 hours to insure no tracking of the polymeric sand. The polymeric sand usually starts to harden after an hour but no need to push it.  Our customer was ecstatic with the results and I took the time to educate them on future brick paver maintenance to insure a less costly event.

Paver Repair and Installation #1 Tool

The number one tool in repairing or installing brick pavers and retaining walls is the simple "contractor's level" or "transit".  It amazes me how most landscapers and "wanna-be" brick paver installers do not utilize this amazing tool! It is a minimum requirement for installing or repairing interlocking brick pavers and modular retaining walls.

Brick paver patios, walkways, driveways, and retaining walls require some expertise in dealing with grades, slope, and pitch.  When properly used, this contractor's level or transit can solve a lot of these challenges with ease.  Landscapers and brick paver contractors who "eye ball" or use string lines with bubble levels are asking for trouble, which in turn, means trouble for the homeowner!

We are currently finished a brick paver patio repair in Saline where the center of the patio was installed 5" above the height of the basement walkout. The water pitched back to the house and water has seeped into the basement.  When the homeowner called the landscaper who installed the paver patio, their solution was to install a drain box at the doorwall to catch water flowing back towards the house.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Install the paver patio with a positive pitch!  The drain failed and because these homeowners were not the original owners who hired this so-called brick paver contractor, there was no warranty on the workmanship.

When installing a paver patio, the good rule of thumb is to achieve a 1inch pitch or slope per 10 ft to insure a perfect pitch without noticing the slope to the naked eye.  This pitch ratio is not etched in stone and factors may modify this parameter.  In the end, positive pitch is the minimum requirement for a good draining brick paver installation. Here you will see our finished paver patio with a new positive pitch out into the yard!

The contractor level or transit is the first tool a "real" brick paver contractor needs to use when installing a brick paver or retaining wall installation.  We also use it with most of our paver repairs so we can better solve our customers paver repair problems. It is usually the first item we set up on our interlocking paver installations, repairs, or patio replacements, well maybe second to setting down our lunch boxes & coffee thermos!

Paver Repair or Paver Installations ?

After 27 years in the interlocking brick paver and modular retaining wall industry, I have finally fine tuned the paver services that best fit my paver expertise and customer needs. So it begs the question, Do I perform paver repair or paver installations?

The largest customer need in this maturing brick paver industry is the need for brick paver repair, cleaning, sealing, replacement, and on going paver maintenance.  Brick Doctor Bill's main focus is the fore mentioned customer needs. Ed Bryant, the owner of Unilock, Inc. told me 12 years ago that a maturing brick paver and retaining wall market will have a tremendous need for paver repair and maintenance services, much like, the maturing markets of wooden decks and cement work.

When the new housing market was booming, most of us brick paver contractors turned all our efforts & resources to installing paver patios, walkways, driveways, retaining walls, etc... at a tremendous rate.  All to often, the past customer needs for touch-ups or paver maintenance services where put off in an untimely manner or ignored by most brick paver contractors. I fear that when the housing market improves, that this much need niche will be ignored again.

Brick Doctor Bill is centered around the paver repair, replacement, clean & seal, and maintenance service that most customers desperately seek. This has been the fine tuning of my brick paver services the past 3 years.  It takes a brick paver expert & specialist to perform these services using updated & quality techniques that the prior brick paver contractor may have missed.  All paver repairs are NOT the result of poor paver installations.

Every day I am tempted with brick paver installation calls and requests.  It is very hard not to be tempted by doing a $10,000 installation job over a series of $500 paver repair jobs.  But I have to admit that the paver repair work is very rewarding for both the customer and myself.  When you install a larger paver patio in Ann Arbor, the anxiety of both customer (cost) and brick paver contractor (time & performance) can get the best of both of them.  I would briefly estimate in the past that about 20% of the time both the customer & contractor did not feel completely rewarded at the end of the paver project.  My experience with the paver repair business has been pretty much 100% customer & contractor satisfaction.

Due to the high demand for my paver installation services, I have limited the number of paver installations I perform in a year.  A brick paver installation that I will perform must be a good fit for both the customer and my business.

The most important aspect in a brick paver installation is to best meet the customer's needs & objectives. I must have a feel that this is a very necessary and functional need for the client and it is not "breaking the bank" because they must have.  Next, I must have some flexible control over the needed paver design to insure the proper use of interlocking pavers and modular retaining walls for long-term success & beauty!  Finally, I must be able to meet an acceptable time frame so that the customer needs will be met.  I am very upfront at the beginning about my schedule and expected time frame of starting.  These current parameters have made the limited number of paver installations I perform each year more rewarding for both the customer and myself.

One example of a brick paver installation request that I will not do and I get several times a year is "I need to fill this area in because I can not get grass to grow there!".  Brick Pavers is one of the more expensive pavements to install. Most often I  just instruct them to install mulch or stone mulch. Everyone wants brick pavers! but when the cost out weighs the benefits, it makes no sense to have them installed.

I also want to state that when it comes to Brick Doctor Bill selecting and performing brick paver or retaining wall installations, I do NOT just select "large" projects (over $10,000). In fact, I usually prefer mid-size (under $10,000) to small projects (as low as $500). Large paver projects tie up too much time & resources. Mid- size paver projects can be rewarding if both client and paver contractor are on the same page and function and beauty is at the top of that page.

The most rewarding work is the small paver or wall projects that range from $500 to $3,000. Much like my paver repair services, these seem to be the most satisfying for both the client and myself.  Usually a small project meets an immediate need and does not "break the bank" and I am easily able to complete this brick paver service in a timely manner.

So, when I am asked what type of work Brick Doctor Bill performs? My answer is the type of brick paver services that will best meet a customer's need and best fits the brick paver expertise I offer.  I continue with paver repair services and limited paver installations because it is a business model that works for Brick Doctor Bill and his clients!

Brick Paver Patio Cleaning

This past week we performed a brick paver patio repair, cleaning and polymeric sanding on a paving stone patio in Ann Arbor.  As you can see in this pic, the paver patio was in an extreme need of cleaning.  The abundance of moss was the direct result of moisture and shade.

We performed a brick paver repair by lowering the paver edge restraint that had raised from frost. The raised edge restraint was not only unsightly but it created a dam around the paver patio and did not allow water to run off the paving stones.  Therefore creating a lot of moisture on the paver patio and allowing moss to thrive combined with the shade in this area.

Reinstalling the plastic edge restraint is not easy. Grass & roots grow around the edge restraint and the spikes rust and make it very hard to remove.  We removed @18" of sod around the paver patio so the client could install enviro mulch or stone mulch. We reinstalled the paver edge restraint properly by making sure the top lip was at least 1" below the top edge of the paving stone border.

The cleaning of this paver patio required an aggressive approach to power washing.  We spent over 2 hours at a high PSI blowing out ALL the paver joints freeing them of dirt, moss, and weeds.  There is a need to be careful not to wash out the bedding course under the paving stones. This may result in paving stones sinking. After the paver joints where free of debris, we widen our spray nozzle and cleaned the individual paving stones to remove dirt, stains, and mold.

When the paving stones and paver joints were dry, we returned to sweep in polymeric sand in all the paver joints.  Keeping up each Spring season with polymeric sand will almost eliminate future accumulation of dirt in the paver joints which allows weeds to fester.  Moss on the other hand can still grow on top of paver joints and paving stones. Moss can be easily controlled by keeping a spray bottle mix of clorox bleach & water.  Also, moss can be sprayed off fairly easy with a traditional hose & spray nozzle on jet stream.

Brick Doctor Bill was able to help this brick paver patio regain its function and luster.  We spent the time to educate the homeowner on the easy & timely brick paver maintenance steps to keep their paver patio at it's best.  Another satisfied client in Ann Arbor!

Paver Patio and Step Repair & Cleaning completed!

We just completed this Paver Patio and Step Repair in Ann Arbor this week.  Our earlier post showed the before pictures of this extreme brick paver repair.  The homeowner was ecstatic with the results by Brick Doctor Bill's attention to detail and paver restoration.

After removing all the brick pavers, recompacting the sub base, adding more base, cleaning the paving stones, re-installing the paver patio & step pads, and sweeping in polymeric sand, the end result is a rejuvenated hardscape installation that they can enjoy for years to come!

The drainage issues are now resolved and the customer can now look out their walkout basement during their next party and not see such an eye sore.  Aside from the obvious safety issues, the repaired paver patio is now functional for entertaining and relaxing.

These paving stones are over 12 years old and are beginning to exhibit signs of weathering and wear.  Brick Doctor Bill will be returning in a couple of months to spot clean and seal the paver patio and paver steps with an approved brick paver sealant.  This will help restore the old color and aesthetics of the original paving stones.

Brick Paver Patio Repairs : Not So Easy

We are working hard on a brick paver patio repair in Ann Arbor. This paver patio is a basement walkout brick patio that has been neglected for years.  It has drastically sunk and the drain is non functional because the brick pavers are almost sunk a foot below.  The new homeowner just purchased this property and the paver patio failed the home inspection.  
                 Brick Doctor Bill is here to the rescue!


Often when I quote for brick paver repairs, homeowners believe it is an easy process to reinstall the brick pavers since they are already there.  This is far from the truth. The first step is to lift up, stack, and carry the brick pavers to a staging area. Often this is a messy and back  breaking job. Todays job was down 6 stairs and the paving stones had to be carried up.

The old brick pavers are staged in an area until the base material is properly prepped for reinstallation.  Aside from digging, the prepping steps of interlocking pavers is performed : compaction, screeding, cutting, sanding, edge restraint installation, etc..


One of the most time consuming steps in brick paver repair is the cleaning of the pavers prior to reinstalling.  The brick pavers need to be powerwashed on all sides or scraped as in this picture. Dirt, sand, or old paver sealer sticks mainly to the sides and has to be removed prior to relaying pavers. Homeowners never realize this step takes place. For the brick paver contractor, it would be easier to use new pavers at this stage. Of course, that would be an added expense for the homeowner and this cost is offset by our nominal charge.



Once the paving stones are cleaned and ready for re-installation, the brick paver stacks are then carried back to the working area and carefully placed for relaying. Today's job in Ann Arbor was grueling because we had to carry the stacks down steps to the paver patio area.  Time to take some Motrin and lay in the jacuzzi tub!

Paver Patio Repair and Cleaning in Ann Arbor

We are currently working on a Paver Patio repair and cleaning in Ann Arbor. This paver patio had severe settling along the house foundation and due to no ongoing paver maintenance, the paver joints where full of weeds, grass, moss, and dirt. This particular brick paver repair will cost the homeowner $950 to clean & re-install approx. 90sq.ft of brick pavers & base, aggressively power wash the remaining 200 sq.ft. of brick pavers and paver joints, and re-sweep with polymeric (bonding) sand. Below I will explain the cause of these brick paver repairs and some steps to avoid costly patio repair in the future.

This first picture is of the paver patio area we needed to re-install the patio pavers.  This area experienced severe settling due to one major factor: WATER !  See the gutter coming down on the house in the left portion of the picture. It has been dumping water into this area of the patio since the paver patio was installed. The brick paver contractor should have designed or ran a drainpipe out into the yard to redirect this water flow. The customer said it has been a slow 4 year process of settling. Once this paver area began to settle, all water from the paver patio began to flow back into this area too.  Each Winter's frost feasted on this area due to the presence of water & moisture. The result: The pavers buckling and sinking over a foot down! She lost the use of about 1/3 of her paver patio since it became hazardous and unsightly.

To help avoid this brick paver repair, always make sure that all water from gutters is redirected into grass areas by buried drainpipes or gutter extensions. Also, at the first sign of settling and the water flow of the paver patio is moving back, it must be addressed or the damage will become more severe and expensive. Not to mention that this may cause water damage to your foundation or basement. We did connect a gutter extension so the water would flow out into the yard.

In this second  picture of the paver patio, you will see the results of brick paver maintenance neglect.  The paver joints have alot of dirt, weeds, grass, and moss growing in them. Grass has actually grown over the last 2 rows of bricks on the outside of the paver patio. This customer in 4 years has never re-swept paver joint sand in the joints each Spring. She was not aware of this small paver maintenance step since her landscaping contractor did not educate her on this need.  Now she is paying $300 to clean her patio pavers & paver joints and have re-swept with polymeric sand ! It would have cost her @$6.00 worth of regular joint sand and 20 minutes of her time each Spring to keep her paver patio looking good and functional!

We completed the work with 3 workers in a day but it was pretty grueling. The customer was ecstatic to have her brick paver patio & pride back! I took the time to educate her on some brick paver repair preventive steps that she can perform. If she is too busy, we can perform these brick paver services at a nominal charge. Do not let your brick paver patio get to this despair, it will only cost you money & heartache.

You can check out the finished results of this paver patio in a few weeks when we return to take some snapshots at Paver Repair Before & After on our Website. Look for our next job post within the week.

Extreme Brick Paver Repair in Ann Arbor

I did this brick paver repair call today in Ann Arbor. When I came around to the back to see their paver patio, I was shocked at the extreme need for paver repairs. After consulting with the homeowner on the history of this paver patio, it became evident why this brick patio was in such dispair. This brick paver installation makes me upset because it does not give interlocking pavers or modular retaining wall the credit it deserves.

The homeowner informed me that she had a local landscaper in Ann Arbor install the brick paver patio about 4 years ago. This was her first mistake. Back in the 80's thru about year 2000, most brick pavers were installed by brick paver specialists, companies who's main business was installing interlocking pavers and modular retaining walls. This trend quickly changed when landscapers, even lawn service companies, began to advertise that they install paving stones and block retaining walls. Often they would add "brick pavers" to there list of services on their company vehicles or advertising adds.  Without any formal training or experience, these landscapers began installing paver patios, walkways, & driveways.

I'm sorry but after a landscape expert designs a landscape plan, anyone can dig a hole or put down mulch.  But paving stones and landscape blocks require an added expertise, skill set, and experience to properly install pavers or retaining walls for long term success. I will admit that brick pavers are considered an unskilled labor project, but not for the foreman or supervisor handling the detail layout, cuts, compaction, or foresight to meet specifications. It is true that interlocking pavers and modular retaining wall projects are 70% grunt work or sweat equity, but that 30% expertise will determine the long-term performance and appearance of your paver projects.

The second mistake the homeowner made with their paver patio was not doing any seasonal paver maintenance like paver joint sand sweeping. Because they hired an uneducated landscaper in Ann Arbor, they were not educated on the maintenance requirements or brick pavers.  Simple Spring paving stone joint sand could have prevented at least half of the paver repairs they face today.  The homeowner informed me that the landscaper did not finish sweep with any joint sand at the completion of the job. When asked by the homeowner if there was any maintenance to do to their paver patio, the foreman replied with "NO, brick pavers have no maintenance!".

Though this homeowner has some responsibility for the extreme brick paver repairs of this paver patio, it is the responsibility of landscapers who advertise they install brick paver patios to have trained, experienced, and educated  paver installers before performing this work.  At the very least, they need to educate their clients of the yearly brick paver maintenance requirements needed to maintain the homeowners investment.

The paver patio I have shown in this post will need to be completely torn apart and rebuilt. Though we can reuse the paving stones, retaining wall blocks, and base materials, the homeowner is going to have an undeserved paver repair cost that is going to make their original investment even more costly.

Natural Process with Brick Pavers : Efflorescence

Brick Paver Efflorescence

In the Spring, I will receive calls from customers with brick paver patios, walkways, driveways, or porches that are experiencing a whitish residue on their paving stones. The name for this occurrence is Efflorescence.

Efflorescence is the simple process of moisture evaporating or being drawn out and drying from a cement or clay product, such as, a high density concrete paver, and leaving a salt residue or deposit on the surface.  For the real technical buff, here is the Wikipedia definition for Efflorescence.

This is a natural process of most cement based products and for brick pavers. This process may be slower for a paving stone due to its high density (psi). The most obvious occurrence that most of us see on a daily basis, is when a new concrete drive or walk is poured. For the next week or two, you will notice that while the concrete cures, it is very whitish in appearance. Then eventually the concrete will appear it's natural gray hue over time. This is the biggest reason why brick paver manufacturer's recommend not sealing your newly installed paver patio,walk,or driveway until a minimum 60-90 days. I advise to wait 6-12months to make sure any & all efflorescence from the paver has diminished. Especially if you plan on sealing your paver patio or walk.

This first step in removing Efflorescence is to just let it wash away naturally! Yes, rain & time will help wash away any mild case of efflorescence. If your efflorescence does not wash away naturally, the next step to try is to brush off the paving stones while dry. Use a stiff bristled brush but not steel bristles or anything that will scare or scratch the brick pavers. This will hopefully help break up or reduce the amount of residue to let the efflorescence wash away naturally.

If your Efflorescence is severe or persistent, it will be time to use a more aggressive approach. Most brick paver manufacturers offer efflorescence cleaners for their respective paving stones and retaining walls.  paver cleaners generally have a high strength oxidant to clean your brick paver patio, walkway, or driveway without having to use any acid based chemical like muriatic acid.Follow the instructions very carefully.  It is a very scary thought when the public starts using phosphoric acid based products. Leave that for paver cleaning professional.

A Brick Paver Repair to Avoid

Paving Stone Repair

Today I did a brick paver repair bid on a paver patio in Ann Arbor. Here is a picture of a common paver repair I see each Spring.  In the picture, you can see that the one paving stone that the leg of this fire grill is on has sunk. The most common occurrence I see of this effect is when people leave their patio furniture umbrella stand on the paver patio through the Winter.

This common paver patio repair is the result of the weight of the fire grill not allowing this individual paving stone and paver base below to flex to frost movements. Therefore, the surrounding pavers and paver base were able to flex to the freeze thaw cycle and the one paving stone the leg sat on did not. The result is the weighted down paver sunk into the base as the surrounding paver base flexed up.

Though this brick paver repair is minimal, it can be a nuisance and eyesore. In frost states like Michigan, it is important NOT to leave (stationary) any weighted items on your brick paver patios, walks, drives, or porches through the frost Winter months. Just simplly place items in your plant beds, garage, or yard until the winter frost has disappeared from your soil or paver base.

Best Time to do Brick Paver Repair

Interlocking Pavers and Paving Stones

When the winter frost starts to come out of the ground in Ann Arbor, Michigan, brick paver customers begin to get anxious if they have brick paver or retaining wall repairs.  It is important to be patient about when those paver repairs are to be done.

I explain to my clients that it is important to wait until the ground has firmed up and is dry.  Winter freeze thaw cycles churn up the ground and make it very soft. My prior post explained some of the damaging effects of frost and what to observe when your paver patio or walk shows signs.

In Michigan and other Midwest states, we are fully aware of the numerous pot holes our roads experience in early Spring.  States impose "frost laws" on the roads which limits weight that can be hauled. This is intended to help save our roads from further damage as a result of the soft ground (subsoil) under our pavements.  The same holds true for interlocking pavers and modular retaining walls.

Barring any safety issues, the best time to do brick paver repair or retaining wall repair in Ann Arbor is usually June.  Usually after the April rains, May begins to have drier weather which allow the ground (subsoil) to firm up nicely. While performing brick paver repairs, it is important to recompact base material and reset your paving stones on a firm and compacted subsoil.

When a client reports a warranty or non-warranty brick paver repair, I assure them that their paver repair needs will be addressed.  It is always hard to pinpoint a date but we begin to address paver service calls in June to insure a proper repair process.  The biggest problem for us brick paver contractors in Ann Arbor is that June is our busiest brick paver installation month of the year.  So it is a double edged sword.  As a paving contractor, we have a limited time to be profitable with the Michigan climate and at the same time have the man power & resources to perform service calls.

Be patient with your brick paver contractor if it takes until Late Spring or Early Summer to perform some brick paver or retaining wall repairs.  I always make exceptions for paver repairs  that present a safety issue, such as, a tripping hazzard. As a client, it always helps the process by sending pictures of the needed repair to your brick paver contractor.

This dilemma for paving contractors and customers alike is why I have specialized in brick paver repair, cleaning, sealing, and paver maintenance service as our main focus of business. After almost 10,000 brick paver installations and repairs, it is time reinvent my business to the brick paver after-market services that clients desperately need.

Brick Paver Repair or Winter Frost Effect

The Winter frost in Michigan is going to begin to thaw in March. Like most freeze thaw cycles, the devastating effects will push all pavements, even brick pavers, to their extremes. Spring is just around the corner and most homeowners will begin to come out of hibernation and stretch their arms & legs. One of the first thing homeowners do is inspect their paver patios, walks, or drives.

The beauty of interlocking pavers is their capability to expand from winter frost with minimal or no damge. The paver joints absorb the effects of frost and the high density & low absorption rate of the brick pavers keep them from cracking.  But when you are dealing with mother earth, there are no guarantees that brick repairs will not be needed from shifting or heaving.

I always receive calls from frantic customers in pre-Spring weeks that their brick patio has a huge heave or raised area.  Good News! this is interlocking brick pavers at work! After the winter frost works its way out, your brick pavers will reset. No cracks, warps, or expensive repair costs.  As the temps float over and below the freezing mark, you can literally watch your paver patio move like a waterbed mattress.

Pavers that are raised or heaved, will go down. Pavers that are down, most likely will not come up. So, you may now have some type of brick paver repair that will need to be addressed. Do not confuse that brick areas are low because other brick areas are raised.  It is not unusual in Michigan during late March to early April to see your brick patio look like pizza dough be tossed at a pizzeria.  It should all level off when it gets warm and dry and you can enjoy this one free topping.

Once the Spring weather gets warmer & dryer, do not forget the most important brick paver maintenance requirement .... sweeping joint sand in the paver joints! As mentioned in earlier posts, this will deter lateral paver shifting, base erosion, and weed growth.  So, before you call your brick paver contractor for patio repair work, make sure the winter frost has completely thawed.

Avoid Brick Paver Repair :Landscape No No's

Interlocking Pavers and Brick Paving

Everyday I observe what I call Landscape No No's that will result in future Brick Paver Repairs. Most homeowners and landscapers do not consider the design and installation effects their landscaping can have on the performance of their brick patios, brick driveway, and brick walkway. Below is a simple short list Landscape No No's to consider when installing your landscaping around your brick pavers.

DESIGN:
Always design your landscaping around your hardscape (pavers, home,fences,walls, etc..). It is important to design your brick paving needs and function first, then optimize your softscape (trees,bushes,beds,etc..) to accent your hardscape and home. Too often, the hardscape is sacrificed for appearance and function for the sake of a small tree or bush.

TREES:
Long-term growth of trees plays a huge part in brick paver repair. The obvious culprits are roots! Small specimen trees like Japanese maples, dogwoods, or Alberta spruces have little effect, but large evergreens like Pines, Spruces, or Firs and most deciduous trees like Maples, Oaks, and Lindens will have large future roots. These roots will surface under your paver stones and result in obvious lifts. The only way to repair pavers under these conditions is to remove the roots where surfaced but this may affect the health of the tree.

SPRINKLERS:
This is one of the most overlooked reason for brick paver repairs. Water and moisture creates erosion, freeze - thawing, and base material settling. Sprinklers should never spray on or over paver walks, paver patios, and paver driveways. The obvious problem can be continued running water over and through the paving stones, therefore exposing the paver joints, base material, and edge restraints to erosion. If any of these three paver items are compromised, the effect will be repairs and excessive brick paver maintenance. It is important to make sure that any and all sprinkler heads are at least 6" away from the edge of the pavers. Also, use drip irrigation inside all planting beds bordered by interlocking pavers patios or walks.

GUTTERS & ROOF DRIP LINES:
The neglect of homeowners or landscapers to address the water coming off the home roof is a major contributor to patio stones settling or shifting. Again, water erosion of the joint sand, base material, and paver bricks edges will cause your brick pavers to under perform. Gutters need to be redirected or have buried pipe to carry water under or around the paving stones. If you have a drip line of water coming off your roof, siding, or deck, design the brick pavers outside this drip line. You can also install a drip edge strip on your roof, siding, or deck to divert water to another spot to drip or run off.

This is a quick list of pre-design landscape requirements to help insure that you get peak performance from your landscape pavers and landscape blocks. Whether you install brick pavers, stamped or poured concrete, or wooden deck, these same Landscape No No's will apply!

Brick Paver Repairs for Spring

Brick Pavers

In the Midwest, the ground is beginning to freeze and Brick Paver Repairs will have to wait until Spring. I have put away my tools and will concentrate now on marketing my brick paver repair services for the Ann Arbor area. I will also spend my time analyzing the reasons for brick paver repairs and the best solutions for avoiding future repairs costs to clients. Not only at my own home, but at other clients paver installations I will observe the effects of winter freeze thaw cycles and erosion from Spring rains. This physical feedback will allow me to recommend brick paver and modular retaining wall design and installation techniques that will reduce the need for repairs.

After 28 years of designing, installing, repairing, and cleaning & sealing, interlocking brick pavers and modular retaining wall systems, I am always learning new ideas, products, and techniques that will improve the performance of brick paver patios, sidewalks, and driveways. I have spent over 2/3rds of my life in the brick paver industry and I am always challenged by the improving products and paver installation techniques. Only historical performance of paving stones and landscape blocks can be used to set the standards for brick paver design & paver installation methods.

I will continue my posts on the Steps of Installing Brick Pavers in the coming months. The next post will be on the "Bedding Course & Screeding" step of installing brick pavers. Think Spring! and I will post soon after the holidays!

Winterizing your Brick Pavers

I am asked alot about the need for "winterizing" brick paver patios, walks, or driveways. The great news is that interlocking brick pavers are designed and installed to withstand the ill effects of winter climate & frost cycles and do not necessarily require any winter prep.

I do have some suggestions that will help in the long-term success and aesthetics of your brick paver installation.

• Remove any heavy items or vehicles that you plan on leaving on your brick pavers throughout the winter months. The reason is that the area under a heavy item or tires will not flex to the freeze thaw cycle, thus possibly causing sunken areas as the base below shifts. Over the years I have noticed, especially on brick paver patios,where homeowners leave there patio table base (filled with sand or water), leaves a slight indention in this brick paver area. Also, on driveways where homeowners leave boat trailers, campers, motor homes, etc.. the spots where the tires sat through the winter freeze thaw cycles are sunken.

• Sweep some joint sand in all the joints if needed. I always instruct my clients that brick paver joints will require a resweep of joint sand each Spring after the winter frost effects. But if the sand is low in your brick paver joints heading into the Winter, it would be a good idea to do a quick sweep. Brick Paver joints that are filled will allow for proper drainage of late season rains and also properly hold pavers in place. Really you should always keep your brick pavers filled with joint sand all year round for optimum success.

• Redirect any direct water or ice sources from draining on your brick pavers. If there are any gutter spouts that drain onto your brick pavers, it would be a good idea if possible to connect a solid corrugated pipe to the end of the gutter spout and run into the grass or plant bed. The constant freezing and thawing of snow and ice that runs down the gutter onto a brick paver patio, walk, or driveway will create a tremendous stress on your pavers in this area. Hopefully you addressed water drainage during the original brick paver installation but it will be important to reduce any thaw drainage & refreezing.

These are just a few things you can do to add to the long-term success and aesthetics of your brick paver installation. There is no need to cover your pavers or shovel off your paver patio. Just let the functional beauty and benefits of interlocking brick pavers do there job and enjoy!

Brick Pavers Installation : Step 3 Base Material Installation

After you properly prep & excavate for your brick paver installation or paver patio, the next step is to properly install base materials to insure long term success of your interlocking brick paver project.
In Michigan, you should use a gravel base that is compacted in lifts of no more than 4" thick to insure proper density. We have always compacted the subsoil (dirt) with a plate compacter or hand tamper prior to installing the paver base. We also like to take the extra step of installing a geotextile fabric material between the subsoil & gravel base material as a seperator. This will insure that during freeze thaw cycles, the gravel paver base will not be compromised over the years from the "churning" action of frost. This way your paver base will not be "polluted" from dirt below, thus allowing for proper drainage under your brick pavers.
Always rake out your paver base material close to the final contour of your finished brick pavers before compacting. Make sure your finished grade of paver base slopes away from your house or follows closely the same pitches you want to achieve with your pavers. The height of your paver gravel base should be approx. 3.5" below your desired brick paver height. This will allow for your 1" bedding course and the thickness of the brick paver. If your paver base material is really dry, wet it gently prior to compacting so that the fines (dust particles) will settle and bond during compaction.

Small or tight areas can be compacted with a plate hand tamper but for large areas like a paver patio or paver driveway, a gas powered plate compactor should be used. Rake out any humps or depressions and recompact before installing your bedding course (1" sand layer) over the top of the compacted gravel paver base. Keep in mind that your paver base is the foundation for your brick paver installation and the top (surface) will mimic the foundation (gravel base) over time.
Please consult with your local brick paver dealer or brick paver manufacturer in your area to advise on the proper or acceptable base materials to use in your interlocking brick paver installation. Proper drainage below your brick pavers will insure long-term success and functionality.

Brick Pavers Installation : Step 2 Prep & Excavation

After doing some PLANNING of your brick paver project, it is time to PREP & EXCAVATE the area to install your brick paver patio. Mark out the location of your brick paver patio, walkway, or driveway by using marking paint or use the family garden hose to outline your paver project. It is always a good idea to contact MISS DIG in your area to have all utilities, phone, & cable marked before excavating for your paving stone patio.

The tools that will be required for PREPPING your interlocking brick pavers are simple at this step. You will need a wheel barrel, pointed shovel, rake, and some sweat equity. Always remove any sod (grass), mulch, stone, or existing concrete where you will be installing your patio stones. You can strip your sod or concrete out if your paver patio is not that big, but often it is best to rent a power sod cutter or air jack to help in removals. No sense physically burning yourself out in the early stages of this project. Once the area for your brick pavers is prepped, it is time to excavate the area for base material.


EXCAVATING for brick pavers is usually the hardest physical part of any paver project. Most homeowners do not have a skidsteer or tractor to dig out the area to be excavated for a patio, walkway, or paver driveway. This step will require some sweat equity and is important not to be skimped on. MAKE SURE YOU EXCAVATE DEEP ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR THE PROPER BASE DEPTH to help insure long term performance of your brick pavers. In the earlier posted PLANNING step 1 I detailed how to set your heights. Now, from the top of your brick paver height, you want to excavate down @9" . I determine this measurement from 2.75" of paver thickness, 1" of bedding (screed) course, and average 5" of gravel base. For a brick paver patio or brick paver walkway, 4-5" of gravel base is sufficient if the soil drains well. For brick paver driveways, you will excavate down @13" from the top paver height. Basically you are doubling the gravel base thickness for normal driveway applications. If you experience clay soils, I would add 2-3" of gravel base thickness for patios & walks, and add 4-5" for driveways. It is important to excavate brick paver areas @4" wider along all outside edges so you have base to install the edge restraint on and also give yourself some flexibility in the final layout when installing the brick pavers.

Once these physically challenging steps of PREPPING & EXCAVATING for brick pavers is complete, you will begin to enjoy the "fruits of your labor" as the paver patio begins to evolve. Check back soon for Step 3 : Base Material for Brick Pavers.

Brick Pavers Installation : Step 1 PLANNING

For over 25 years I have been assisting homeowners and contractors with design & installation of brick pavers and modular retaining walls. Whether you are installing a brick paver patio, walkway, driveway, planter, or steps, a good guided plan is needed to insure a successful paver installation that is not only aesthetically pleasing but economical.

The PLANNING stage for a interlocking brick paver or modular retaining wall installation will be your easiest step in terms of labor, but probably the most important step. A poor plan of designing, ordering, or installing your brick paver project can lead to alot of frustration and unneccessay redo or repair.

For simplicity we will discuss a game plan for planning out the installation of a paver patio. We will also assume we do not need any steps to transition down. Start by taking measurements of the area that you want to install your brick paver patio and transfer the dimensions of the brick patio area onto some graph paper (boxes). I like to use 1 box = 1 sq.ft. (or linear foot) if the dimensions will fit on one sheet. If not, try making 1 box = 4 sq.ft ( or 2 linear feet). If your paver patio will have a curved design, use the garden hose to layout on the grass the shape & size that you are looking for. If you already have patio furniture, grill, or chiminea, place them in the patio area you mapped out to make sure you have enough room to move around comfortably. Take several reference measurements and transfer the points onto the graph paper.

Now, your first important piece of information needs to be calculated ... SQUARE FEET! This number is easily calculated by WIDTH X LENGTH = SQUARE FEET. When calculating FACE FEET for retaining walls, replace the WIDTH with HEIGHT in the equation above. By transfering your design to the graph paper, you can easily count the boxes to determine the square feet of your pavers patio, especially in a curved design. This square foot number of your brick paver installation will be the crucial information used for ordering your brick pavers, base materials, and other paver products.

The next important piece of information that you will need to know is the ...LEVEL of the EXISTING GRADE! This the level of the land in the area that you will be installing your brick paver patio. This information is very important for ordering your base materials and also important for how deep you need to dig down to install your paver base. We use a surveyors level to perform our brick paver installations but most homeowners do not need to rent one to obtain this information. Get a spool of string, a few small stakes, and line level bubble. Install a stake at the house and tie the string at the level you want your patio pavers at the house. Install another stake at the farthest point out of your patio. Pull the string from the stake at the house and wrap around the new stake while using the line level bubble on the string. Pull the string tight and wrap around the outside stake so the bubble shows level. Mark this spot on the outside stake with a marker and remove the string if you like. In the brick paver industry we will use a rule of thumb for slope of 1 inch per 10ft length. This is just a reference and you can use any slope as long as it is a "positive pitch" away from the home. The more slope you have the better but remember you do not want to create a brick paver patio that is a ramp or your furniture is leaning. 1 inch per 10ft lengths is not that noticeable to the naked eye and seems to work quite well in drainage. For our example paver patio, we will say the outside stake (patio edge) is 20ft out from the house stake. So, we will make a second mark (another color) on the outside stake 2 inches (1" per 10ft) down from the mark that was level. This will represent the height of our patio out in the yard. This is an important reference point so we can see how high our paver patio will be out in the yard. You will be able to determine whether you can just landscape up to the brick pavers or whether you will need a retaining wall to retain the patio.

The last piece of important information will come from re installing the string line from the house stake and wrapping the string around the outside stake where the outside paver patio height was marked with the slope. Now you can measure down @9-10" from this string line to reach the bottom of your digging for installing the proper paver base materials. This will answer one of the most frequently asked questions from homeowners, "How far do I dig down?".

We will go into more detail about prepping for your paver patio in Step 2 but this PLANNING stage will set the "ground work" for a better brick paver patio installation. This is the stage to mentally obsess about the details before you begin to stress your muscles with labor intensive steps, so enjoy!

New Trends in Brick Pavers

It is always hard to reinvent the wheel, but there are some new trends in Brick Pavers. After installing, repairing, cleaning, sealing, and maintaining brick paver patios, sidewalks, & driveways for over 25 years, you begin to see the same old - same old designs and installations of paving stones and modular retaining walls. Below are some new brick paver products that are rejuvenating the paver industry.

PERMEABLE PAVERS:
This is the new HOT trend in brick pavers today! With the need for more environmental conscious pavements, these interlocking concrete pavers meet the requirement. Commercial and Industrial parking lots & roadways are pushing these permeable pavers to the forefront. Now most brick paver manufacturers, like Unilock or Fendt, are producing many new styles and colors that are appealing to the brick paver residential market. Permeable pavers basically allow ground or run off water to filter faster through the pavers down into the subsoil or aggregate base while taking the strain off storm drains. The permeable paver design is a simple adjustment to the paver joints which are filled with an aggregate stone thus allowing for quick filtration below.

POLYMERIC SAND :
I believe this has been one of the best improvement products for brick pavers in the past 5 years. Polymeric sand is paver joint sand which has polymers in it to allow the joint sand to harden in the paver joints after sweeping in and wetting. This creates harden paver joints which will deter any weed growth or tracking into the home or pool. The other benefit of polymeric sand is that it is flexible enough for frost movement. It is NOT permanent and will require yearly touch ups but all my customers have been impressed. Polymeric sand is ever improving with more colors, strengths, and reduced setting time, and accessibility.

PAVER QUILTING :
Brick Paver manufacturers are scurrying to produce new colors, textures, and shapes but the biggest push in paving stones is to mix and match these colors, textures, and shapes. This is referred to as "paver quilting", much like your grandmother making that stylish xmas quilt that you pull out once a year when she visits. This is a big advantage for brick pavers over stamped concrete, asphalt, and decks. I have to admit as a contractor it is a big headache to get the client to pick more colors, textures, and shapes, as well as, obtain the materials in a cost effective manner. But I am all for ways to install creative designs that consumers want and will enjoy for years to come. For many years it was the same old circle patterns or herringbones that flooded the paver patio market. Paver quilting is rejuvenating the brick paver appearance and advantage over other pavements.

OUTDOOR GRILLS & FIREPLACES :
The flexibility of brick pavers and retaining wall blocks have resulted in creative minds designing and installing outdoor grills, fireplaces, pizza ovens, and sitting walls. As the American public values the outdoor space or paver patio area as an additional room in their home, the need for grilling paver products and fireplace wall products have exploded. Contractors now have a choice of pre- built units or custom designing around the clients needs or appliances. Most of your brick paver installers are upselling these products to create a spectacular brick paver patio experience. Though these outdoor grills, fireplaces, ovens, or sitting walls come at a substantial cost, they are functional and permanent.

As an advocate of the brick paver market, I am encouraged by the steps made in producing new ideas and products that will expand the usefulness and functionality of brick pavers and modular retaining walls systems. When paving stones and landscape blocks can be used and enjoyed on a daily basis, the benefit of pavers is optimized.

Brick Paver Sealing : Spraying vs. Rolling

I am often asked what is the best method for applying brick paver sealant. The two methods that are most common for sealing brick pavers is "pump" spraying or rolling on with a foam roller. I have brick paver contractors that swear by both methods, but from my 25 year experience I prefer the "pump" spraying method.



Starting first with the Rolling method of applying brick paver sealant, I find that my time in applying the paver sealant is less. The special foam slitted roller spreads the sealer pretty evenly and efficiently. The rolling method of applying paver sealant will stretch the sealer so you will not have very much waste. The biggest setback that I experience when rolling on brick paver sealant is that the roller will sometimes roll the joint sand over the top of the brick pavers, especially if the joints are wide. Also, I am not satisfied with the amount of sealer that pours into the sand joints. Even though the paver sealant companies push their special rollers, I have yet to find one that satisfies me.


The Spraying method is my preferred method of applying brick paver sealer. When applying sealer for paver patios, walkways, and driveways, this method will apply sealer very generously while allowing sealer to soak into the sand joints as well. As long as you apply the paver sealer on a windless day, the coverage can be generous and effortless. You will use up more sealer with this brick paver applying method. The biggest headache for us brick paver contractors is that there are no real good brick paver sealer sprayers. Even the high dollar commercial sprayers require so much cleaning & maintenance to perform properly, most of us contractors have resolved to the cheap and disposable "pump" garden sprayers. After each brick paver sealing job, I just throw them away. The thermoplastics in the paver sealer harden up & eat up the rubber seals on the sprayers and make them unusable unless you thoroughly clean them out with acetone or thinner. I usually purchase a sealer sprayer under $20 at Lowe's or Home Depot. I feel my time is worth more than the actual cost of the sprayers.

No matter what brick paver sealing method you use, make sure you seal patio stones & retaining walls on a dry sunny day. Make sure all pavers and paver joints are completely dry and it will not rain within 4 hours. To get more information and instruction about brick paver sealers and cleaners, check out Techniseal for information and source near you!

Brick Paver Sealing is for the Brick, NOT the sand in the joints!

After completing a brick paver sealing of a paver patio today, the customer said while handing me my check, "so I will not get any weeds, right?". It drives me crazy that customers are only concerned with the sand in the joints being sealed and not the patio stones. Sealing pavers is for the brick, NOT the sand!

Today's customer never commented on the enhanced color and appearance of the brick paver patio. They never asked any questions regarding the long term performance of the paving stones surface or protection from natural elements. They were never concerned about the cost or frequency of an approved brick paver sealer application. They were only concerned during my estimate and my completion of services about a 100% guarantee of NO WEEDS!

I usually have to slowly explain to potential clients that sealing of pavers is for the enhanced appearance and performance of the concrete paver. But as predictable, customers only hone in on the sand in the joints. They believe that the brick paver sealer is for sealing the joints, therefore making the sand permanently hard like mortar so weeds can not grow. It is true that the paver sealer will typically flow into the joints and temporarily harden the sand. But as the interlocking brick pavers expand or heave due to winter frost, these joints will absorb the pressure and loosen. Snow, ice, rain, and wind will eventually erode the sand and create opportunities for weed seeds to germinate.

I could have saved this customer 100's of dollars if the paver joints were their only concern. I could have simply used some brick paver polymeric sand in all the paver joints to harden for the season. Simple touch ups of paver joint sweeping each Spring will keep joints filled and hardened to deter any chance for a weed seed to establish. I always tell customers that the number one reason to seal brick pavers is for aestheitc values of the paving stones, NOT for the sand in the joints!

Brick Paver Repair Costs

When it comes to costing out brick paver repairs, it really is a subjective method of pricing. There are two common approaches I offer clients that need their brick pavers repaired.

The first is a Job Cost approach. This is usually a single total "job" price. For sake of argument, there may be several pricing options that determines the final total price, but for the most part, this will be the total price the client pays after the paver repairs are completed. This brick paver repair job cost should cover all labor & materials and mention any possible unforeseen costs that may occur. While performing brick paver and retaining wall repairs, it is possible that some existing products or materials will not be reusable. I will list on my paver estimate that I will supply the necessary brick paver replacement receipt for reimbursement. When it comes to the dreaded "unforeseen" , I will cover the cost with my client before I proceed with the paver repairs. Nobody wants to get a bill at the end that is more than quoted and was not discussed during the project. 90% of my brick paver repairs have come in on the total Job Cost quoted!

The second is a Hourly Rate approach. This approach should not be accepted by a brick paver repair client unless they have total TRUST of their brick paver contractor! This approach to repairing pavers is an open end final cost. I usually spell out that all material costs will be reimbursed and receipts will be supplied. The difficult part is letting the customer know an exact range of hours needed to complete the brick paver repairs. I am within an hour or so on smaller paver repairs and usually within 5 hours on large paver repairs. I do supply an exact hourly rate for paver repairs for myself or package workers. This approach to costing brick paver repairs can get dicey and it is important to communicate to the client each day your strategy and job performing tasks. Clients need to be aware that the time of obtaining materials and unloading tools and materials are part of the hourly rate of repairs. I do not include in my hourly rate of paver repairs any lunch breaks or time of loading tools at the end of the day. This approach of costing is the fairest approach to brick paver repairs as long as both parties TRUST each other!

Brick paver repair costs is a necessary evil for homeowners to maintain and protect their investment in brick pavers or retaining walls. It can be a very emotional decision for a client to accept your brick paver quote for repairs. I always felt that communicating and selecting the best costing option before performing the paver repairs is the BEST approach.