So, you’ve started to notice that your paver patio is no longer level, or perhaps it has never been quite right. If you installed a brick paver patio on your own, or hired a brick paver contractor that wasn’t an expert at installing pavers, you may begin to experience issues with the level and smoothness of the patio. Before you can fix the problems with your patio, you need to know why your patio is no longer smooth. Here are four things that a professional Ferndale brick paver says can cause dips, bumps, and sloping in your patio.
Brick Paver Patio Problem 1: Poor Compaction
This is probably the most frequent problem with paver patios. The base of your patio, the dirt and fill, should be firmly compacted so that when the pavers are installed on top of the surface, the weight of the bricks does not cause additional, unwanted compaction. Poorly compacted soils can cause sloping in directions that you don’t desire, dips, and bumps that can hold water (causing even more problems). To fix this problem, you will need to remove the bricks and any soft material such as sand or gravel under the pavers. The soil underneath should be tilled and re-compacted using a hand tamper or a mechanical compactor. Once your base soil is properly compacted, you can reinstall sand or gravel and then replace the bricks. To ensure this is all done correctly, look into hiring a Ferndale brick paver repair professional.
Brick Paver Patio Problem 2: Edging
You wouldn’t try to keep your dog in a yard without a fence. It would be a nearly impossible task. The same is true for your pavers. In order to keep your pavers in the right spot, some sort of edging is necessary. If you have an edge, and your bricks are moving you probably don’t have the right kind of edge. If you are noticing that the bricks along the edge of your patio are starting to roll outward, it may be a good time to look at installing an edging material or replacing the existing one. Pavers that roll out, or aren’t supported by an edging, can cause the entire patio to fail or, even worse, can cause you or someone else in your home to fall and hurt themselves. This is a pretty easy fix. If you don’t have an edge or need a stronger edge, find an appropriate product and hire a Ferndale brick paver contractor to install the edge.
Brick Paver Patio Problem 3: Poor Drainage
Standing water is one of the biggest enemies of brick paver surfaces. Because your bricks are set on sand and the cracks are filled with sand, any standing water can wash out the sand and redistribute it on your patio or in other spaces in the patio. This process will cause dips and bumps in your patio. To eliminate this problem, make sure that there is a gentle slope on your pavers, when you reset them, so water can drain off of the surface. Also, make sure that downspouts are directed away from the patio as much as possible.
Brick Paver Patio Problem 4: Uneven at the Beginning
If the surface that your pavers were placed on was not properly leveled to begin with, they will never be level. This is unfortunate because to repair this condition, your patio will need to be completely removed, and the surface properly leveled.
Hire a Ferndale Brick Paver
The process of repairing an uneven paver patio is a big job. If your home has a bumpy paver patio, and you are looking for a Ferndale brick paver contractor to repair it, consider the experts at PMS Diversified Construction. We are your local experts on brick paver patios, driveways and other structures.