DIY Home Improvement Forum banner

paver patio

2K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  Daniel Holzman 
#1 ·
I installed a paver patio over an existing concrete patio and ty
hen adjacent to/surrounding it. Surrounding area has settled @ 1-2" over last several years and now needs to be picked up and redone. Fix not to repeat? Thanks!
Rob
 
#2 ·
Hi-
This is Rob---I installed a stone paver patio over an existing concrete patio and then expanded to a larger area around/adjacent to concrete patio which has now settled @ 1-2" over last several years. Need to pick up and redo. Fix not to repeat please?
 
#3 ·
There really is no such thing unfortunately. The pavers over the concrete will always remain more stable than those on the gravel bed, not much you can do about it but repair the small areas every few years as necessary, or extend the concrete base under the balance of it and hope for the best.
 
#4 ·
I think I understand what you are saying, but let me be sure. You initially installed a paver patio over a concrete slab patio. Later you expanded the patio by placing pavers over soil outside the original slab. The pavers outside the slab settled, and you now have an uneven surface.

Assuming I got this right, the cause of settlement usually involves unsuitable soil as the foundation for the pavers. In order to minimize settlement, you need to dig out all organic material, soft clay, and weak silt. This may require removal of at least a foot of soil, more if local conditions are poor. You then backfill to the correct grade using structural fill. Structural fill consists of select sand and gravel, compacted thoroughly in six inch or smaller lifts. Compaction is typically done using a plate whacker or similar machine.

You then sprinkle some mason sand on top of the compacted structural fill, and place the pavers in the masons sand, typically only an inch or two of sand over the structural fill is necessary. As long as the base is at least six inches thick and is properly compacted, and is placed over suitable naturally occuring soil, you will not experience any settlement of the pavers. If you take shortcuts, then the pavers are likely to settle, which is my guess as to what happened.

The solution is to remove the pavers that settled, excavate the unsuitable soil, and backfill with compacted structural fill. Then reinstall the pavers, and presto, no more trouble.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top