[garryjg]

I recently had pavers installed with the standard 4" gravel bed. during the winter time when temperature start to freeze, and the moisture in the clay like soil freezes and lifts the pavers almost 1". Has anyone ever had or know what to do to fix this problem?

 

[Nealtw]

I recently had pavers installed with the standard 4" gravel bed. during the winter time when temperature start to freeze, and the moisture in the clay like soil freezes and lifts the pavers almost 1". Has anyone ever had or know what to do to fix this problem?

What is the frost depth where you are?

 

[garryjg]

What is the frost depth where you are?

i believe like 3 feet

 

[Nealtw]

i believe like 3 feet

To keep the water out of the area you would need drainage that deep around it.
Dirt is not a good insulator, maybe a 4" foam board below the gravel would have helped.
If dirt has an R value of .25, 36" depth would be R9 a few inches of foam would equal that.

 

[Bud9051]

You are not going to like the answer. Remove the pavers and salvage as much of your gravel as possible. Then remove 3' of that clay and replace with a non-frost susceptible soil. Then the gravel and pavers.

As you fill that 3' back in you will need to compact in 6" lifts.

I suspect you are looking for a solution less dramatic than what I suggested however, if you only want to do this "one more time" then you need to do it right.

3' is what I ended up doing. I wanted to go deeper but hit ledge, 5' is my frost line. But I got rid of all of that blasted clay and ended up with a 300' solid driveway.

Bud
Good luck

 

[Thom Paine]

@garryjg


For whatever reason you chose the wrong original contractor.
Why is not my concern.
Berating the very people from whom you are seeking help is not good form.

"the pavers were installed by a professional company.. $20,000 later the professional company is walking away because just like many of you professional guys here dont even know what's going on... maybe you could learn a thing or two right now in this conversation of frost heaves and installing pavers "
........................................

I repeat what I've already said to you...
"
Grade to proper depth
Use appropriate fill
Add proper drainage
Compact to 95% (use sheep's foot compaction)
Reset pavers

Apply to the above post # 5.

You should seek Geo-tech (soil engineers) advice to determine specifics of
compaction material and drainage.

There ya' go. Do it or not. Don't blame an industry for your lack of knowledge and/or poor choices.

Good fortune to you.

 

[Marq1]

I've never known anybody going 3' deep but 4" is too shallow for me, I always do my walks and patios 12" deep

 

[Thom Paine]

I've never known anybody going 3' deep but 4" is too shallow for me, I always do my walks and patios 12" deep

\
@ garryjg

That's the reason for spending a few $ for Geo-tech. All clays, all soils and watershed are not equal; there can be great variances within feet/yards.

A bit of $ spent properly, with adherence to the resultant report, most often means a
one time expenditure for a project be it a walkway, a driveway, or a super-structure.

In the OP instance, such a report may lead him to decide to live with the situation after a cost/benefit evaluation... or Geo-tech may offer an easier solution.

 

[Thom Paine]

I've never known anybody going 3' deep but 4" is too shallow for me, I always do my walks and patios 12" deep

Yes, 4" is too shallow for a driving surface on expansive soils.

 

[garryjg]

\
@ garryjg

That's the reason for spending a few $ for Geo-tech. All clays, all soils and watershed are not equal; there can be great variances within feet/yards.

A bit of $ spent properly, with adherence to the resultant report, most often means a
one time expenditure for a project be it a walkway, a driveway, or a super-structure.

In the OP instance, such a report may lead him to decide to live with the situation after a cost/benefit evaluation... or Geo-tech may offer an easier solution.

this matter is going to court as the Professional paver company has a 25 warranty on moving, lifting and shifting pavers. Funny how the DIY group actually has more real professionals then the contractor page.. thanks for the help

 

[Thom Paine]

this matter is going to court as the Professional paver company has a 25 warranty on moving, lifting and shifting pavers. Funny how the DIY group actually has more real professionals then the contractor page.. thanks for the help

Please keep us abreast of how it's going.... it may help someone else someday

 

[stuart44]

I've seen the opposite here with slabs over shrinkable clay. With an unusually dry spell some have sunk a bit as the clay has shrunk.

 

[garryjg]

You are not going to like the answer. Remove the pavers and salvage as much of your gravel as possible. Then remove 3' of that clay and replace with a non-frost susceptible soil. Then the gravel and pavers.

As you fill that 3' back in you will need to compact in 6" lifts.

I suspect you are looking for a solution less dramatic than what I suggested however, if you only want to do this "one more time" then you need to do it right.

3' is what I ended up doing. I wanted to go deeper but hit ledge, 5' is my frost line. But I got rid of all of that blasted clay and ended up with a 300' solid driveway.

Bud
Good luck

thank you so much for the clear response about this issue.