Settlement

Installing interlocking paver systems is a series of critical steps. When addressing settlement issues you must peal back the layers, assessing the accuracy of each step taken during the installation. This can be done by applying the following information. First determine what type of soil you have on site and how much water it holds. Soils containing +30% clay are described as clay and are prevalent in our area. Clay is very pliable when wet which leads to rutting on driveways. Is your dig in compacted earth or was there a significant amount of fill placed recently in the case of new home construction. 

Immediate considerations must be made considering the Subgrade as it is the foundation that your pavers will be placed on top of.The proper use of Woven Geotextiles will provide soil separation, stabilization and reinforcement over moderate subgrades. Many contractors, to submit a lower bid on driveways, will not include this nor do they inform the homeowner of possible ramifications of not using Woven Geotextiles. Base Material  choice, depth and intelligent installation are each of equal importance to the project. Simply said (not including permeable paver systems) Base Material should be Class II or Class V. Applied in 2"-4" lifts and compacted each lift with proper moisture content. Total thickness of Base Material (after compaction) over well-drained soils varies from 6" for pedestrian areas to at least 10"  for residential driveways. This does not include additional inches in consideration ofSubgrade soil type, drainage/moisture content and climate.The lack of proper Compaction will affect an application very soon after installation and may continue for many years to come. Base Compaction should be done with a vibratory roller or reversible plate compactor. Many contractors make the mistake considering a 4000 flb forward plate compactor sufficient to achieve  the recommended Proctor density. In fact it is if compacted in 2" lifts.  

For the DIY, you can find the most accurate information regarding the different types of interlocking pavers, Woven Geotextiles and Base Material  by contacting Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies. (3 Metro locations) If this is to much- We Can Help ! We make house calls. Just contact The Paver Doctor. We specialize in Paver Repair-Restoration-Sealing.  

Polymeric Sand

Some of the specialty work we do should NOT be tried by
the DIY and this is on of them

With its many attributes, Polymeric Sand  has become the joint sand of choice on new paver installations. Polymeric Sand  is either a fine or course graded sand mixed with polymers. After placement, the joints are watered in, activating the polymers. After cure the joints harden off which helps resit erosion, weeds and ant infestation. 

Polymeric Sand is also a great solution in high slope areas greater than 7%, high wind areas or areas that experience concentrated water runoff. Preventing joint sand washout that is common with these conditions.

Problematic sand entering into a pool or home can also be solved with the use of Polymeric Sand on pool decks and entry areas.

Installing Polymeric Sand  is relatively easy, although activating the polymers full depth in the joint takes patience and practice. The proper amount of moisture is paramount to a successful activation. Over watering or flooding the substrate will create the polymers to rise out of the joints and over the top of the pavers leaving a Polymeric haze. 

Polymeric Sand does have limitations and is not always the best joint sand choice. Shaded or poorly draining areas will retain moisture and effect the appearance of the finished joints. Feel free to contact The Paver Doctor for more information on Polymeric Sand. We specialize in paver Repair-Restoration-Sealing.         

Look closely to notice Polymeric Haze.
Polymer's are lighter than sand and water thus over flooding
while activating will cause polymers to float up and rest on top of the paver

We use acids to break the bond of polymers to concrete.

Edge Restraint

Edge Restraint systems are responsible for rotational interlock of a paver application. Through interlock, thousands of pavers together will act as one continuous surface. Edge restraint failure will result in shifting/creeping of pavers leaving open joints which will result in bed sand loss leading to possible rutting or settlement. 

The desired outcome of an Edge Restraint is that it stays stationary. Understanding the degree of lateral forces that will be exerted on the system is critical to determining what type to use. With the correct Edge Restraint system in hand accurate installation is critical to its success. Trying to save money on shorter spikes or less of them can cause a failure. And setting spikes into the ground will not hold, they must be driven into base material.

The most common type of edge restraints are made of black PVC and set in place with spikes driven into the base material. On straight runs rigid Edge Restraints are preferred and flexible is used on curve-linear applications. 

Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies (3 Metro locations) provide quality Edge Restraint systems. I have yet to find comparable products at the big box stores. 

Replacing Edge Restraint systems begins with identifying the underlying issue and correcting it. Repairing the damage created by the failure will become more involved the longer the failure exists. If you feel this condition may exist on your paver application feel free to contact The Paver Doctor. We specialize in paver Repair-Restoration-Sealing.

Efflorescence

Most every new paver application has Efflorescence. It can appear as a white stain-see picture below, or a white powder on the top of the paver. Simply said it is a natural occurrence of curing concrete. Technically, curing concrete contains Calcium Oxide and when mixed with water this forms Calcium Hydroxide and when mixed with air becomes Calcium Carbonate, AKA Efflorescence. On a new application it is termed Primary Efflorescence and when it continues we call it Secondary Efflorescence.

The Paver Doctors advises to let Efflorescence run its course on new applications. Sometime within a year from installation, through a process called weather, Efflorescence production will be exhausted. At that time after a cleaning to remove the remaining residue is done you will be free of Efflorescence! 

In specific situations, Efflorescence may need to be removed. With many acids readily available to consumers, I would only suggest one for homeowner use. It contains 16% Solfamic acid which will not damage concrete if used incorrectly. You can find it at Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies (3 Metro locations) and sold under the SRW Products brand.

In some instances Secondary Efflorescence can reappear for longer periods than a year. Cleaning and then sealing the pavers will help two fold. First it will reduce the amount of water entering the paver and also create a resistance forcing any Secondary Efflorescence Blooms to the sides and bottoms of the paver.

Efflorescence is an issue of appearance and will not affect the integrity of the paver. Feel free to call on The Paver Doctor to assess this or any issues related to your Pavers! We specialize in paver Repair-Restoration-Sealing.