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Problems With Paver Walkways
Problems With Paver Walkways. Pavers are solid blocks made of concrete, brick or stone. They are a popular surface material for walkways. Paver walkways are laid out in a surface mosaic on a sand footer, leveled and secured by sweeping sand into the joints. They are attractive, easy to maintain and generally easy to repair. The most common...
Pavers are solid blocks made of concrete, brick or stone. They are a popular surface material for walkways. Paver walkways are laid out in a surface mosaic on a sand footer, leveled and secured by sweeping sand into the joints. They are attractive, easy to maintain and generally easy to repair. The most common problems with paver walkways are tree roots, breakage, sinkholes and weeds.
Tree Roots
Paver walkways last a long time, long enough for trees to grow, a lot. The most common problem with paver walkways is growing tree roots that pass under your walkway and begin to raise bulges in the path. There are two options for this: raise a section of the walkway on a new footer or remove the root. Raising a section of the walkway includes removing the paver through the whole section, adding fill along the sides, pouring in coarse sand as a new footer, re-leveling and replacing the pavers. Removing the tree roots includes removing the pavers, digging down to the tree root, cutting the root out, then replacing the soil, the sand footer and the pavers.
Broken Pavers
Broken pavers are the easiest problem to fix on a paver walkway. You select a matching paver, remove the broken one by shimmying it up with two trowels, clean out the space, replace and re-level the replacement paver.
Sinkholes
Sinkholes occur when the ground under your pavers settles, causing the walkway to drop. To repair a sinkhole, you will have to remove the entire section of pavers, pour in sufficient coarse sand to bring the pavers up to their original level, then replace and re-level the pavers.
Weeds
Landscape cloth is generally used during initial construction of a paver walkway to prevent weeds growing up through the joints of the walkway. Over time, however, seeds settle in the joints themselves and take root. Some of these opportunistic plants can be very strong and difficult to remove. Spraying with weed killer is an option, but one that involves all the drawbacks and dangers of using chemical poisons, which will migrate beyond the walkway. Boiling water will rid you of weeds for a while, as will a 50-50 water-vinegar solution poured into the colonized joints. Some paver walkways are built with the intent of growing grass in the joints as a decorative effect that also consolidates the joints.
