Paver Protector was contracted to relevel the brick pavers that had settled where a buried downspout ran under the driveway. View the below YouTube video to see the process.

Brick Paver Driveway Repairs in Barrington, IL Video

Cleaning and sealing concrete brick pavers sounds like a pretty easy thing to do. The truth is that it is an involved process and without the proper training, tools and materials it is very easy to screw up. Just take a look at the photos below of work that others have tried and failed at.

This picture was taken at a residence in St. Charles, IL where the homeowner hired his lawn care company to clean, install polymeric sand and seal his brick paver driveway, patio and walkway. They did not properly install the polymeric joint sand, leaving too much in the joints and some even on the surface of the pavers. This is what caused the wide white joints that look like failing grout lines. They then sealed with a wet look brick paver sealer before the surface of the brick pavers were dry leading to the white haze on the surface of the pavers.
The lawncare company was unable to fix the problem and left with the money in their pocket and this homeowner out close to $4,000. These problems are avoidable by hiring properly trained and equipped contractors. The only good news here is that the mistakes are fixable by stripping and resanding and sealing the brick pavers. Although it is costly it is not much compared to the $60,000 worth of pavers on this large area.



The below picture is an example of a contractor that does not pay attention to detail and leaves sloppuy work behind. The paver patio was sealed with a wet look sealer and the wall was not sealed. You can see the bottom of the wall has sealer on it where the roller bumped up against it. This just looks sloppy and unattractive. The proper was to seal this would be to either cut in with a bruch or tape off the wall. Paver Protector always recomends sealing sitting walls to match the pavers and for the protection the sealer offers. The sloppyness of the landscaper that was hired for this job will be around for years to come and seen by all who use the patio.



This picture shows what happens when someone with the wrong power washing equipment trys to clean a dirty patio. The light marks are where the wand from the pressure washer was directed. Becuase they used too narrow of a tip with pressure too high, these areas were not only cleaned but worn down by the high pressure. The marks will lighten when properly cleaned by Paver Protector's state of the art hot water cleaning equipment but will never completly dissapear. The pressure washer used to ruin this surface was one bought at Home Depot by a local landscaper. Just becuase they can install brick paver hardscapes does not mean they can properly clean and seal them.



Last but not least is an example of what happens when the person sweeping joint sand in gets lazy. The joints of brick pabvers are meant to be filled to the bottom of the chanfer and not to the top or level with the top of the paver. It is hard work sweeping all of the sand to the correct height and getting the sand and dust off of the surface of the pavers but it is key to having a great looking paver surface. The lawncare guy that did this quickly sept in polymeric sand and then sealed over it with wet look sealer. Since the sand hardens with water and the sealer hardens it additionally bonding it to the surface the only solution here was to strip the pavers and clean out the old sand with hot, high pressure water and redo the entire sand and seal process.



As evidenced above, a jack of all trades is a master of none. Not only did these unfortunate homeowners have to pay the original contractor that screwed up the job, they had to pay to remove the work of the old contractor and then pay to have everything done all over again. Hiring the right contractor for brick paver cleaning and sealing is critical. Click this link to learn 5 Things You Need to Know Before Hiring A Brick Paver Cleaning & Sealing Company

Paver Protector specializes in the cleaning, sanding and selaing of concrete and clay brick paver driveways, patios and walkways. Paver Protector's main service areas are northern Illinois including Barrington, Inverness, Palatine, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Geneva, Huntley, Batavia, West Chicago, the Fox River Valley and more. View all of Paver Protector's service areas here.

In July 2010 Paver Protector was called to inspect a paver brick driveway in St. Charles, IL. The brick driveway was about 10 years old and in BAD condition.


The Fox Valley property had dense, mature tree cover which gave lots of shade to the entire property. With the shade came the mold, moss and algae on the brick paver surfaces causing a dark green and in some areas black growth. Not only unattractive, mold and moss make for a very slippery surface in the rain.  Weeds were also a problem in the joints of this Saint Charles brick patio and driveway.

To clean the dirty brick pavers, Paver Protector used a combination of high pressure, hot (over 200 degree) water along with environmetally friendly cleaners where needed. 

Not only was the surface deeply cleaned but so too were the joints. All weeds and moss in the joints were blown out along with the old joint sand or lack there of.  Polymeric sand was installed to fill joints and to provide a wash out, weed and insect resistant solution. 

The final step in the Paver Protector solution was a thorough coat of wet look brick paver sealer. This brick paver sealer will not only enhance the color of the paver driveway but will also provide a moisture resistant surface that will prevent moss and mold from returning for years to come.


To learn more about Brick Paver Sealing in St. Charles, IL visit Paver Protector on the web or call 630-488-0069

Brick paver patios make for a beautiful surface for an outdoor living space. Unfortunately we have all seen brick paver patios and driveways that have weeds growing in between the joints. This can ruin the appearance and make you not want to make use of a great patio.

 

Luckily there are ways to prevent weeds from growing in joints. First let’s look at why weeds grow in brick paver joints.

Most people who are not familiar with the base of a brick paver patio think that weeds and grass are growing from under the pavers and through the joints. This is impossible on a properly installed hardscape. There should be 5-7 inches of compacted gravel under a residential patio that is nearly as hard as concrete and impossible for weeds and grass to grow up through.

 

Weeds and grass grow in brick paver joints when a seed or plant blows, falls or settles into the joint from above. It can then shoot roots into the joints and take hold making it look like it came from below. The best way to prevent seeds from landing in joints is to keep the brick joint filled up with the proper joint sand.

 

Many joints look like they are full, but what they are full of can be a great environment for weeds to grow. A coarse sand is initially what is swept into joints after paver installation. A lot of the times after a few heavy rains that sand washes out and leaves a void that gets filled with dirt, grass clipping and other organic material. This is the perfect mixture to grow weeds in. If this is the case on you patio you will have to remove the organic joint material by use of an industrial power washer.

 

Once the joints are cleaned of organic material and the paver surface is dry you should then sweep in new joint sand and fill all joints to just below the bottom of the chamfer or beveled edge. Too little sand and you will leave enough space for weed seeds, too much and the paver patio will not look right and you will feel sand under your feet and track it into the house. The use of a vibratory plate compactor is recommended to help settle the joint sand and interlock itself to resist washing and blowing out. Maintain the joint sand by sweeping in new sand as needed after heavy rains and the use of leaf blowers.

 

To further prevent weeds from growing in joints professional paver maintenance and restoration companies like Paver Protector suggest using sands such as polymeric sand and sealing that will harden the joint sand to resist washouts and voids for weeds and grass to grow.

 

When you do see weeds starting to sprout in joints be sure to spray them with round up or another herbicide. This will kill the whole plant unlike pulling the top off of the weed by hand. Once the weed is dead then remove it and sweep in new joint sand.

 

To learn how Paver Protector can help you prevent weeds from growing in the joints of your brick pavers please visit www.PaverProtector.com or call at 630-488-0069.

 

Paver Protectors main service area is Northern Illinois including St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Elburn, Wasco, Elgin, Huntley, Hampshire, Bartlett, West Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Barrington, Inverness, Palatine, Schaumburg, Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Woodstock, the Fox Valley and more.

Why should I seal my pavers?

There are many reasons to seal brick pavers. Sealer will protect pavers from the suns harsh UV rays which over time fades the color of your pavers and leaves the grey and white small stones more visible than the color. Sealer will also make the surface of your pavers less absorbent. This means muddy shoes, bird droppings, oil spills, etc… are easier to clean with a hose. Most people say they like the way their pavers look when it rains. Our wet look sealer captures that effect which restore and enhances colors.

 

How long does the sealer last?

We normally use a solvent based acrylic sealer as our wet look sealer. The manufacturer says you can get up to 4-5 years out of it depending on conditions. We don’t recommend sealing your pavers any more often than once every 2 years to avoid an acrylic buildup. Depending on what type of exposure your pavers have to sun, traffic, and other elements is a determining factor of how long it will last. Typically 3 years is a good maintenance interval.

 

 

How much does it cost?

There are too many variables to put a square foot price on our services. Current condition, size, paver type, surroundings all play into pricing. We provide free, no obligation quotes so give us a call or click the free estimate tab to obtain your pricing.

 

Why should we use Paver Protector?

Paver Protector uses state of the art equipment to complete your project. We have tested many types of sealers and have found the longest lasting, best looking sealers and work closely with the manufacturer in product selection. We have gone through training specific to cleaning and sealing concrete pavers and have been tested and presented with certified applicator certificates. We know that every customer deserves the best service no matter how big or small their project. We put our customers first from the initial quote to completion and beyond.

 

What will it look like?

The sealer we use gives your pavers a deep wet look. If you were to look at your pavers during the rain, that is how they will look once sealed. This brings color back from faded pavers and enhances colors on new pavers. Our sealer in a penetrating sealer that the pavers absorb into the surface, this allows the pavers to look wet without having a very shiny, glossy finish. We have pavers half sealed and half not sealed in many colors as samples. Ask to see a color close to yours on your free estimate. We also have a natural look sealer that will protect your pavers without changing their appearance.

 

Can you clean stains?

Our initial cleaning process uses hot, 200 degree, pressurized water that does clean most stains. For tough stains such as grease, oil, rust etc… we have chemical cleaners made specifically for concrete pavers designed to lift stains without ruining the color pigments.

 

Is the sealer slippery?

Since we use a penetrating sealer it does not leave a very slippery surface. We have samples that you can feel to see the difference between sealed and not. There are a lot of sealers on the market that do remain on the surface of pavers and leave a very slippery surface. Most inexperienced contractors and home improvement stores use these types of sealers. We also have traction additives for high slip areas like pool decks that will give brick pavers more grit then when unsealed.

 

Can I seal it myself?

If someone tells you that you cannot seal your pavers yourself they are lying. It is very involved and easy to screw up if not properly done. By the time you rent the proper washing equipment, install polymeric sand, which is also easy to screw up, and spend the time to seal, it is usually cheaper to have it professionally done. Be aware of the products you can buy at hardware stores. It is very costly to fix an improperly sealed job. If you do decide to seal your pavers yourself we can sell the proper materials needed.

 

Why would I use polymeric sand?

Polymeric sand hardens when wetted for the first time. Unlike regular joint sand it is resistant to washing out of the joints with heavy rain or rinsing. It also is very hard for weeds to grow through and insects to travel through. This is a much longer lasting solution than sweeping regular sand every year. As sand washes out of joints you loose structural integrity because the sand is what interlocks the pavers. You will start to see settling, rotation and separating of your pavers. Polymeric sand prevents this

 

Can you fix my sunken pavers?

We do repairs of all types. Whether the pavers are sinking from insects removing and tunneling through bedding sand or from improper initial installation. We have several methods to fix and prevent future problems.

 

Why are my pavers sinking around concrete?

When concrete is installed a different base material is installed and usually not fully compacted. If you have a paver system that is up against it you will usually have excessive settling there. The sand from the paver base washes out into the voids under the concrete base. We can fix this by installing a barrier when possible and adding sand. When the pavers are sealed and have polymeric sand installed not as much water will pass through the sand, avoiding this problem in the future.

 

The plastic edging around my pavers is coming up.

We can fix this with minimal damage to the surrounding grass. We pull up the edging, excavate to the proper height and reinstall edging, usually with more spikes to ensure a longer lasting result.

 

Brick pavers make a great surface for driveways, patios, walkways, pool decks and more. Unlike Concrete, asphalt and stamped concrete, brick pavers can be lifted and reset when settling occurs and after the repair is made you would never know it was a problem area. Any repairs made to concrete or even stamped concrete leave an unsightly area that will never look the same as the rest of the surface.

 

When you notice a small area of a brick paver patio or driveway that is settling and needs repair it is important to first determine what is causing that area to settle. Look around, above and picture below the pavers. Some common causes of brick pavers settling are sand washing out from under pavers (especially along edges), improper soil and base compaction before brick paver installation, under ground lines that may have settled or had base around them settle ( underground downspouts, electric lines, irrigation lines, etc…), areas along the house, concrete or other non paver surface, etc…

 

Let’s focus on the areas that are settling because of the loss of sand or any other non base issues. These are the most common and with the right materials, tools and determination, fairly easy to repair.

 

What you will need- 2 strong flat head screw drivers, a dead blow or rubber mallet, sections of a 2 x 4 (variable lengths depending on size of repair), vibratory plate compactor (depending on size of repair) and last but not least torpedo sand or other material used for setting pavers.

 

1. The first thing you want to do is determine which areas need to be repaired and mark them with chalk or any other method. Once you start pulling up the pavers it is easy to loose track of what all needs to be lifted.
2. Use the 2 screw drivers to pry loose the first brick paver. It is easiest to start along an edge if possible. Work the paver up with a screw driver on each end of the paver and lift it as flat as possible. Lifting one end of the paver at a time will result in the paver being wedged between the surrounding bricks. Once you get the first out the rest come fairly easily. Be sure to remember the pattern the brick pavers were laid and set cut pavers in the order they came out. It’s like a puzzle when they go back in so taking your time here will really pay off. As you go notice how much lower the pavers are then they should be. Remove 2 or 3 rows of pavers beyond the settled area, this will make for a smooth flow from old pavers and lifted pavers when replaced.
3. With all pavers out you will want to start adding torpedo sand or a coarse, well graded sand mix. Do not use fine play sand and be sure the sand is not dried, a bit of moisture in it will be help with setting. For small areas smooth out the sand with your hand or a trowel. Larger areas will need to be screed in a manner that provides a perfectly flat sand layer and that is pitched to allow proper drainage.
4. Start laying the pavers back in place keeping the pattern and keeping the joints of the pavers tight. It may be necessary to scrap the edges if they have sand or dirt stuck to them. You want all pavers tight in order to have the joints all line up and to end up with enough space to fit that last paver. If you notice the pavers are still too low add sand as needed
5. Compaction will set the pavers an eight of an inch or so. For very small areas use the piece of 2x4 set on edge and the rubber mallet to compact the pavers back into place. This will take a lot of force and you will have to reposition the board to set the pavers at all angles. For large areas running a vibratory plate compactor over the reset pavers is a must. 2 runs over the brick pavers with the compactor will set them and force some sand into the bottom of the joint.
6. Sweep sand across the top of the pavers to fill joints. Your best bet here is a dried torpedo sand or better yet polymeric joint sand which lasts much longer. Once the joints are filled recompact the pavers using the board and mallet or plate compactor for large areas. This will wiggle sand down into the joint. Most of the times you will have to sweep more sand after this. Repeat this step until the joints no longer take on any sand.

 

That’s it, your pavers are releveled and can be returned to use. To prevent sand from washing out and other common problems it is always a good idea to have your brick pavers properly cleaned and sealed. Click for more information on cleaning and sealing brick pavers.

 

If you need brick paver repairs in Northern Illinois and do not wish to do them yourself, please contact Paver Protector Inc. at 630-488-0069 or use the contact form at the Paver Protector website.