Fire Pit | Patio | Pavers | Pool Patio | Stamped Concrete | Poured Concrete | Reinstallation | Patio Repairs
Patio repairs are less complicated with a paver patio.
Have you ever had to make repairs under a patio or walkway? There are many utilities and other underground obstructions that can affect either one:
- Septic/sewer systems
- Irrigation systems
- Water lines
- Electrical and Data lines
- Pool plumbing
- Gas supply (natural gas or propane)
- Old decomposing tree stumps
Does the material of the walk or patio really matter that much? We think it does. The biggest difference and challenges we find usually becomes a comparion of stamped concrete and pavers as they tend to be bigger investments than other materials.
Swimming pool decks seem to be the most affected by having to be dug up for repairs. All of the pipes and lines needed to make the pool run and keep clean are usually installed directly under the pool patio. Sometimes the only way to get to a problem that needs fixing is to dig up the patio - that you just spent $20,000 or $30,000 getting installed. Here is where that decking or patio material becomes so important.
If the patio was built using concrete pavers the repair is fairly easy. If the patio is stamped concrete - not so easy.
So customers are often asking us "How can I fix a broken pipe under my paver pool patio?" If there is a leak or a broken pipe, and you have pavers here is what you can do (or contact us and we will come and do it for you):
1. Extract the pavers around that area (using the Quick-E-Paver Popper, shown below). Set the pavers aside for reuse.
2. Dig down to find the leak or damaged part.
3. Fix the problem. Make all of the repairs needed.
4. Fill the hole back in to about 3" below the final grade of the pavers using a proper base material (usually a 3/4" processed gravel) and compacting the fill material as you go.
5. Add the 1" of bedding sand and reinstall the saved pavers in the pattern to match the rest of the patio.
6. Install the joint sand as needed and directed by the manufacturer. Compact the area.
You will never know it was distrubed in the first place. This is one of the biggest differences you will find between concrete and pavers - the ability to remove a section and then be able to reinstall them without evidence of the repair.
This same process can be used to add additional utilities such as electrical conduit for 110V power, landscape lighting or even an electric dog fence.
For more information on paver installation or material comparisons, see the links below.
A Side-by-Side Comparison of Stamped Concrete and Pavers
What They Won't Tell you About Stamped Concrete