Why Fall Is A Great Time To Fix Any Loose Or Sunken Patio Pavers

Spring is usually the season people think of when cleaning or doing yearly chores around the house. But fall can be a second chance to get those indoor and outdoor tasks done. You're no longer spending your weekend mowing and weeding, which means you can address problems that often get put off. Temperatures are less extreme, the humidity is lower, and the stormy winter weather hasn't arrived yet. It's also the time of year when most entertaining shifts to indoor spaces and patio items are being put away for the winter. With less activity and traffic on your patio, fall is the perfect time to fix any loose or broken pavers.

During spring and summer, the walkways and patios around your home see a lot of activity. Weather, foot traffic, and transporting heavy items like mowers and grills can cause pavers to shift, settle, or even break. You may have even made some common mistakes when installing and leveling your pavers initially. These mistakes could create problems as pavers settle over time, and fall is the best time to deal with it. This is also the time of year you will want to take preventative measures to prep your pavers before the extreme temperatures of winter hit. Thankfully, addressing patio paver issues is usually no more than a weekend project. And once it's done, you'll thank yourself in the spring for taking care of it right now.

As with any project, the first thing you'll need to do is assess the damage and make a note of how many new pavers you'll need. You will also need to gather your tools and other supplies. If you have to do any leveling, you will need to get some sand. You can easily level sunken patio pavers with a couple tools you most likely already have, so you won't have to purchase anything special. This would also be a good time to seal your older pavers against the weather. If you have to seal them again after this, you should wait until spring.

After gathering your supplies, choose a time when you will have at least 24 hours of good weather. Remove any broken pavers and replace them with new ones. You will also want to remove the pavers around the broken one (there may be a wider underlying issue). Make sure to level properly with sand, as improper leveling may be the reason it broke. Re-leveling sinking or shifting pavers is similar. Don't just remove the paver you noticed has shifted; remove the ones surrounding it as well. Lay down the leveling sand, compact it, and replace the pavers.

Don't just toss any broken pavers. You can reuse broken pavers to create a stunning DIY walkway that will add a touch of the unexpected to any area around your home. And upcycling is always a great way to save money and repurpose items that will just get thrown in a landfill.