Fixing pavers is a delicate subject, full of ins and outs. There are not many problems a paver can have, they can either break individually or sunk on a specific area of the installation as a group. This article aims to give some idea on how to fix pavers in both these scenarios.

It is very rare for a paver to break, especially the concrete ones. But in the rare times that it does, a contingency plan must be put in place if they can’t be replaced. And even replacing them can be a complicated business.

The broken pavers are actually what makes the subject delicate, since fixing sunken pavers is relatively easy to do. The reason they have sunk might be complex, but fixing it is, initially, quite easy.

So let’s start our quick guide by talking about how to fix sunken pavers, and then talk about what to do when pavers break individually.

How to Fix Sunken Pavers?

Fixing sunken paver is relatively easy. All you need is a flathead screwdriver or putty knife, a screeding board, level, road base, and sand (regular and polymeric).

1. To begin, you want to lift the sunken pavers with the help of the screwdriver or putty knife. Be very careful as to not damage the paver itself. Insert the screwdriver/putty knife on the grout line and slowly pry the paver up. The first one is usually the hardest. After the first, the other ones are a piece of cake.
   
2. It is recommended that you lift at least all the pavers adjacent to the sunken ones. Eyeball the slope as best you can and make to open as much space as you can to fix it. After lifting all the necessary pavers, take your time to clean them up a little of any debris using a hard bristled brush.
   
3. With your sunken area revealed, it is time to level it all up with the help of your screeding board. The objective here is not to level the sunken to ground level. At the contrary, you want to scrape away as much excess dirt as you can and kinda “reveal” your sunken area.
   
4. Following that, you’ll add road base to the sunken area and compact it as best as you can. After that you’ll add the regular sand, and that is what you want to make it leveled to the ground, again with the help of your screeding board.
   
5. With the sand added and leveled, now you can set the pavers in place. Be careful to never shift them in place once they are set, always be precise with your movements.
   
6. To finish the job, pour polymeric sand on the grout lines of your pavers until they are filled. Sweep the sand evenly on your pavers and then sweep the excess away.

How to fix Broken Pavers

It is time to give you some maybe heart-wrenching news: there is no effective way to fix a broken paver. Again, it rarely happens, but if it does, your best alternative is to replace the paver altogether. And you can imagine how that can be a problem.

Let’s say you have your installation for years until a paver breaks for some odd reason. Even if you get your hands on a paver of the exact same model and color (which isn’t hard, by the way), the pavers you already have in place will be at least a little faded due to sun exposure. That will leave you with a mismatched paver.

Furthermore, pavers are usually sold in pallets, so you’ll hardly be able to buy a small amount of it.

As you can see, a broken paver is delicate to be replaced and can sometimes be a big headache.

There are some alternatives to “fix” broken pavers. You can glue the broken pieces together by using several adhesive methods, such as repair stick, construction adhesive or epoxy glue. However, neither can be considered a permanent solution.

They can certainly put the paver back together structurally speaking, but they will not make it look new. The crack, let’s say, will still be visible and, in time, with heavy loads and freeze-thaw cycles, the paver will break again.

Professional Help to Fix Pavers

As you could see, fixing pavers is delicate, one way or another.

A sunken paver might be a sign of a compromised installation, with bad drainage or bedding. Simply leveling the pavers back up might not fix the problem for good.

Whereas a broken paver cannot be satisfactory fixed, the best idea is to actually replace it altogether.

In both cases, the best course of action is to hire a professional in the hardscape field to help you. A qualified professional can help you identify the root of the problem in case of sunken paver, and give you the best idea on what to do when it comes to broken pavers.

Here at S&S Pavers we have been offering that service, amongst many others in paver maintenance and installation, throughout the Sarasota and Manatee Counties, in FL, for the last 10 years, with a high satisfaction rate from our customers.

Give us a call anytime at 941-773-3098 or email us at sales@sspavers.com for a free estimate on our services. We would be happy to hear from you and help you with any paver need you might have.