A paver patio, walkway, or driveway can act as a beautiful statement piece outside your home. But when paver stones are damaged or begin to look worn out over time, they lose their luster.
Paver stones are highly durable and can handle a lot of wear and tear…but they don’t last forever. Once your pavers start to show their age, it’s time to think about whether to repair or replace them. Sometimes it makes sense to replace a damaged paver here and there, but if you have a more extensive area of damage, a full replacement may be necessary.
Keep an eye out for these 5 signs that you may need a paver replacement.
1.) Cracked or Chipped Pavers
Visible cracks or chips in your pavers is one of the first signs they may need to be replaced. Once enough of your pavers are damaged, your patio or driveway will start to look worn out.
Pavers are incredibly sturdy, but given the right circumstances, they can crack or chip. For instance, dropping something heavy on them could chip or break the stone. Alternatively, water can seep into small cracks, build up under the pavers, and cause more damage. When that water freezes in winter, it will expand, deepening the cracks and making them more noticeable.
2.) Old or Worn-Out Pavers
If your pavers are dull-looking, worn out, stained, or discolored, the only remedy is to replace them. If you aren’t bothered by the aesthetic of old-looking pavers, you can certainly hold off on replacing them for a while — they don’t pose a safety or other hazard.
But if you begin to notice signs of deterioration or you simply want to improve the look of your patio or driveway, you’ll need to replace your pavers.
3.) Missing Pavers
Missing pavers are not just unattractive — they can pose a tripping hazard. If you have kids running around or elderly family members visiting, you could end up with some not-so-fun injuries on your hands.
If your patio, walkway, or driveway is only missing a few pavers here and there, you can simply have them replaced. But if larger areas are missing, you will need a full paver replacement.
4.) Uneven Surface
Even if the ground is carefully leveled before your pavers are installed, it can shift over time. This causes pavers to become uneven, creating a tripping hazard.
You’ll need to remove the pavers to re-level the ground, so depending on the extent of the problem, it may make more sense to replace the entire area than just a few pavers. Additionally, you will need to fix the underlying problem that caused the ground to become uneven before replacing your pavers. Otherwise you’ll end up doing the whole project over again much sooner than you’d like.
5.) Paver Surface Holds Water
When a paver patio, walkway, or driveway is built, it’s installed on a slight slope to allow water to drain off of the stones. If you notice standing water on your patio or other paver-covered surface, that’s an indication that the ground beneath the pavers has sunk.
If the water is allowed to sit too long, it can cause damage to the pavers — or even to the foundation of your home, if the area is close to your house. To fix the problem, you’ll need to remove the pavers, re-level the sunken areas, and replace the pavers.
Rely on McDonough Landscaping for Your Next Paver Replacement
McDonough Landscaping uses only top quality materials to build your paver patio, walkway, or driveway. We specialize in interlocking pavers, but are also experienced with natural stone, block, brick, loose materials, and tile. Whatever material you choose, our certified installers will construct a surface that lasts.
Enhance your outdoor space with a new patio, walkway, or driveway, or have existing pavers repaired to restore the beauty of your space. Contact us to get started.
