A new patio will always be a wonderfully stylish yet practical addition to any property, but it’s essential that you have them properly installed or you could find that the slabs start to lift up and come loose sooner rather than later, ruining the aesthetics and making it dangerous to walk on.
There are various reasons why you may start to see loose pavers, whether it’s down to the fact that they were initially laid down on an uneven aggregate bed, whether the stones were moved before the mortar was given sufficient time to set or whether you should used more sub-base before the stones were put in place.
Whatever the reason, the first thing to do when you see pavers start to lift is not to panic! There’s a lot you can do to resolve the situation and it shouldn’t be all that complicated, although you can always give us a quick call if you’re not sure how best to go about it.
You’ll be pleased to hear that you shouldn’t have to rip up the entire patio and start again if you do see some loose slabs. You should be able to make a few little tweaks here and there to restore it to its former glory.
If you want to try and lift a loose paver yourself, you’ll need to use a plugging chisel, a mallet and a spade to get the job done. First of all, chip the mortar away around the slab until the stone comes loose, then use your spade to prise it free, sliding a piece of wood underneath to help you lever it up while protecting the stone.
Once you’ve done this, get rid of any old mortar left behind on the aggregate bed, then shuffle your aggregate layer around to help create a rough surface for the mortar to adhere to. Mix up your mortar, then apply a layer on top of the aggregate, making sure that it’s even with the rest of the patio.
From there, you can reposition the paving slab, leaving it overnight for the mortar to set. You’ll then need to fill in the gaps around the paving slab, brushing off any excess using an outdoor brush. It sounds tricky but it’s certainly possible – although, again, we’re always here to lend a helping hand so give us a shout if you’re stuck.