How to Repair Concrete Pavers
Concrete pavers provide an inexpensive option to brick pavers while offering a larger variety of shapes, sizes and colors. The strength and durability of concrete pavers leave them almost maintenance free, needing little more than occasional cleaning and to be resealed about once every three years. Because they are made of concrete, concrete pavers are vulnerable to the same damage that occurs with other concrete structures. The pavers may crack, break, pit or scale. Problems contained within a single or small number of pavers can usually be fixed in a short amount of time. Widespread or recurring problems with your pavers may require their replacement and repairs to the subsurface. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Wire brush
- pH neutral cleanser
- Joint repair sealant
- Putty knife
- Epoxy adhesive
- Concrete patch mix
- Concrete colorant
- Prybar
- Spare pavers
- Polymeric joint sand
Please enter your 10 digit phone number only.
A link to this article has been sent to the phone number provided.
Instructions
-
-
1
Repair small surface cracks and chips in the pavers using joint repair sealant. Clean out the crack or chip using a wire brush to remove any dirt or debris. Wash the crack or chip with a pH neutral cleanser and allow it to dry completely. Fill the crack or chip with the joint repair sealant, packing it full with a putty knife and then removing any excess sealant on the surface of the paver. Allow the sealant to cure for 24 hours and then sand it until even with the surrounding paver surface.
-
2
Repair paver pitting or scaling on the surface of the paver using concrete patch mix. The mix is easily-spreadable concrete that forms a surface as hard as the original paver. Clean the surface of the paver, removing any loose bits of concrete. Mix the patch according the manufacturer's instructions. If the paver is colored, add in a colorant to match during the mixing process. Set the patch mix aside for 15 minutes to activate.
Apply a thin layer of epoxy adhesive to the paver to act as a binding agent between the old surface of the paver and the patch material. After the 15 minute wait, spread the patch material over the paver surface, until the flaws in the paver are no longer visible.
Allow the patch mix to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions and then use a rubber mallet to pound the paver further into the sand subsurface to level it with the surrounding pavers.
-
-
3
Replace heavily damaged pavers. Remove the paver by using a wire brush to remove the sand in the joints surrounding the paver. Pry the paver from its placement using a prybar. Clean any dirt or debris from the area and then place the new paver into the area vacated by the old one. Fill the joints surrounding the paver with the joint sand, pouring the sand into the area between the pavers. Tap the paver with the mallet to level it with surrounding stones, and to settle the sand.
-
4
Seal the surfaces of all repaired or replaced pavers using a concrete sealant. Allow the sealant to dry for 72 hours before using the paver surface.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit pavers image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
