How to replace outdoor pavers?

PeteSam

Hi Team,

I have recently moved to a house, the pavers in the backyard are quite uneven (as can be seen in the attached pictures). I am very new to DIY (as this is my first house), I have read few articles on this site that describe how to lay pavers, but before I start this activity wanted to understand, for a newbie is it a job that can be accomplished given some time? Is there any other recommendation instead of paving?I will also have to remove the existing pavement, how do you do that? and where are those disposed?

Thank you

   

MitchellMc

Hi @PeteSam,

It looks like the base material beneath your pavers has subsided over time, causing the uneven surface. The good news is that this is a relatively straightforward fix that you could tackle yourself, especially if you're willing to put in some time and effort.

The first step is to remove the existing pavers. If they’re set in mortar, you’ll need to chip out the joints before lifting them. Once they’re out, check the base material underneath. If it’s compacted sand or crushed rock, it likely needs to be topped up and levelled to restore the correct height. You can do this by adding and compacting new bedding sand or road base, ensuring it's even before relaying the pavers.

When placing the pavers back, make sure they sit flush with the surrounding area. Once they’re in place, you can re-grout the joints using either paving sand or mortar, depending on what was used originally. If you go with sand, sweeping in polymeric sand and lightly watering it will help lock the pavers together.

If you find that the pavers are difficult to lift, or the job becomes too challenging, you can always bring in a professional to complete it. But provided the pavers come out easily, there's little that can go wrong, and it's a great DIY project to learn from. As for disposing of old material, broken mortar and sand can often be taken to a local waste facility, or you might be able to repurpose some of it in other areas of your yard.

Depending on your door threshold height and the amount of space you have to work within, you might also have the option of constructing a low-level deck over the area instead of relaying the pavers. This could be a great alternative if you’re looking for a different aesthetic or want to avoid dealing with the uneven surface altogether.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell