My Interlock Patio Is Sinking. Here Is Why, and How We Fix It
Low spots, a dip by the door, pavers rocking underfoot, a puddle that never dries. Sinking interlock is a base problem, not a paver problem, and it can be fixed for good. Lumen Landscaping fixes sinking interlock patios across Hamilton: call (905) 906-0671 or send the form for a free written quote.
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- 1-year craftsmanship warranty
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The problem
What you are seeing
It usually starts small: a paver that rocks when you step on it, a dip where the patio meets the house, a ridge where the pavers have lifted along one edge. Then water starts pooling after rain, the joints open up, weeds and ants move into the sand, and the patio that used to be flat has a wave in it. Most of the time it shows up two to five winters after the patio was built, and it gets a little worse each spring.
The pavers themselves are almost never the problem. What has moved is the ground underneath them.
Our Work
Interlock we have brought back
Why interlock sinks
Every sunken patio we lift has at least one of these underneath it.
- A base that is too shallow: Pavers need several inches of compacted gravel under them, and more under a driveway. A thin base settles as soon as the ground softens.
- No compaction, or one thick lift: Gravel has to be compacted in thin layers. Dumped in one go and tamped once, it keeps settling for years.
- Water with nowhere to go: A patio that slopes toward the house, a downspout dumping onto it, or clay that will not drain keeps the base wet. A wet base washes out and heaves when it freezes.
- Hamilton clay: Much of the city sits on clay, which swells when wet and heaves when frozen. It needs a deeper base and good drainage, or it moves the patio every winter.
- Edges that were never locked: Without an edge restraint the outside pavers creep outward, the joints open and the sand washes out.
- Sand or soil used as the base: Pavers laid on sand alone, or on the old lawn, have nothing solid under them.
Google reviews
What our customers say
“We had a gravel walkway around our pool and equipment that had become overgrown with weeds, and grasses. The crew removed all the existing weeds etc., stone, and fabric. … We are very pleased with their work. They delivered as promised.”
“My front walk and back patio needed maintenance due to misaligned stones and weeds. … I am very happy with the result and greatly appreciate the owner's planting suggestions for the low maintenance gardens I require.”
“They returned my call the same day I phoned. He arranged a visit and gave me a few options to repair my stone stairs. He did the work within 2 weeks and did a great job. I highly recommend him.”
The fix
How we fix a sinking interlock patio
We lift the pavers in the sunken area and set them aside in order. Then we dig out the base to see what went wrong: how deep it is, whether it was compacted, and where the water is coming from. We add gravel where it is short, compact it in thin layers, re-screed the bedding sand with a slope that sends water away from the house, and relay the same pavers tight. The edges are locked with a proper restraint, the joints are filled with polymeric sand, and the whole patio is cleaned so the repaired section matches the rest.
When the whole patio has moved, we do the same across all of it. If the pavers are cracked or past saving, we quote a rebuild on a base that will not move. Either way you get a written quote first and a 1-year craftsmanship warranty. Read more about our patio restoration service.
Check this yourself first
Ten minutes this weekend will tell you a lot about what is going on under your patio.
- Walk it after a rain: Note where water sits. Puddles against the house mean the slope has reversed, which is the most urgent kind of settling.
- Rock a few pavers: A paver that tips under your foot has lost its bedding. Lift one if you can and look: sand on soil means there was never a base.
- Look at the edges: Pavers leaning outward, or a gap along the border, mean the edge restraint is missing or has failed.
- Follow the downspouts: A downspout that empties onto the patio is feeding the problem. Extending it is a quick win while you wait for the repair.
- When to call: A dip you can see from the door, a trip edge, or water against the foundation is worth fixing this season. Call (905) 906-0671 and we will take a look.
Planning
What a lasting repair includes, and what changes the price
A lasting fix always includes
- Finding the cause, not just filling the low spot
- Gravel added and compacted in thin layers
- A bedding layer screeded with a slope away from the house
- Edge restraint on every open side
- Polymeric sand in the joints and a full clean
What affects the price
- How much of the patio has moved: one corner or all of it
- Whether the pavers can be reused or need replacing
- How much base has to be added or rebuilt
- Drainage work, such as extending downspouts or regrading beside the patio
- Access to the yard for materials and equipment
Every quote is written and free, and materials are billed at what they cost us with no markup.
Related
Related pages
Service: patio restoration and new interlock. Area: landscaping and hardscaping in Hamilton. More answers on our FAQ page, and more problems we fix.
From the blog
Helpful guides
FAQs
Sinking patio questions
Most can be repaired. If the pavers are sound we lift them, rebuild the base underneath and relay the same pavers. Replacement only comes up when the pavers are cracked or badly worn, or the base was never built at all.
We reuse your pavers, so the colour and pattern match. After relaying we clean the whole surface and re-sand every joint so the repair blends in. Sealing afterwards evens the look further.
A corner or a walkway is often a one-day job. A whole patio can take a few days, depending on its size and how much base has to be rebuilt. Your written quote gives the timeline.
Usually the base was too shallow or compacted in one thick lift, or water was never given a way out. It happens a lot with patios built fast. On clay, which much of Hamilton sits on, those shortcuts show within a few winters.
Not if the cause is fixed, and that is the whole job. We rebuild the base, give the surface a proper slope, lock the edges and back the work with a 1-year craftsmanship warranty.
Yes. Weeds and ants live in open joints with loose sand. Relaying the pavers tight and filling the joints with polymeric sand closes their way in, and sealing the patio keeps them out longer.
How it works
Getting started is easy
- 1
Call or send the form
Tell us what you have in mind. We reply fast, usually within the hour.
- 2
Get your free quote
We look at your project and send you a clear, written quote quickly.
- 3
We build it
We start quickly and back our craftsmanship with a 1-year warranty.
Get Free Quote
Get a Free Quote to Fix Your Patio
Tell us what you are seeing and where. We will take a look, tell you what is going on underneath, and get back to you fast with a free written quote.