Repair Sunken, Loose, or Uneven Pavers

A. Finished Project Specification

Deliverable: one repaired localized paver section in which the underlying base, bedding, edge, or drainage cause has been identified and corrected; base aggregate and bedding sand rebuilt to the original specification's thickness and slope; pavers reinstalled in the original or approved pattern with damaged units replaced; edge restraint and joint sand restored; the repair compacted using the approved protective mat and pass sequence; and the finished section inspected for evenness, slope, rocking, pattern match, edge support, and drainage.

B. Component and Material Schedule

Component	Source	Specification	Notes
Base aggregate	Matching original base-aggregate specification	Same gradation and compacted thickness as original installation	Confirm against installation or readiness records
Bedding sand	Matching original bedding specification	Same material and thickness as original installation	Screed from accepted, rebuilt base elevation
Field pavers	Original units, pattern-ordered stack	Reinstalled in original position where undamaged	Discard cracked, chipped, or rocking units below minimum stable size
Replacement pavers	Matching lot or documented compatible product	Same thickness, finish, and color range as surrounding field	Required only for units damaged during removal or found defective
Edge restraint (if disturbed)	Matching original edge-restraint type	Fastened into compacted base per Chapter 10	Replace only the disturbed section unless the restraint has failed more broadly
Joint or polymeric sand	Matching original joint-sand product	Installed and activated per manufacturer instructions	Confirm compatibility with surrounding field's original product

C. Diagnostic Reference Checklist

• Original installation or readiness records: confirms original base thickness, bedding thickness, slope, edge-restraint type, and joint material.
• Site drainage plan (if available): confirms whether the affected area sits on or near an intended discharge path.
• Utility records: confirms whether a utility line or trench underlies or borders the affected area before excavation begins.
• Weather and cure records for prior work: confirms whether recent frost, saturation, or a prior repair's incomplete cure could explain the defect.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Cause identification	A probable cause is recorded for every defect, or the condition is referred to a qualified professional when the cause cannot be confirmed by inspection
Base rebuild	Rebuilt base matches the original specification's thickness, gradation, and compaction, verified across the full marked affected area
Bedding rescreed	Rescreeded bedding matches the original specification's thickness and slope and is undisturbed at the time pavers are reinstalled
Pattern match	Reinstalled pavers match the original pattern, bond lines, and joint width, with cracked, chipped, or unstable units replaced
Surface plane match	The repaired section's finished surface aligns with the surrounding undisturbed pavers within the same tolerance used for original installation, with no rocking unit under load
Edge and drainage	Edge restraint is fully seated in compacted base and the repaired section drains toward the original discharge path with no new ponding
Documentation	The repair worksheet records the defect, probable cause, correction performed, materials used, compaction passes, and inspection result

E. Diagnosis — Record the Defect and Identify the Cause

1. Record the defect, location, settlement, rocking, heave, water, traffic, edge condition, and history. Complete the Defect Record above and photograph the visible condition from at least two angles.
2. Mark the full affected area beyond visibly displaced units. Probe and visually inspect adjoining pavers for early rocking or shifting, and extend the marked boundary to include any unit showing early signs of the same defect.
3. Identify the likely cause as base settlement, soft subgrade, washout, root movement, edge failure, pipe trench, frost, or unresolved. Compare visible evidence, such as nearby erosion, root growth, a known trench location, or edge-restraint displacement, against the recorded history.
4. Stop work for major soil movement, utility failure, structural settlement, or widespread drainage problems. Apply the Critical Safety Cue and Code Alert above, and record the referral if a stop-work condition is present.

F. Removal — Extract Pavers and Expose the Base

1. Photograph the pattern and number pavers for reinstallation. Mark each paver's position and orientation on the photograph and, where practical, on the unit itself with a temporary marking crayon.
2. Remove joint sand from the affected area. Use the joint-sand removal tool and stiff broom, working from the marked boundary inward.
3. Lift pavers using approved extraction tools. Use the paver puller, flat bars, or suction lifter, keeping extraction tools clear of adjacent stable units.
4. Stack units in pattern order. Stack on a stable, clean surface away from the excavation, preserving the numbered sequence recorded above.
5. Remove bedding sand to expose the base. Remove bedding sand across the full marked affected area, not only the area directly under displaced pavers.

G. Base Inspection and Correction

1. Inspect base thickness, contamination, erosion, compaction, moisture, and edge support. Compare findings against the original specification recorded in Section C, and record the deviation.
2. Excavate failed material to stable support. Remove soft, contaminated, eroded, or uncompacted base material until stable, supportive material is reached.
3. Correct drainage or edge-restraint causes. If diagnosis in Section E identified a drainage or edge-restraint cause, correct it now using the Chapter 13 and Chapter 10 procedures before rebuilding the base.

H. Base and Bedding Rebuild

1. Install approved base aggregate in compacted lifts. Follow the Chapter 5 lift-thickness and compaction procedure, using the material specified in Section B.
2. Verify elevation and slope. Check the rebuilt base against the original specification and the surrounding accepted base using a straightedge or laser level.
3. Install and screed new bedding material. Follow the Chapter 6 screed procedure, matching the original bedding thickness and slope.

I. Reinstallation

1. Reinstall pavers in the original or approved pattern. Return numbered units to their original position and orientation from Section F.
2. Replace damaged units. Substitute any cracked, chipped, or unstable unit with a matching replacement from Section B.
3. Check joints and surface plane. Verify joint width matches the surrounding field and the surface plane aligns with adjoining undisturbed pavers within the Section D tolerance.
4. Reinstall or repair edge restraint. Restore edge restraint per the Chapter 10 procedure wherever it was disturbed or identified as a cause in Section G.

J. Compaction, Joints, and Final Inspection

1. Compact the repair using the approved mat and passes. Follow the Chapter 10 compaction sequence, using a protective mat over the repaired pavers.
2. Refill joints and activate polymeric sand where used. Follow the Chapter 10 joint-sand and activation procedure, confirming weather and moisture conditions before activation.
3. Inspect evenness, slope, rocking, pattern, edge support, and drainage. Check every item in the Section D acceptance standards table.
4. Recheck after weather or use where specified. Where the original defect involved drainage or traffic loading, schedule and record a follow-up inspection after the next significant rain or period of use.
5. Document cause and correction. Complete the repair worksheet with the recorded cause, correction performed, materials used, and final inspection result.