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If your patio pavers have seen better days, then it’s time to make some changes. Pavers can last for a while if done properly but that's the trick. Often when people DIY laying pavers they try to do it as fast as possible and skip a few steps.

Here are some issues you may face when DIYing laying pavers.

Sinking Pavers

Sunken pavers are not only bad to look at, but they can also be very dangerous. Pavers can sink due to poor drainage — a forethought most DIYer don't have. You need to address this issue quickly — laying pavers with a drainage plan in place.

It’s also possible you didn’t prepare the base properly. The base layer is important for patio construction. It's the foundation after all. Also, remember, the base needs to be larger than your planned patio. And make sure you excavate deep enough.

Use enough crushed stone or sand and grade the stone properly to form a solid base.

If your pavers are sinking, you might not have compacted the base material correctly. This can also happen over time because of weather and land movement.

Trip Hazards

Uneven pavers are big hazards. This again has to do with the construction of the base, ground compaction, or both.

Extra space between pavers is caused by a weak base, thanks to lack of compaction — often starting with the sinking paver problem mentioned above. It causes the pavers to shift and separate over time leaving a nice spot for you to trip over.

Leaning Edge

When laying pavers for a patio, you need to make sure you have a solid edging system in your construction plan. The pavers along the edge can start to separate from the patio and start to lean without it. An edging system keeps pavers in their place.

How to Avoid These Issues When Laying Pavers?

Leave laying pavers to the professionals. My dad DIYed laying pavers a couple years ago. He made a walkway out to and underneath some trees in his backyard. Don't get me wrong — it looked great to start, but over time everything shifted and separated. It still works but it just isn't pretty anymore.

He probably should have just hired someone to do it for him. If I ever do patio pavers, I plan to find someone who has been in the business for a long time. By choosing a company, they will install the paver patio right from start and I won't have to worry about DIY failing it.

So, do your research. Check out online reviews; they offer great insight into construction companies and what they have to offer. And if you have any questions related to your paver patio, ask the professionals like Royal Covers. They can give you advice and cover or enclose your patio to help prevent further damage.