Repair & sealing
Paver Repair & Sealing in Walnut Creek
Most paver problems are fixable without starting over: the pavers are lifted, the base underneath is corrected, and the same pavers are reset and re-sanded. Angi lists paver repair at $7–$30+ per square foot and cleaning and sealing at $1–$3+ (Angi; Angi).
If a lifted edge is a trip hazard on a walkway or driveway, call so it can be looked at sooner.
Symptom, cause, fix
| What you see | Usual cause | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| A dip or sunken area | Thin or poorly compacted base, or water washing out the base | Lift, add and compact base, re-screed bedding, reset, re-sand |
| Pavers lifted in a ridge | Tree roots | Lift, cut or root-barrier with an arborist's advice, re-base, reset |
| Pavers spreading at the edge | Missing or failed edge restraint | Re-set the edge course and install a proper restraint |
| Weeds and ant hills in joints | Joint sand washed out or too low | Clean joints, refill with joint or polymeric sand, compact |
| White haze | Efflorescence (salts rising from the concrete) | Often fades on its own; efflorescence cleaner if it persists |
| Oil or rust stains | Cars, planters, fertilizer | Spot cleaning, or replace individual pavers |
How re-leveling works
- Lift. Pavers in the low area are pulled and stacked in order so the pattern goes back the same way.
- Find the cause. Wet base, roots, a broken irrigation line or a thin base; fixing the cause is the point.
- Re-base. Base rock is added and compacted in lifts; bedding sand is screeded to match the surrounding grade.
- Reset and compact. Pavers go back, are plate-compacted to seat them, and joints are filled and compacted again (ICPI).
When to re-lay the whole area
If dips are everywhere, the edges have spread on every side, or the original base turns out to be only a few inches of sand, spot repairs will keep failing. Re-laying means pulling the pavers, rebuilding the base to ICPI minimums (4 in for patios, 6 in for driveways) and reusing the pavers if they are in good shape. What a correct base looks like.
Sealing: worth it or not?
Reasons to seal
- Deeper, "wet look" color if you like it
- Easier cleanup of spills and stains
- Joint-stabilizing sealers help hold sand in place
Reasons to skip it
- It needs redoing: up to ~5 years solvent-based, ~2 years water-based
- A poor application can haze or look blotchy
- Never seal permeable pavers
Angi puts cleaning and sealing at $1–$3+ per sq ft, around $300–$550+ for a 200 sq ft patio (Angi).
Pavers sinking or shifting? Request a Quote or (925) 291-4500
Related: installation guide · cost · choosing an installer
Sources for this page
- Angi — Patio Repair Cost
- Angi — Paver Cleaning and Sealing Cost
- ICPI / CMHA Tech Spec 2 — Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements
Costs are published third-party ranges (national unless labeled Bay Area). Real quotes can land below or above them.
FAQ
Repair questions
How much does paver repair cost?
Angi lists paver repairs at $7–$30+ per sq ft, higher than other patio repairs because damaged pavers are often replaced rather than patched; a 100 sq ft repair area averages around $1,000 (Angi).
Can sunken pavers be fixed without replacing them?
Usually. Pavers are lifted, the bedding and base underneath are corrected and compacted, and the same pavers are reset and re-sanded. Mudjacking, which is used under concrete slabs, is not how paver fields are leveled.
Should I seal my pavers?
It is optional. Sealing can deepen color, resist stains and help lock joint sand, but it needs reapplying (solvent-based up to about five years, water-based around two, per Angi) and can look patchy if done poorly. Permeable pavers should not be sealed.
Next step
Planning a paver project?
Share the size, what is there now and your timing. A local installer can walk the site and price it properly.