Pavers can sink for many reasons. Here are 4 of the most common.
Poor preparation
The base material layer for your pavers is a critical element. Installing pavers on bare soil can cause several problems. They should be laid on a solid, level base made of compacted sand or gravel to prevent them from shifting.
Inadequate compaction
The layer of sand should be properly compacted before the pavers are laid. If not, the sand will settle over time and the pavers will drop.
Poor drainage
If paved areas do not have proper drainage, the area underneath can be washed away causing the paving to sink. This is common underneath down pipes if a soak well hasn’t been installed. Soak wells allow water to seep away without causing damage to the surrounding areas.
Ants
If there are mounds of sand around your sunken paving, you have an ant problem. The ants move the sand around and will have to be dealt with before you have your paving repaired; otherwise, it will just happen again.
Sinking pavers should be fixed quickly as they can be a trip hazard and cause serious injury. The problem can also get worse, so it is best to sort out a small paving problem, rather than waiting until it becomes a big one.
