My landscaper doing the pavers messed up, and now the pavers are higher than the existing asphalt driveway. The pavers (2 3/8" in hight) are sitting 3 inches higher than asphalt, making it a tripp hazard. Also this will cause the rain water to sit there and/or go under the pavers.
He is now suggesting to put down quickrete patch asphalt mix to level up the driveway. From what I have read, putting down a cold asphalt mix wont bond properly to an existing driveway. So I spoke to him again and he is saying that he can warm up both the existing driveway surface and the asphalt mix when leveling it. This will allow the water to get on the pavers, and the slope on it will allow the water to go towards the grass.
I feel that the contractor should create a small trench where asphalt meets the pavers, install gutters to guide the water to the lawn or away from the house. And to fix the trip hazard, he should find a solution like allows a smooth transition.
Please suggest what should be the right way to fix this poorly executed project?
by Nish11ob
16 Comments
What the
I would want it to naturally slope into the asphalt, but I would want that done properly. I also think I would want some type of board tile.
Pull up the pavers, fix the base, rescreed sand, relay pavers.
Everything else is just avoiding the mistake and might be a chance to charge you.
Those aren’t pavers
It’s 100% on him. Make him fix the work he did. That’s it. Either that or a full refund. Take your pick.
If only there was a product like aquaphalt that could remedy this non-issue. Alas. Lots of comments about making pavers lower. Not really sure if putting pavers at a lower height then the driveway so you can drain all the water towards your house and have it sitting against your foundation wall is the way i’d go about things but listen to your heart. I’m seeing not a lot of educated comments. On a serious note as long as there is 2% slope away from your house the paver installation looks good to me. Can make a tiny sloped ramp towards the driveway with a product like aquaphalt to bridge the elevation change. That is exactly what I would do as an expensive and professional hardscaper. The paver work here looks fine to me from the single picture. Mitigating the slope the way the contractor suggested sounds great. This project simply looks unfinished NOT poorly executed. If you dont trust your hardscaper, and you are not personally educated on the correct way to do things I’m not 100% sure going to reddit is the solution.
Edit: I just keep re-reading post and noticing more red flags on your end, Your hardscaper on the otherhand seems lovely and i’d like to buy him a beer he does beautiful work. I’m gonna dissect the post a bit to address things on a point by point basis
you: “My landscaper doing the pavers messed up, and now the pavers are higher than the existing asphalt driveway. The pavers (2 3/8” in hight) are sitting 3 inches higher than asphalt, making it a tripp hazard. Also this will cause the rain water to sit there and/or go under the pavers.
1, landscaper did not mess up. you want stuff close to your house higher then stuff farther away, this stops your house being flooded, 2% slope away from your house is building code here. Trip hazard can be addressed with aquaphalt or how your contractor reccomended, they sound both professional and the quality of the work shows they are. (Note the hardscaping border edge, the clean cuts around the pipe + small retaining wall + the topcap cut on the corner of the hardscape. All small signs of a professional hardscaper. In regards to water going under the pavers, Ya dude this is how they are designed, It’s not a pool, water is supposed to drain through the hardscaping, too the hard underlaying material below –> and then drain away from your house due to the 2% slope mentioned.
you: “I feel that the contractor should create a small trench where asphalt meets the pavers, install gutters to guide the water to the lawn or away from the house. And to fix the trip hazard, he should find a solution like allows a smooth transition.”
2. why do you want a trench in your yard? correctly designed hardscaping with slopes will wick water away from your dwelling, let the professional do his job. also how he suggested fixing will be a smooth transition.
Edit: for everyone saying this is poorly done work, I would love you to post pictures of your own work so we have something to compare against.
The solution is to dig out the existing concrete and repour to match the pavers. Of course now the yard won’t drain right, so regrade the yard. Now the yard isn’t right for the house, so rebuild the house. There is a chance the house thew off the pavers tho. So, relay the pavers.
Nothing poorly executed about this project except your opinion and poor attitude. Did you discuss the two meeting level, prior to work being started?
Edit: the earth is the earth keep in mind
How do you misspell the word trip
This looks like a job for cold patch!
Patching over the asphalt doesn’t work. Especially in Canada.
We need more info. WHY is it high? Did he do a bad job or is he trying to solve a different issue and this is the trade off? Wed need a lot more details on the layout, grade, etc and what the two of you communicated about.
Saw cut the asphalt back a metre or so, dig it out and install new hotmix ramped up to the pavers.
Wow, talk about a major screw up. I hope you have not paid them yet. The corrective action is to pull up all the pavers, lower their height hopefully by reducing the underlayment, then re-install them at the correct height.
no worries, won’t be able to notice from the ISS.
Looks to me the asphalt is lower than the pavers