The Brew Cabin

Hi, I am finishing off the job started 20 years ago by a former owner. The problem is that they laid the pavers with little if any drainage and they use a basket weave pattern where all bricks have a gap of half and inch separating them. I would like to know how I can:
1 relay to improve drainage
2 relay to remove the gap between the bricks
Has any one got some simple methods of achieving the task.

Thanks Dianne

Hi Dianne,

assuming you can get your hands on extra bricks to complete the project, I would take the lot up and re-lay from scratch. You need to lay the pavers with a fall, so that they drain towards a gully or other drainage point, and I'm not too keen on the wide gap between adjacent pavers - they should be laid hand-tight to their neighbours with a gap not exceeding 6mm.

Lift the lot and set aside somewhere out of the way. Re-grade your bedding layer, adding fresh bedding sand if necessary, to create the requisite falls and crossfalls, and then re-lay your pavers. As you're eliminating a gap, you'll probably find yourself short of pavers, which is why I mentioned being able to get hold of extra stocks. If you can't get an exact match, you may be able to use the new bricks to create a soldier edging and then rely on the old bricks to pave the body of the pavement.

Does that help?