My paver patio took 3 weekends and still isn't level

I tried to do a 12x16 paver patio in my backyard in Austin and thought I could knock it out in a weekend. After 2 days just digging and hauling 3 tons of base rock, I realized my mistake. Then the compactor rental broke down on Saturday, so I lost a whole day waiting for a replacement. It's been 3 weekends now and I still have low spots where water pools after a rain. Has anyone else had to redo their base because they rushed the grading?

3 comments

3 Comments

wells.karen27d ago

Oh man, that brings back memories of my first retaining wall project. I spent a whole Saturday leveling the base and then my neighbor's dog ran through it and knocked everything sideways. Had to redo the whole thing the next weekend and it still had a dip in the middle that collected leaves and water for months. Did you use a string line and a level across the whole area before you started laying the pavers?

lee.drew27d ago

Oh man, tell me about it! I did use a string line but I was so proud of myself I forgot to check the level again after I tamped everything down. Ended up with a wall that looked straight from the front but had a sneaky lean to the right. My buddy called it the Leaning Tower of Paver-sa for like six months. Still cracks me up when I think about it.

bennett.nora26d ago

Three days of rain and a whole new set of problems later, I swear every project teaches you something weird like that. @wells.karen It's funny how the smallest thing, like a dog running through your work or forgetting a level check, just throws off the whole thing. Really makes you notice how life is just a bunch of small details that add up to something big, and a tiny mistake can mess it all up.