Repairing Sunken Pavers on a Mortared Patio with Concrete Cap Stones

Pavers sinking after 3 years due to inadequate base compaction and regular sand joints. Concrete cap stones complicate access. Here's the realistic repair path.

Root Cause

Insufficient base compaction. Sand (not polymeric) washed out. No easy fix exists.

Repair Options

If Pavers Are Mortar-Set (Your Case)

1. Remove sunken pavers
2. Chisel out old mortar (min 1/2" depth)
3. Verify/establish stable sub-base: 3-4" compacted granite dust/gravel OR 3" concrete slab
4. Reset pavers
5. Regrout joints with mortar
6. Edge restraint critical to prevent "flare out"

Alternative Joint Fillers

• Permatill: Expanded shale—won't splash, too large for shoe pickup
• Polymeric sand: For dry-laid pavers only

Cap Stone Challenge

You may not need to remove all cap stones—only those bordering the repair zone. Work incrementally.

Reference

Paver repair guide: PaverSearch

Hard Truth

This is labor-intensive. Consider whether full professional reconstruction with proper base is more cost-effective long-term.