How do you fix a backyard patio with mismatched paver sizes?
Modern replacement pavers are often slightly larger than older ones, making them impossible to slide into tight gaps without cutting. Beginners also face backbreaking physical strain trying to hand-tamp and level the ground, leading to uneven surfaces that are demoralizing to fix.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1removing deteriorating pavers to extend garden beds instead of replacing them
- 2watching more tutorial videos to learn proper DIY techniques
- 3hiring professionals to replace the entire patio floor
- 4DIY the repair or replacement to save money
- 5Build a floating deck using deck foundation blocks instead of posts
- 6Make the deck smaller or replace only the decking boards if framing allows
- 7Check underneath to inspect for broken or damaged joists
- 8letting the grass grow up to the brick
- 9Dig out the loose material using a flathead screwdriver and shop vac, then sweep in polymeric sand and mist it with water.
- 10Remove all the current grout using specialized tools and redo the entire area with new material.
- 11Digging up the pavers manually
- 12Trying to clean mortar off the individual pavers
- 13Considering replacing the patio with poured concrete instead of pavers
- 14Pressure washing the pavers
- 15Checking if the stones are cracked or kiln-dried
- 16Relaying stones upside down to mask chipped edges
- 17Adding tamped sand and new grouts for a temporary fix
- 18scraping out old joint sand and refilling with fresh polymeric sand
- 19redoing the base layers and relaying the pavers
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Now I’m wondering what are my options as the pavers have settled a bit more and the sand between has gaps.”source ↗
“It feels daunting! Any advice on tackling this would be extremely appreciated.”source ↗
“The condition of the pavers had deteriorated over the past 3 years, and parts had sunken in. It didn't drain correctly, tripping hazards all over the place.”source ↗
“I have young kids and this back patio has basically been off limits unsupervised since we moved here.”source ↗
“A small area had a sand base, but the rest of the pavers were laid straight on to the dirt and filled in with cement or something.”source ↗
“as first timers it’s very difficult to tamp/ level and the original pavers being 7.5 inches wide vs the 8 inch pavers we can find easily at local hardware stores, it is difficult to slide the replacements in.”source ↗
“honestly was kind of demoralizing how difficult and backbreaking it was. I think we laid like 6 pavers but were sad about how unlevel they were.”source ↗
“The mortar/grout/cement (not sure what’s right) in between our pavers is starting to crumble. I want to try to find a solution before the winter but not sure how to repair/what to use.”source ↗
“The deck is one of the main things we're needing to fix sooner than later.”source ↗
“there's this section in the middle that bends/bounces.”source ↗
“My brother got a quote for $6k for a whole deck replacement but it's a bit out of our budget atm.”source ↗
“Got the exact same issue smh”source ↗
“Old deck was built into the dirt and has rotted out.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 16How to fix a dead lawn on a new house without experience
- 2Sinkhole appeared in my yard near the house
- 2Cracked polymeric sand and weeds in a new paver patio