Why is my Patio Sinking?

Patios, especially stone patios, are a popular home addition because they are resilient, beautiful, and easy to repair. That said, one of the downfalls to a stone patios is that they are susceptible to sinking over time. There are a lot of reasons for your patio to sink, and figuring out why it is happening will help you to prevent future damage. So, if you’re wondering why your patio is sinking, here are a few of the possible culprits.

Erosion

Water erosion is one of the most common reasons for a patio to sink or dip over time. Below all of the foundation gravel and sand is all-natural soil. This soil can be affected by water erosion causing a dip in your patio. Along the same lines, the joint sand used between your pavers can erode as well, increasing the amount of water which flows below the pavers. Once water is below your patio, it can freeze and unfreeze—called frost heave—leading to increased un-leveling of your patio.

Tree Roots

Trees or large shrubs planted too close to your patio will find the gravel and sand base of your patio a great place to spread their roots. A tree’s root system in particular can grow to be twice as large around as the tree’s canopy. Additionally, if you once had a tree near your patio, but it has long since died off, the sinking in your patio could be due to the decomposition of this tree’s roots.

Shifting Foundation

Your patio will be built on some form of a foundation. If you went with an experienced Maryland patio contractor, they most likely used some form of gravel base, and then a sand layer as a foundation. Over time, these foundations can shift. This shifting is simply due to the fact that the soil below the foundation gradually shifts over time due to a multitude of natural reasons.

What to Do about a Sinking Patio

If you’d like to try the fix yourself, carefully remove the pavers in the area of the sinking with a flat-head screwdriver or similar tool. Then, remove the sand base so you can begin to assess what is causing the issue. Typically, the fix will be to add additional foundation gravel and sand to level out the base and then return the pavers to their original position. When it comes to patio repair, we would strongly suggest contacting an experienced patio repair company in your area and let them fix the issue.

If your patio is sinking, for whatever reason, we contact an experienced Maryland patio construction company so they can assess the situation. North American Deck and Patio, LLC is a licensed and experience patio contractor in Maryland who can help you with new construction of patios or patio repairs. For a free consultation, give North American a call at 866-535-1961 or fill out the form on our website today!

“Jim at North American patio and deck's came up with the most ingenious way of utilizing our small very slanted very water drained environment and turned it into a virtual oasis. Making this deck the envy of all our ambitions and gem for the community.”

– C. Cross