Rant: My $500 paver patio cracked after one winter

I put down a 10x12 paver patio myself last August, did the gravel base, sand, the whole deal. By February I had three cracked pavers and a dip where water pools up. My neighbor did the same thing the year before and his still looks perfect. So what's the deal, is it the freeze-thaw cycle here in Ohio or did I just screw up the base? Has anyone else had a patio fall apart that fast?

2 comments

2 Comments

nancyn6910d agoMost Upvoted

Oh man I put in extra gravel and it held up fine!

sage3089d ago

You said "put in extra gravel and it held up fine" but nobody's asking what kind of gravel you're using. I put river rock on my drive last summer and it was like walking on marbles for three months. The rounded stuff doesn't lock together at all. You need crushed angular gravel with sharp edges so it packs down tight. I learned that the hard way when my truck sank in up to the axles after one rain.