33
votes
How can I lift a sunken paver in the middle of my driveway / patio / walkway / sidewalk?
I've done it two ways. Take a coat hanger and bend a 1" 90 degree at the end of a straightened out hanger. Insert the bent edge down into the seem and twist the hanger so the 1" piece turns ...
- 78.8k
23
votes
How can I lift a sunken paver in the middle of my driveway / patio / walkway / sidewalk?
Using a crowbar or screwdriver etc. lift the pavers to the left of the sunken ones first. Lift the ones numbered 1 and 2 in the image:
Then you should have enough room to dig out the sunken ones.
- 642
19
votes
How can I lift a sunken paver in the middle of my driveway / patio / walkway / sidewalk?
I've recently seen a video but can't find the link. Consider a Flexible Joint Knife, or the equivalent in a fairly wide spatula. Get a pair of them, to enable uniform lifting.
Slice from each edge of ...
- 10.7k
14
votes
How can I lift a sunken paver in the middle of my driveway / patio / walkway / sidewalk?
Try using a pressure washer and a wet/dry vac to erode the sand and debris in the gap between the pavers. That'll hopefully get you to a place where at least the paver block can wobble freely, which ...
- 27.9k
13
votes
How can I lift a sunken paver in the middle of my driveway / patio / walkway / sidewalk?
Just to add to the various hints, and complete the picture of available techniques, professionals who do this a lot would use a vacuum slab lifter, something like this:
Source: Express Tools
However ...
13
votes
Accepted
How should I install rope lights across a stair?
Fix it to the underside of the step nose so that it illuminates the riser and the deck below the step.
You could possibly drill through the nose and install light pipes (pieces of PMMA, or other clear,...
- 19k
12
votes
How should I install rope lights across a stair?
An example of under-the-nose lighting. This was installed shortly after a friend broke her foot in someone else's garage when she missed a single step between bays.
Garage steps:
Bottom view:
Bottom ...
- 1,522
8
votes
Accepted
Where can I find information on making footbridges with a long span?
The Scout Pioneering website contains information on how to build several bridges. I am guessing that most of these are more complicated than what you had in mind, so if you want something simpler, ...
- 281
8
votes
Accepted
Is this gravel stabilizing underlament an effective product?
Yes, it is used in construction somewhat commonly. There are a couple of different situations where I have personally be involved with its use:
Soil stabilization for large fills - In areas where the ...
- 230
8
votes
How to protect outdoor low-voltage cable over concrete walkway?
I would remove a 12" square of sod from either side of the walkway and dig down to force a tube from one side to the other.
When we had the drive tarmaced, I put a tube under just in case. Came ...
- 26.3k
8
votes
How to protect outdoor low-voltage cable over concrete walkway?
Your best bet is to install a conduit under the walk. There are various ways to do this. Dig a trench on each side of the walk and hammer a piece of 3/4" pipe with caps on each end under the ...
- 78.8k
6
votes
How can I lift a sunken paver in the middle of my driveway / patio / walkway / sidewalk?
What works for me is using two pruning saws.
Place one in the gap on each side of the paver, then twist each one so the teeth grab the paver. Then lift.
Easy.
- 1,458
5
votes
How should I install rope lights across a stair?
If you simply run it along the edge of the walkway, the step is obvious from the sudden vertical section in the edge of the walkway lighting.
Depending on details we can't see because you haven't ...
- 202k
4
votes
Is wiring laying alongside an attic access opening a code violation or safety concern?
This sounds like an issue from a physical damage standpoint
While the NM cable only needs to be protected by guard strips if it's within 6' of a scuttle hole in your case, as per NEC 320.23(A) (...
- 81.8k
4
votes
Is this gravel stabilizing underlament an effective product?
There was an episode of This Old House where they used it to make a patch of grass that could be driven over. They filled the holes with soil, and then put sod over the top. I'm not sure if this is ...
- 3,452
4
votes
Should Cement Patio be Poured Level with Foundation?
I would pour it below the foundation level for several reasons.
First if the same level it would be easy for a heavy rain to end up inside.
In my current state and 2 others I have lived in the ...
- 102k
3
votes
Accepted
Replace septic system before failure?
Like you I recently bought a house on a septic system that also had some storm water drainage issues, so I'm answering not as an expert, but as someone with recently-acquired insight.
How seriously ...
- 514
3
votes
Is this gravel stabilizing underlament an effective product?
I haven't used it & only saw it here or there, but a whopping 1-minute of familiarization showed it has some pretty awesome claims. However, it would seem to be mostly for water management. If you ...
- 10.3k
3
votes
Allow downspout discharge to cross a sidewalk in a freezing climate?
The preferred solution that I've seen is to discharge the gutter through a couple inch air gap into a catch basin that outputs into the underground drain. The air gap allows for water to drain into ...
- 42.7k
2
votes
Allow downspout discharge to cross a sidewalk in a freezing climate?
One option to consider is adding a heating wire to each pipe, perhaps extending into the bottom of the downspout. That way water can flow away and not over the sidewalk. The heater does not need to ...
- 12.3k
2
votes
How deep do I dig to install a walkway when there is already a trench that has some vegetation?
You don't need to go deeper than what you need for your design. Remove any substantial exposed roots on the starting surface (say pencil diameter or larger), mainly to level it and prevent voids if ...
- 6,068
2
votes
Replace septic system before failure?
I would urge second opinions. The company which pumped and inspected recommended changing quite a few things, including my concrete tank. It turned out that after breaking the tank and pulling it ...
- 1,008
2
votes
How can I lift a sunken paver in the middle of my driveway / patio / walkway / sidewalk?
How about using some white glue (or other water-soluable) glue to attach a bolt/handle to the face of the paver? Once the repair is done, leave a soaking-wet rag on the glue overnight and wipe it off.
...
- 1,261
2
votes
Accepted
Masonry Repair - Paver Steps Loose
Scrape as much of that dried glue off as you can, then use thinset mortar applied with a 1/2" notched trowel.
- 35.1k
2
votes
How long to let a concrete walkway cure
That's built as solid as my parents' driveway. As a walkway, I'd say it's solid and probably ready for use now, but curing it for the additional 4 days could make it more durable and less likely to ...
- 1,339
2
votes
Is wiring laying alongside an attic access opening a code violation or safety concern?
Easiest way to protect them is to fasten a board to the floor/joists on either side. I would paint the boards a contrasting colour so they are highly visible.
Slightly harder, but probably even ...
- 3,654
2
votes
How can I lift a sunken paver in the middle of my driveway / patio / walkway / sidewalk?
In this video Mike Haduck shows how he fixes pavers in his area (IIUC, he's been a stone mason for many years) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioJsUnUDvok
Basically he uses two screw drivers to get ...
- 21
2
votes
How can I lift a sunken paver in the middle of my driveway / patio / walkway / sidewalk?
If you have even a single spare paver (as I do) then drilling in and using an appropriate plug can allow you to attach a screw eye and lift one straight out. After that the others should be fairly ...
- 6,063
2
votes
Contractor not ready to put gravel for concrete walkway
One of the reasons for gravel is to create a barrier between the soil and the concrete so the water from the concrete doesn't absorb into the soil. You can eliminate the gravel but would need to ...
- 78.8k
1
vote
Is wiring laying alongside an attic access opening a code violation or safety concern?
Technically I don't believe these violate the codes as they are written but they do seem to in spirit.
If any of these are bothering you, it is up to you to make them safer. Add runways or shields ...
- 81
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible