How do I repair a heaved paver walkway after a New Brunswick winter?

Repairing a heaved paver walkway after a New Brunswick winter involves lifting the affected pavers, relevelling the bedding sand, recompacting the base if necessary, and resetting the pavers with fresh polymeric sand — a process that most homeowners can handle for minor heaving, though extensive damage may indicate a base failure that requires professional intervention.

Wait until spring thaw is complete before repairing. In most of NB, this means late April to mid-May — the ground needs to be fully thawed and surface water from snowmelt needs to have drained away. Repairing while frost is still in the ground is pointless because the remaining frost will continue pushing pavers as it melts. You want stable, dry conditions before starting.

For minor heaving (pavers raised less than 1/2 inch), the repair is straightforward. Remove the affected pavers using two flat pry bars or a paver extractor tool — slide them under opposite edges and lift evenly. Scrape away the old bedding sand beneath the heaved area. Check the gravel base below — if it's still firm and level, simply add fresh bedding sand (concrete sand or stone dust), screed it level using a straight board, and reset the pavers. Tap them into place with a rubber mallet, confirm they're level with surrounding pavers using a straightedge, and fill joints with fresh polymeric sand.

For moderate heaving (pavers raised 1/2 to 1 inch), the bedding sand and possibly the upper layer of gravel base have likely been disturbed. Remove pavers from the entire affected area plus 6–12 inches beyond the visible damage. Scrape out all bedding sand. If the gravel base has soft spots or voids, add fresh granular A material and compact it with a hand tamper or small plate compactor. Re-screed 1 inch of bedding sand, reset pavers, and apply polymeric sand. This level of repair costs $5 to $10 per square foot if hiring a professional in NB.

For severe heaving (pavers raised over 1 inch, multiple areas affected), the base itself has likely failed — usually because the original base was too shallow for NB's frost depth, poor drainage is allowing water to saturate the base, or clay soil is migrating into the gravel. This requires a more extensive repair: remove all pavers from the affected section, excavate and rebuild the base to proper NB depth (12–16 inches), install geotextile fabric if missing, ensure drainage is adequate, and reinstall the pavers. This is typically a job for a professional, costing $15 to $25 per square foot — approaching the cost of new installation.

Prevent future heaving by addressing root causes. Ensure the walkway has adequate surface drainage slope (1/8 inch per foot minimum). Check that downspouts and runoff sources aren't directing water under the walkway. Confirm that polymeric sand is intact in all joints — missing joint fill allows water to saturate the base directly. An annual spring inspection and touch-up after NB's winter — typically a 1–2 hour maintenance task — keeps minor issues from becoming major repairs.

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