Re-leveling settled pavers
Why pavers sink (it is almost always the base, not the stone), how a proper re-level is done, and what the Niagara freeze-thaw cycle does to an under-compacted base. See the re-leveling guide.
St. Catharines · Niagara interlock paver restoration guide
Interlock paver restoration in St. Catharines.
A practical guide to restoring the interlock you already have. Settled pavers re-leveled at the base, joints re-sanded so weeds stop, and the whole surface cleaned and sealed. Honest 2026 cost ranges, no fabricated numbers.
- Base repairthe real fix for settling
- Polymeric sandlocks joints and stops weeds
- Restore firstoften a fraction of replacement
Interlock guide 2026
What this guide covers
Everything you need to plan an interlock restoration
Polymeric sand and joints
Why regular sand washes out and weeds move in, how polymeric binder works, and the right sequence for re-sanding a full surface. See the joint sand guide.
Cleaning and sealing
The clean-first rule, how sealer type affects colour, UV protection, and salt resistance, and why the 3 to 5 year refresh cycle exists. See the cleaning and sealing guide.
Cost ranges
Illustrative 2026 per-square-foot ranges for re-leveling, re-sanding, and cleaning and sealing, plus the restore-versus-replace comparison that saves most homeowners thousands. See the cost guide.
Common questions
Why did my interlock sink, do weeds mean replacement, how long does sealing last, and whether your old interlock is worth saving. See the FAQ.
Why St. Catharines interlock settles
A large part of St. Catharines sits on clay-heavy soil. Clay holds water, expands when it freezes, and contracts when it thaws. A Niagara winter runs that cycle repeatedly, and each pass works on any weakness in the base beneath the pavers. A base that was rushed during the original install, or one where drainage was not set up to move water away from the house, tends to show its problems within ten to fifteen years as sunken spots, heaved sections, or a driveway that looks wavy across its whole length.
The pavers themselves are rarely the problem. Concrete interlock pavers are durable and often outlast the base by decades. The restoration case is almost always: fix the base, re-lay the original stone, and re-sand the joints. That is a fraction of what a full tear-out and replacement costs.
A note on how this guide works
This guide is published by Living Websites, a Niagara-based web-services company. The information here draws on publicly available knowledge about interlock installation, polymeric joint sand, sealer products, and typical Ontario contractor pricing. It is not affiliated with any specific interlock contractor, and cost ranges are illustrative typical-Niagara figures, not quotes.
Before hiring any contractor, confirm they carry liability insurance and WSIB coverage, and insist on a written itemized estimate before any work begins. See the contractor-vetting note in the footer of every page on this guide.
Questions Niagara homeowners ask about interlock
These answers apply broadly to interlock paver restoration in the St. Catharines and Niagara region. Confirm specifics with a licensed local contractor before any work begins. See all 6 questions →
Why did my interlock pavers sink?
Almost always the base under them, not the pavers themselves. Over time the bedding can wash out, a tree root can lift and then decay under a section, or a base that was not properly compacted during the original install finally gives. In St. Catharines, clay soil holding water through a freeze-thaw winter accelerates all of these. The pavers are usually perfectly reusable once the base is rebuilt properly. See the re-leveling guide for a full breakdown.
Do weeds in my joints mean I need new interlock?
No. Weeds in the joints mean the joint sand washed out and left a gap where soil and seeds can accumulate. The fix is clearing the joints and refilling them with polymeric sand, which hardens and leaves no hospitable gap for weed germination. It is the least expensive restoration job on this guide. More detail on the joint sand page.
How long does paver sealing last?
Roughly 3 to 5 years in St. Catharines and Niagara before the sealer wants refreshing, depending on traffic, sun exposure, and winter salt. A driveway that takes daily vehicle traffic and road salt is at the shorter end; a shaded patio with foot traffic only is at the longer end. The refresh cycle is lighter than the original seal job because the cleaning pass is less intensive the second time around. More on the cleaning and sealing page.
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