Concrete paver damage on front stairs. Best way to proceed?

closetoreality · Mar 26, 2025

Winter damage and trying to remove/clean-up/replace the damaged concrete pavers. I would assume there is some sort of mortor type-s or thinkset on top of this surface although I am not sure what I am looking at? If I do need to remove material across all of this surface area, would an angle grinder with a diamond cup wheel make quick work of it or am I in for a rude awakening?

Also does it look like who ever installed these didn't even use anything on the base or very minimal? They came off pretty clean and the top surface looks clean. Were they only held together from the mortar/grout seams?

Any tips on best ways to proceed are appreciated. I am good with wrenches and figuring things out, but no professional experience with masonry aside from typical DIY projects as a homeowner. Wanted to pump the brakes and ask before I chance making more work for myself by just figuring it out on the fly.

Thanks.

budget76 · Mar 27, 2025

closetoreality said:
Winter damage and trying to remove/clean-up/replace the damaged concrete pavers. I would assume there is some sort of mortor type-s or thinkset on top of this surface although I am not sure what I am looking at? If I do need to remove material across all of this surface area, would an angle grinder with a diamond cup wheel make quick work of it or am I in for a rude awakening? I'm minimally experienced, but I'd be tempted to get the concrete bare and all the blocks off, grab a grinding wheel to scuff up all the concrete mating surfaces, then reinstall all the blocks/pavers with mortar. scuffing in my head is just take the skinny edge of the wheel on a 4.5" grinder and randomly gouge out so the mortar has something to grab onto other than a flat old concrete surface.

Also does it look like who ever installed these didn't even use anything on the base or very minimal? They came off pretty clean and the top surface looks clean. Were they only held together from the mortar/grout seams? Agree that's what it looks like to me. Relied on weight and some moderate connection to the surrounding pieces. seems like a half-arsed way to do it

Any tips on best ways to proceed are appreciated. I am good with wrenches and figuring things out, but no professional experience with masonry aside from typical DIY projects as a homeowner. Wanted to pump the brakes and ask before I chance making more work for myself by just figuring it out on the fly.

Thanks.

djjsr · Mar 27, 2025

You could use a flexible urethane adhesive/sealer. There's a few brands and a few types. With bonding masonry I've used Sikaflex and Loctite/PL with really good results. I would not use the adhesive type that sets up hard or the stuff that's self leveling. I use the type that sets up firm but dries flexible to reduce the possibility of cracking a block. It's waterproof but takes a couple of days for it to dry.

Old tool guy · Mar 27, 2025

After you clean everything off, you could use brick mortar and spread it with a 1/4” notch trowel, then fill the joints with more of the same using a grout bag.

duneslider · Mar 28, 2025

No idea what they used to hold them down but generally what happens is if the concrete below and the pavers are dry they **** the moisture out of the morter before a bond can be created which leaves a weak bond. Soaking the pavers before install will help with this, you don't want them dripping wet when you install them but they should be damp through so they don't **** all the moisture out of the morter.

A cup wheel will knock stuff down pretty fast but will make an amazing amount of dust.

I'm a tile guy so I naturally go to thinset but type S likely would work but if its freeze thaw thinset is stronger. This also NEEDS to be sealed.

mikedodge · Mar 28, 2025

I'm getting into a similar repair this year also. In our case the parging on the steps below the paving stones is failing and starting to cause issues. I believe it's because they didn't seal it before putting the pavers over it. Then again it's lasted 25 years.

mm08822 · Mar 29, 2025

Blue stone treads set in type s mortar is very durable. The stone will absorb much less moisture than pavers. Salt used on pavers is another problem.

Same goes for the landing.

Provide a slight pitch to assist with water runoff.

Remove all old parging and leave surfaces scuffed up to improve bond with the bedding mortar/parging. Parge the risers first before setting treads.

KenC · Mar 30, 2025

Could have been wet-set on the original concrete pour. I would set in Thin-set applied to both the paver and step surface with a 1/4" or so notched trowel. Use modified thin-set as it holds up to weather better than the cheaper/weaker kind.

Clean up high spots with a grinder and/or hammer and chisel first. Or, air hammer if you have one. That's a real arm saver.

Arterrsui · Apr 15, 2026

I got a huge upgrade on my patio after working with Emerson Masonry & Pavers Richardson, and what helped most was how they walked me through options I didn’t even know existed. If you’re unsure about replacing pavers or coordinating bigger projects, they keep the process pretty chill and straightforward, and the end result feels solid and looks really clean.

rust in the eye · Apr 15, 2026

Seeing the amount that have loosened all I can add is that I'd remove them all and start over.

Shiftless · Apr 15, 2026

rust in the eye said:
Seeing the amount that have loosened all I can add is that I'd remove them all and start over.

Good advice.
That would also result in better match to the height of the final job. If you don’t lay them all at at same time, some will end up higher or lower than their neighbors. Plus, you will then be able to get them all with a slight downward pitch to better shed rain water.

PCustoms · Apr 15, 2026

I wonder what the OP did in 2025 when he first had the issue?

Weird that they haven't been back since 3/28/2025...

Shiftless · Apr 15, 2026

PCustoms said:
I wonder what the OP did in 2025 when he first had the issue?

Weird that they haven't been back since 3/28/2025...

Good call.
I didn’t notice that the thread was a year old. Plus the fact that the O.P. has been off GJ since 2 days after posting pics and asking about the job. I don’t see any postings that would piss him off so much that he would run away mad. Hopefully he didn’t get hurt on that job. The dust created by grinding concrete is not good for you but it won’t kill you instantly.

Concrete paver damage on front stairs. Best way to proceed?

closetoreality

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