What will it cost to redo my patio with pavers?

Q: I have about 1,000 square feet for a backyard patio that I want to finish with concrete pavers? What will it cost to do that?

A: It’s hard to say because it depends on the individual site and what types of pavers you want to use. For example, if you want to use permeable pavers, you have to install a much deeper base before the paving is laid. The kind of access you have in your backyard is another factor in the cost.

But typically, the average paver job in Arizona will probably cost from $4.50 to $8.50 per square foot. Remember to get three bids, each from a different contractor. And don’t let anyone give you a bid over the phone without coming out to look at your yard first. You also want to be sure to hire someone for a job like this who is a certified concrete paver installer.

Q: I have a 26-year-old house with a shower stall that has a problem. The grout in the shower is becoming chalky, weak and is falling out. I can run my fingernail across the grout, and it falls out. What is causing this and how can I fix the problem? The rest of the bathroom seems to be OK.

A: If you’re confident that no water is building up behind the tiles, you can probably fix this problem with a good cleaning, grouting and resealing.

First, you need to clean out all the loose grout with a good stiff brush. Be sure to thoroughly clean all the voids that might develop as you do this. Then let the area dry for a few days and regrout. Let the shower dry out some more and then you can seal it with a grout sealer. Then let the shower dry again, possibly for several days but maybe more.

The reason you’re having this problem might simply be the that the grout was never allowed to dry after it was originally installed many years ago. But it could also be the result of all the shampoos and cleaning products you have used in the shower over the years.

Q: I have a brick patio in my yard that apparently was not properly sealed when it was first installed. Every so often, it develops those white, powdery spots of efflorescence in different areas. I use a vinegar or acid rinse to wash them off. But they always keep coming back. Can I reseal the bricks?

A: You can reseal them, but the problem will keep coming back whenever the bricks get wet. If this is a traditional brick patio, the efflorescence is probably because of the mortar that they used in the joints between the bricks. The best way to clean off these spots is by rinsing the patio off with a light muriatic acid solution, provided that you have bricks. You don’t want to use a solution like this on concrete pavers. You also need to try to keep moisture off the bricks in general.