paver walkway releveling brings a side yard path back to life
This project in Middletown, NJ involved a herringbone brick paver walkway running along the side of the home, connecting the front yard to a rear deck and patio area. Over time the pavers had shifted and settled unevenly, and the client’s goal was to get the walkway looking clean, level, and weed-free again — a path they could walk without watching their step, and one that matched the quality of the rest of the property.
The Challenge
Years of freeze-thaw cycles and settling had left the herringbone pavers uneven, with edges lifting and gaps opening up between bricks. Weeds and grass had taken root in the joints throughout the walkway, and a few pavers along the path had cracked or shifted enough to create a real trip hazard. Because the walkway curves along the house and ties into both the front yard and a rear patio, keeping the herringbone pattern consistent and the curve smooth was just as important as getting the base underneath solid again.
“The quality of the work was top-notch and I can’t thank them enough.”
My Approach
I pulled up the settled and weed-choked pavers, cleared out the old base material, and rebuilt a proper compacted foundation before resetting the brick in its original herringbone pattern in Middletown, NJ . I added a soldier course border along the edges to clean up the walkway’s lines and keep future shifting to a minimum, and I made sure the joints were packed tight enough to keep weeds from creeping back in. I stayed in close communication with the client throughout, walking them through each step and finishing ahead of the schedule we’d discussed.
THE TRANSFORMATION
The before-and-after images tell the story clearly. The uneven, weed-choked bricks that once made the walkway look neglected are now a crisp, level herringbone path with a defined soldier course edge, curving smoothly from the front yard back toward the deck. What was a patchy, overgrown walkway is now one of the more polished features of the property, and it’s a path the client can walk confidently, day or night.
CLIENT’S ENDORSEMENT
The homeowner’s feedback reflects their delight with the project:
“I can’t recommend Bret and his team enough. The quote was very fair. The communication was excellent at every step of the process, and they were able to fit us in earlier than we expected, which was fantastic. When it came time to do the work, they were on time and explained everything they were going to do and then finished ahead of schedule. The quality of the work was top-notch and I can’t thank them enough. I highly recommend working with Earth and Mortar Masonry!”
CONCLUSION
Projects like this in Middletown, NJ, remind me that great masonry work isn’t just about the finished stone or brick — it’s about the base underneath it and the communication throughout. I’m proud of how solid and clean this walkway turned out, and it means a great deal to know the client felt informed and taken care of from the first quote all the way through to the final paver.
To see more of my work or to talk through a project of your own, please visit my website.