Utah Freeze and Thaw Basics: What Actually Threatens Pavers

The Real Mechanism

Water trapped in the base expands roughly nine percent when it freezes. Repeat that dozens of times a winter and a poorly drained base lifts, settles and leaves an uneven surface. A well drained base gives that water somewhere to go.

What Prevents It

• Correct excavation depth and a compacted, well graded road base.
• Positive slope away from the structure across the whole surface.
• Edge restraints that keep the field tight so joints cannot open.
• Polymeric joint sand kept topped up so water sheds instead of soaking in.

Winter Maintenance That Helps

1. Shovel rather than chip, and use a plastic edged blade.
2. Prefer calcium chloride or sand over rock salt on newer installs.
3. Keep downspout discharge off the paved surface.
4. Re sand joints every few years as needed.

One advantage pavers hold over poured concrete is repairability. If a section does settle, it can be lifted, the base corrected and the same pavers reset. That is a normal part of our specialty services.

Published by Empire Pavers on March 25, 2026.