Weeds and moss in the joints, ant hills pushing sand onto the surface, a faded colour and one or two sunken spots: that is what most Burlington interlock looks like at ten years old. None of it means replacing the driveway. Here is what each fix costs and a simple plan to keep it in shape.
2026 interlock repair and sealing prices in Burlington
| Service | Price per sq ft (2026) | 500 sq ft driveway or patio |
|---|---|---|
| Small spot repair: a few sunken or loose pavers lifted and reset | Minimum visit | $250 - $450 |
| Clean only (surface wash, no sand or seal) | $0.50 - $1.10 | $250 - $550 |
| Re-sand joints with polymeric sand | $0.60 - $1.30 | $300 - $650 |
| Full service: clean, re-sand and seal | $1.20 - $2.50 | $600 - $1,250 |
| Strip a cloudy or peeling old sealer | $1.80 - $3.60 | $900 - $1,800 |
| Relevel settled areas, reusing the pavers | $6 - $14 | $3,000 - $7,000 |
| Lift, rebuild the base and relay | $18 - $32 | $9,000 - $16,000 |
Extras are priced separately: heavy weeds and moss in the joints add $0.30 to $0.70 per square foot, and oil or rust stains are $60 to $220 a spot. Lakeshore, Aldershot and Tyandaga properties often have larger patios and natural stone, which sit at the higher end. Newer Alton Village and Orchard driveways are usually standard pavers and quicker to do.
Weeds, moss and ants in the joints
The joints are where interlock starts to fail. Once the sand washes out, weeds and moss move in, ants dig in and push sand up, and pavers start to shift because nothing is holding them tight. The fix is the same for all three:
- Clean out the joints. A surface cleaner and a controlled rinse lift the old sand, roots and moss without blasting the pavers or the base.
- Let it dry. Polymeric sand only bonds properly in dry joints, usually after a full dry day.
- Sweep in polymeric sand. It fills the joints to just below the bevel, then is compacted and lightly misted to set. It hardens enough to resist weeds and ants, while still flexing with frost.
- Seal, if you want to. A sealer over fresh sand helps hold it and brings back colour.
Shady north-side walkways and patios near the lake stay damp longer and grow moss faster. Those spots may need a clean every year or two even when the rest of the property does not.
A simple upkeep schedule
| When | What to do | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Every spring | Sweep off winter grit, check for new dips and loose edges, point downspouts away from the pavers | You |
| Every 1 to 2 years | Light wash; pull or treat any weeds before they root deeply | You or us |
| Every 3 to 5 years | Full clean, top up or replace polymeric sand, reseal | Us |
| As needed | Reset sunken or heaved spots before they spread | Us |
| Every winter | Plastic shovel blade, snowbanks off the edges | You |
For do-it-yourself steps between visits, our guides on cleaning an interlock patio and maintaining interlock cover the basics.
Sunken and heaved pavers
Burlington's clay soils, freeze and thaw, and downspouts emptying onto the pavers are behind most of the dips we see. If the base underneath is still firm, the low area is lifted, the bedding sand corrected and the same pavers relaid at $6 to $14 per square foot. If the driveway is rutted in the wheel paths or pavers rock across a wide area, the base has failed and needs rebuilding at $18 to $32. We always fix the water source first, usually a downspout extension or a regraded edge, so the repair lasts. Our guide on fixing a sinking patio explains what a small fix involves.
Getting sealing right
- Clean and dry first. Sealer over damp pavers traps moisture and goes milky. Stripping a failed seal costs $1.80 to $3.60 per square foot, more than the seal itself.
- Pick the finish. Natural or matte sealers are less slippery and age better than wet look, which matters on sloped driveways and pool decks.
- Watch the weather. Most sealers need surface temperatures of about 10°C or more and no rain for a day: in Burlington, roughly May to early October.
- Do not overdo it. Recoating every year builds a thick film that peels. Every 3 to 5 years is plenty.
Road work and your driveway
When the City rebuilds a street, crews often have to cut back the end of driveways where they meet the road, and the contract restores only the part disturbed. On some projects, such as the Bromley Road area reconstruction, Burlington has offered residents a driveway restoration credit to have a private contractor redo the whole driveway instead. If your street is on a City project list, read the project updates and ask about restoration before the crews arrive. It can be a good time to fix the rest of a tired interlock driveway at the same time.
Where we repair interlock in Burlington
Aldershot, Roseland, downtown, the lakeshore, Tyandaga, Brant Hills, Headon Forest, Millcroft, Orchard and Alton Village. If the driveway is beyond repair, see our Burlington interlock driveway page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to seal interlock in Burlington?
A full clean, re-sand and seal costs $1.20 to $2.50 per sq ft, about $600 to $1,250 for 500 sq ft.
How much does interlock repair cost in Burlington?
About $250 to $450 to reset a few pavers, $6 to $14 per sq ft to relevel and $18 to $32 per sq ft to rebuild the base.
How do I stop weeds and ants in my interlock?
Clean out the joints, let them dry, then refill with polymeric sand. It hardens enough to resist weeds and ants.
How often should interlock be re-sanded and sealed?
A full clean, re-sand and seal every 3 to 5 years, with a light wash and weed check in between.
Why are my pavers sinking near the downspout?
Water from the downspout washes out the bedding sand. Extend the downspout away from the pavers, then relevel that area.
When is the best time to seal pavers in Burlington?
Roughly May to early October, on dry pavers, in weather around 10°C or warmer with no rain for a day.