[Chris Heiler]

This one is for all you hardscape experts out there.

Let me give you some background.

I was the designer and general contractor for this installation about 3 years ago.

My mason installed 3/8"-1/2" slate on a concrete base with snow melt. The snowmelt was used under this paving ONLY in the front yard. We also used this slate on a concrete base in the backyard WITHOUT snowmelt.

This spring we now have serious issues with the slate that is installed over the snowmelt system. Many of the pieces have come loose and the whole walkway has kind of a "hollow" sound when you tap on it.

In the backyard, where there is no snowmelt under the slate, everything is perfectly fine.

My feeling is that the snowmelt system must have been turned off at some point or just wasn't working for a short period of time and water seeped in and froze.

Anyone have an experience like this before or have any thought as to what might be the issue?

Here is a photo of the front for context. You can't see the damage by looking at this however.