I'm not an arborist but I know not to mess with tree roots. The patio is close to the trunk so this is not surprising.

If you increase the planting bed you would reduce the size of the seating area.

I would remove enough pavers and fill the area with walkable gravel or river rock to the proper level. Perhaps create a pleasing outline.

Thank you. Agreed about leaving the root alone unless this species has enough redundant rooting (is there such a thing?).

The tree trunk is about 5 ft from the edge of the patio. Trunk flare is about 18-24” above patio level. The garden bed slopes down to patio from that.
I think the tree was either pre-existing or was sited for immediate vs long range aesthetics .

I am thinking I may need to take out enough pavers to create a gentle patio slope vs the edge that is the tripping hazard.

Silver maples are weak trash trees with roots that lift foundations and are hazardous to mowing. Get rid of the tree. It’s in terrible butchered form, which makes it even weaker, and that is as large as they get. It can easily crash down through your house in the next big storm.

" roots that lift foundations and are hazardous to mowing. "

That's pretty common with many maple species :) OTOH, silver and sugar maples are not all that common in the PNW. In addition to our two native species, you are more likely to encounter red, Freeman and the odd Norway maple. The Asian maples are smaller and tend not to have many surface roots. OTOOH, most larger maple species can also tolerate considerable root disturbance, specially the removal of a few irritating surface roots.

I also agree that the tree in question is not particularly attractive nor has it been pruned with much skill. If it were mine, I'd remove it

Good to know. I’ve been so busy removing some trees and pruning others, that this beast has just been waiting its turn. Its redeeming value is shade from the afternoon and setting sun.

We call it the Laughing Tree is it mocks us when raking the bazillion leaves it drops for weeks in the fall.

In that location, the silver maple will eventually shade out the surrounding trees/garden. Those trees aren't happy until they take over the world.

Take it out and remove the stump or after cutting, kill the stump and use it for a planter.

Some of your surrounding trees will grow larger with the increase in hours of daylight.

Just my 2 cents.