We know you want to enjoy your patio rather than spend your time maintaining it. With a few tips, you can minimize the work and maximize the fun. Here are the ins and outs of maintaining patio pavers in Glenview and Highland Park, IL, areas.
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Regular Maintenance
Immediately wipe and clean up spills with a mild detergent and plenty of water, to prevent staining. Don’t let fallen leaves, fruit, or grass clippings linger on your patio pavers. If they are allowed to rot, they’ll stain your pavers. The same goes for any dirt that’s on the patio surface. It will act as a sandpaper and wear away at the pavers’ finish.
As needed, clean your pavers with a mild detergent that’s safe for the vegetation surrounding your patio. Never use bleach, acidic cleaners such as vinegar, or abrasive cleaners on your pavers… unless there’s a stain that just won’t come off using anything else. These will damage the pavers and may kill surrounding vegetation. Use a soft-bristled brush to remove any stuck-on food, drinks, chemicals, or deicing salts. Rinse the patio thoroughly to remove any soap residue buildup.
If your patio has spots with mold and mildew, use a pH-neutral stone cleaner and a soft-bristled brush; and avoid mold and mildew growth from occurring by thoroughly removing any debris that might attract moisture, and sealing your patio every 3-5 years.
If necessary, power-wash your patio periodically. This can help remove stubborn stains and debris, but you want to be careful not to wash away the jointing sand between the pavers. If you do wash away some jointing sand, it will need to be replaced before weeds take hold.
Before replacing jointing (polymeric) sand, spot-treat the joints with weed killer and let it dry for a day or two before applying the jointing sand.
As you’re cleaning, inspect your patio for cracks, heaving, crumbling or other damage including eroded jointing sand. While pavers are durable, they still need to be inspected. It’s much easier and cheaper to fix problems while they’re small! Sometimes, weeds take hold and they are extremely stubborn and hard to eradicate completely. Sometimes, a patio will shift due to earth movement. This is rarely a problem in a well-installed patio that sits on a sturdy base; but poor installation does happen (most often with DIY patios), and unfortunately the only remedy is a complete do-over. If this is the case, always trust your patio installation to a reputable company that takes pride in its work and has the expertise to properly install a concrete paver or natural stone patio!
Apply Sealant!
Even pavers that come factory sealed will need to be resealed within 3-5 years. Even pavers that specify they don’t need to be sealed, should be sealed. Why? No material is impervious to weather. Some materials are less porous than others, and some are more fade-resistant than others… but eventually, ALL patio materials will start to degrade due to weather.
Sealants prevent stains, they offer protection from abrasion, they make the surface easier to clean, they seal the surface to minimize water absorption, and they enhance the look of the pavers.
Patio pavers can fade over time, become etched or eroded by weather, and their surface can become scratched by furniture or heavy foot traffic. A good sealant will help prevent this, and it will minimize the appearance of damaged pavers. Depending on the pavers, you’ll want either a surface sealant or a penetrating sealant. It’s best to consult with the manufacturer or your masonry contractor for advice on how to keep your patio pavers looking great for many decades.
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