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How To Maintain Patio Pavers

Clean Your Patio Pavers

How to keep patio pavers in place using an edge tool.

Cleaning patio paversis something pretty much everybody can. In fact, all you need is the soapywater mixture outlined above and a hard-bristled brush. An outdoor broom canalso be used if you dont want to scrub on your hands and knees.

Avoid using a wirebrush when you clean patio pavers. Hard wire bristle brushes can scratch evenrelatively resilient materials in an unsightly manner.

When cleaning patiopavers, consider where you want to be pushing dirty water as you scrub. Youdont want to work toward your home or pool. Instead, work toward utility areasor dirt and grassy areas that can easily absorb the water.

How To Clean And Maintain Concrete Patio Pavers

  • Written by Grace Spiteri on Jan 26, 2011To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by

Concrete patio pavers are popular and found in various outdoor areas. Relatively speaking, they are very durable and require little maintenance and upkeep. However, you still have to make sure to clean them well so as to maintain them in good condition. Follow the simple steps below to effectively clean your concrete pavers.


Step 1: Sweeping

It is important to regularly sweep the patio. Use a push broom to better collect the dust and dirt. If the pavers have unsealed edges and any cracks, you will need to more effectively remove any build-up. If there is ice or snow, you may need to use a shovel to remove them effectively. Should you opt to use ice-melt products because you feel that there is too much snow to shovel away, bear in mind that you will have to remove the puddles immediately afterward. Leaving a lot of melted ice on the pavers for a relatively long period of time will most likely cause damage to the pavers. Any sand or grit will have to be removed as well, and if mud developed it is best to wash it away.

Step 2: Inspection

Step 3: First Wash

Step 4: Finding and Treating Stains

Step 5: Repairing

Using Regular Sand Between The Bricks/paving Stones

Using regular sand is certainly more cost effective but thats about it Regular sand will not stop the weeds from growing up between your pavers as it doesnt develop a hard surface like the polymeric sand will. ;Regular sand also will not prevent ants from burrowing under the;cracks between your pavers as these are havens for ant colonies.

If you choose to use regular sand this is a project youll be doing annually as storm water will wash the sand away quite quickly. ;Another thing to keep in mind is that youll continually be sweeping sand off the driveway and tracking it around your house and property.

If you have a large, beautiful, brick or paving stone driveway or patio and you care about its appearance then dont choose regular sand. ;Youll be much happier with the results of polymeric sand, as described below.

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Cleaning Patio Pavers: 10 Tips For Caring For Your Patio

You invested in patio pavers for a reason. They look amazing, create a defined space in your yard, and theyre durable.

Yet, every year, you cant get over how they can get so dirty. Patio pavers do require maintenance, but its not as hard as you think. Cleaning patio pavers can be simple if you are consistent. With a little bit of work, you can make sure your patio is always stunning at a moments notice.

Read on to discover 10 tips to care for your patio pavers and keep them looking brand new.

Build Concrete Footers Below The Pavers

SIMPLE TIPS TO KEEP YOUR PAVER PATIO LOOKING BEAUTIFUL ...

This last method is highly effective for homeowners who live in harsh weather climates.

The problem is that it is also one of the most tricky methods to securing your gazebo.


Luckily, we can walk you through the whole process.

What Youll Need

Youll need the following materials and tools for this method:

  • A flathead screwdriver
  • Safety gloves
  • A safety mask

Alternatively, you dont have to use concrete in order to secure the planting pot to the ground.

Homeowners have also found that placing bricks, sand, and gravel will provide the same stability as concrete.

So, if you want to skip the hassle of mixing your concrete and letting it set, then you should try another method.


What You Should Do

The right steps to attach the gazebo to your patio pavers are as follows:

Step #1: Remove Pavers

Start by positioning the gazebo the way you want it to look.

Next, youll want to count each brick that the gazebo posts have.

From there, take your chalk out and mark each one of the bricks that rest underneath each gazebo post.

Now, pull out your flathead screwdriver and tap it using a rubber mallet.


After that, lift the marked pavers carefully to avoid damaging the others.

Step #2: Dig Holes and Insert Posts

Take out your shovel and dig 10 inches into the ground.

After that, take the gazebo posts and lower them into each hole.

Step #3: Mix and Lay Concrete

First off, youll want to put on your safety gloves and mask to prevent the chemicals from coming into contact with your skin.

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Drill Into The Pavers

Drilling into the pavers is a bit riskier than the other options, as it can damage your patio.

However, its a highly reliable method to keep your gazebo safe and secure.

As such, below is the detailed method on how to secure your gazebo by drilling it into your pavers.

What Youll Need

To do this method, you will need the following materials:

  • ;A pencil

To succeed in this technique of attaching gazebo to paver patio, follow these steps:


Step #1: Mark the Holes

Start by positioning the gazebo exactly how you want it to look.

From there, you should take a pencil and mark precisely where you want the holes to be on the paver.

Now, youll want to move the gazebo to the side to see where you marked the holes.

Step #2: Drill the Holes;

Before you begin drilling, mark the depth of the screws onto the masonry drill bit using tape.

After you have that setup, start drilling holes into the paver except drilling them at a 90-degree angle.

Make sure each screw is secure before cleaning the dust off from each hole.

To clean the dust off thoroughly, you should use a vacuum cleaner.

Step #3: Drill the Masonry Screws

Carefully slide the gazebo back into place.

Now, align the pavers with the holes on the gazebo.

After the holes are aligned, take your drill and switch to the Philips flat head or slotted hex bit.

Now, drive the screws into the gazebo. The deeper they are, the better.

How To Maintain Concrete Patios

Maintain your concrete patio with these easy tips.

Patios are getting widely popular in the modern style home construction. It is a great place for cooking, chatting with friends, and enjoying some leisure time. Designing your patio in a beautiful way can be done to improve the place.

And, one of the best ways to do that is by throwing in some patio sofa covers, garden covers, etc. In fact, plenty of options are available in the market. If you are someone who wants to experiment with your style, try concrete as they are more versatile and need less upkeep.

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How To Maintain Your Concrete Pavers This Winter

While North Islanders dont typically have to contend with snow, winter brings plenty of rain, which is pretty harsh on your patio. Aucklanders are particularly vulnerable, with nearly 400 mls of rainfall each winter!

When water accumulates on your patio pavers, the wet environment becomes ripe for algae and moss growth which can stick around long past the rainy season. Before the algae sets in for good, follow Slatecretes tips on maintaining your concrete pavers this winter.

Quality concrete can stand up to winter

First, some good news. Opting for high quality concrete pavers is the best thing you can do to maintain the longevity of your landscaping. Concrete pavers are designed to stand up to cold weather, ice and even snow. So long as you keep pavers as dry and clean as possible, your concrete pavers should remain in excellent condition for years to come.

Seal your pavers

A concrete sealant acts as a barrier between the concrete and water, preventing stains, water damage, cracks and erosion. When you install your Slatecrete concrete pavers, we always recommend an initial seal; after this, you should seal your concrete pavers every two or three years. If you are due for a sealant treatment, make sure it gets done before the worst of the wet weather hits.

Keep cleaning the concrete

Keep an eye out for weeds

Get rid of any snow

Enjoy your concrete pavers this winter

Guide To Keeping Your Paver Patio Clean

How To Design and Install A Paver Patio

Paver patios are beautiful, durable solutions for outdoor living. More water-resistant than wood, more chip-resistant than brick, and more attractive than ordinary concrete slabs, pavers in Dacula;make every backyard look high-end, not to mention entertainment-ready. But for your paver patio to look its best, you need to maintain it after installation. Here are some simple tips to help you keep your paver patio clean.

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How To Point Or Repoint Your Patio

Patio slabs need pointing when they come loose from your patio, typically when the jointing compound has degraded over time.

  • First off, remove any residue of the previous jointing compound around the affected paver which is best achieved with a hammer and bolster chisel.
  • Then, youll need to refill those gaps with fresh jointing, such as our Bradpoint Jointing Compound.
  • Alternatively, you can use a strong semi-dry mortar mix, with 4 parts building sand to 1 part cement. Just ensure that, when mixing, there is sufficient water to bond but not so much to stain the paving when applied.
  • TOP TIP: As it dries quickly, make sure you use your pointing mortar within 30-45 minutes of being mixed.

    What Is The Best Sand To Put Between Pavers

    Another option is polymeric sand. Although more expensive, the product has excellent properties.

    Usually, polymeric sand contains 85 90% quartz and crystalline silica, which is what gives the product its notably binding power. When you wet this sand, it activates the polymers, which hardens the various components, effectively locking the pavers in place.

    Once hardened, it wont wash away with heavy rain or water from a hose, as loose sand would; This means you wont have to worry about replacing the sand frequently to keep the joints full.

    Polymeric sand also hinders weed growth, prevent an ant infestation, among other added benefits.

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    Cleaning Patio Pavers Can Be A Breeze

    The main thing to remember with patio pavers is that while they dont require a lot of maintenance, they still need consistent upkeep. Thats how you keep them looking brand new for years to come.

    When cleaning patio pavers, youll want to remove dirt and debris often, and youll want to have them sealed when you first install them. That will save a lot of headaches down the road.

    Would you like to know more about installing patio pavers in your yard? or visit one of our showrooms today.

    How To Maintain Your Patio

    How to Clean Stone Patio Pavers & Maintain It

    With spring in full swing, its time to get your garden back to its pristine best and we arent just talking about the plants and flowers that survived the winter frost.

    Your patio also needs a generous helping of TLC to prepare for the family barbecues and summer parties in the glorious British sunshine. Thats why weve pulled together this patio cleaning guide to help you care for your outdoor space.

    From how to clean a patio to sealing a patio, continue reading, below, to get your pavers summer-ready.

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    Should I Compact Sand Before Laying Pavers

    Not compacting the base

    Before laying bedding sand or pavers, your gravel base needs to be flat and firm, without any bellies or rises of more than 1/8. You accomplish this kind of precision by properly compacting your base and your pavers. If you fail to compact, youll experience sunken or raised pavers.

    How To Harden Sand Between Pavers And Make Sure It Stays There

    One way to ensure paver stability, and keep insects away after you complete the flooring project, is to make sure you applied the joint material correctly, and its fixed. But how to harden sand between pavers and make sure you have each inch of your investment covered?

    Sand is still one of the best gap-filling options for pavers, but you must observe a few things if you want to ensure the best possible outcome. Otherwise, you can end up spending money unnecessarily buying more material. Thus, putting in some extra hours in your work too.

    Dont worry though, in this article, we will show you that the process is easier than you think, and well walk you through it.

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    Does Sealing Prevents Moss From Growing

    Sealing your paver patio is always recommended, as long as you be mindful that it can alter its adherence. But, as good as it is, it doesnt completely prevent mold from growing. Thats because, as we said before, moss starts on the grout lines and then spreads to the pavers themselves.

    However, sealing your paver patio will help a lot, especially in preventing the moisture from accumulating and making the cleaning process easier.

    Building A Raised Patio With Retaining Wall

    How to Install a Paver Patio like a Pro

    Building retaining walls for a raised patio begins with knowing the dimensions of your patio and where exactly your retaining wall should land to provide the layout for your pavers. If you are unconcerned about the final look in terms of cuts for your raised patio pavers, then you do not need to be as concerned about this. However, we measure the exact dimensions of our raised patio based on the pavers we are laying and where our final caps of our retaining wall will land and ensure our retaining wall is built according to this. You also want to ensure that you are hitting the exact elevation of the raised patio. We measure where we want that to be and prepare our first block course from this, understanding the height of our blocks, how many courses of block there will be, and the height of our caps as these are usually a different height compared to the wall blocks.

    We use a string line to map this out and ensure our retaining wall is level and begin to screed and lay our base course. As we build up our retaining wall, we will add geogrid every 4 to 8. Uniaxial is a typical geogrid that is installed in our retaining walls. This provides strength in one direction. However, in a raised patio we want strength in both directions so we opt for a biaxial geogrid and install it throughout the entire raised patio. This helps to tie everything in together and stabilize the base material of our raised patio.

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    How To Clean Pavers: An Overview

    Patios make a huge difference in your home’s curb appeal. You want them to stay nice so they don’t have a negative impact on your home’s look. Even though pavers are very durable and reliable, they can still begin to get a little scruffy after all the fun barbecues and weather conditions take their toll. Overall, cleaning your pavers properly has more benefits than just making them look niceregular cleanings make your pavers more durable and safer, too.

    As a rule of thumb, if you maintain your pavers, cleaning is less time-consuming and less costly since you won’t have to restore or replace them all the timeso let’s get started.

    Preventing And Removing Tough Stains

    Even with routine patio paver maintenance, there may be times when a little extra elbow grease is required to spruce up your concrete pavers. Although the sealant acts as your concrete pavers first line of defense against spills and weathering, it is still possible for staining to occur.

    Oil stains, rust stains, mildew stains, tannin stains , and efflorescence are all capable of eventually permeating the seal of your pavers with enough prolonged contact. Thats why its critical to wipe up any spills immediately. For outdoor living spaces, keep your patio paver surface swept clean of any leaves and other organic materials that can leave behind tannin stains. Improperly sealed wrought iron furniture can cause rust stains on paver patios, so if you have this type of outdoor furniture, be sure to periodically check that it remains properly sealed.

    For stains that do end up sinking in and setting into a sealed paver, we recommend spot scrubbing using the same approach outlined earlier. If the dish detergent approach doesnt seem to be working, you may need to purchase a dedicated, non-acidic concrete cleaning solution.

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    How To Spring Clean Your Natural Stone Patio Pavers

    While it will take a little bit of elbow grease and some time, you can have your paver patio in the best shape again! Trust me, when its free of debris, mold, and its shiny and bright again, you will be so glad you put in the effort. Lets take a look at how to clean your pavers so you can get started on this project.

    Paver Maintenance : Tips To Keeping Your Patio Looking Good

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    What are the advantages of sealing my pavers?

    Will weeds grow between my pavers?

    Weeds and grass result from seeds or spores blowing into, and lodging in, the joint sand. This can be minimized by using Techni-Seal Polymeric Sand or by using a joint stabilizing sealer on the pavers or mixing a pre-emergent granular weed killer into the joint sand. If weeds do appear, a spot vegetation killer can be used and will not damage the pavers.

    What can I do if my pavers are stained or damaged?

    One of the advantages of pavers is that individual units can be removed and replaced in these situations. Remove the sand around the paver and then use two flat head screwdrivers to lift the paver out. Rocking the paver gently in a back-and-forth motion will facilitate removal.

    What can you tell me about snow removal and my pavers?

    Can I remove moss or mold from my pavers?

    If your patio, walkway or driveway resides in a shady spot on your property, moss or mold can be a problem. Try Clorox liquid bleach diluted in water . Be careful not to get it on other plant material. Keep in mind that there is nothing that will keep it from growing back if its in a shady, damp area. For a more permanent solution, you will need to correct the moisture and shade problems that are encouraging the moss or mold.

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