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Spring Cleaning – Paver Care

Written by Barkman Concrete Published on May 16th, 2022

This post was originally written in 2013. It has been updated on May 16, 2022.

With the warmer temperatures and melting snow, you’ll want to start using your outdoor spaces. A refresh of the lawn is typical at the start of the Spring season. The same goes for your pavers. To prolong the life of your pavers and keep them looking their best, routine maintenance is recommended. While Barkman pavers are resistant to de-icing salts, dirt, grime and other organic materials, staining can still occur due to the absorbent nature of concrete.

In general, using a bristle brush with dish soap and water will handle most jobs. Be sure to start at the top of your driveway in order to ensure that all the dirt and water flows downward. For more serious stains, a few routes are available.

Pressure Washing your Pavers

A pressure washer is a great option for those looking to avoid the use of chemicals. But it can cause problems in certain situations. If your pavers are not sealed and the joints are filled with traditional sand, some of the sand will rinse out. Pressure washers can also push certain stains and pollutants further into the concrete. Be sure to use a lower setting when using a pressure washer to avoid these problems. Using a lower pressure will result in less sand loss to some extent but you will need to brush in more sand after your pavers have dried. To avoid this problem altogether, consider sealing your pavers or using a polymeric sand like Polybind to fill in the joints of your pavers.

Please note that pressure washing slabs is not recommended and can cause abrasions on the surface due to the special manufacturing process to create the slab profile. Pressure washing pavers, on the other hand, is okay.

If you don’t own a pressure washer or would rather not go through the hassle of refilling the joints of your pavers with sand, a number of paver-specific cleaning options are available. Ask your nearest Barkman dealer for details.

Sealing your Pavers

For those looking for a long-term solution to staining, consider sealing your pavers. There are a wide range of sealants available. Some will give your pavers a “wet look” while others will seal without altering the colour of your pavers. One thing to keep in mind with sealing your pavers is that there is a life cycle with most sealants. They will need to be reapplied after 2 to 5 years, depending on use and climate. Either way, sealants keep your pavers looking better for a much longer period of time and make them far more resistant to staining, moss and mildew.

Whatever route you take, you can be sure that a little bit of maintenance a few times a year will prolong the life of your pavers and keep them looking great for years to come.

 

 

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