Many homeowners seek to add charm to their properties by laying paving stones on their driveways, patios, walkways and pool decks. Pavers are both beautiful and durable – take care of them properly and they’ll last for decades. Once they’ve been laid, it’s important that you keep them in good condition. Follow these simple steps to keep your stone looking new for years to come.
As often as you can, grab a broom and sweep any signs of dirt or debris from the surface of your pavers. We also highly recommend giving the area a good sweep if it looks like it’s going to rain – when leaves and other debris gets wet, it can stain some natural stones (leading to more cleaning up later on down the track).
Using a pressure cleaner, give the pavers a rinse after you’ve swept. This will remove the majority of dirt and grime that sometimes remains after a thorough sweeping. A pressure wash of the stone will help get built up grime and dirt out of the pores of the stone while also cleaning the grout. It can help when removing mould or moss growth.
If you have noticed some stubborn stains on your paving stones, they can generally be removed with a simple cleaning solution. Take a bucket and fill it with clean water and some dishwashing liquid. Dip a rag or sponge into the solution and put in some elbow grease. Note that this solution will not remove oil – you will need an oil remover for this.
Did you know that you can keep your pavers looking new by applying a sealant? This should be done on clean, dry stones and should be reapplied once every few years. The sealant will help to prevent dirt and stains from penetrating through the surface, making it easier to clean the area (you should only need water).
If your paved area has a problem with standing water, you may have noticed that moss and mold growth can be a real problem. Although a pressure washer can help to remove these growths, it doesn’t kill them off completely. Fortunately, there are several products on the market that can be applied to mold and moss to kill the spores.
On the very odd occasion, one of your pavers might become severely damaged or stained beyond repair. In these situations, it can be possible to replace only the offending stone without touching those around it. One way to avoid damage in the first place, however, is to ensure that you have used a wet mortar bed for installation – this will provide added resistance to damage from above.
Whether you’re in the process of laying paving stones somewhere on your property or you’ve already had them for years, we hope that the above tips have given you a better idea of how to keep them looking beautiful. If you have any questions at all about your specific stones, speak with one of the experts at Yarrabee & Castlemaine – we’ll steer you in the right direction.
Erwin Michel from Spickle Cleaning and Sealing is our recommended Sealing & Cleaning Professional. Please phone Erwin on 1300 22 00 45 or spickle.com.au for a quote. Sometimes its best left to the professionals and let them manage this process, it’s a cost effective treatment but can be costly if mistakes are made.