Maintaining the Stonework on Your Patio

by Dwayne Regehr

A patio or driveway built with concrete pavers can be an excellent investment for your home or business. Unlike poured concrete, pavers don't crack and are easily repaired and re-leveled. Paving stone patios are often sold as being "maintenance-free", but there are some things that can be done to keep your new patio looking its best.

Keeping the patio clean

Sweep off grass clippings and fallen leaves. It is a common misconception that weeds grow up through the joints between pavers, but actually the weeds settle in from the top. If those weed seeds are removed along with any other organic material, they won't be able to take root.

Washing off food and drink spills

An advantage of the polymeric sand we use is that light debris can be blown off with a leaf blower and anything really stuck on there can be sprayed with a pressure washer, without risk of losing crucial joint sand.

Older patios can be restored by cleaning out the old sand along with dirt and weeds that have accumulated over the years and replacing it all with polymeric sand. We can easily take care of this for you.

Inspecting joint sand

With our clay soils in Winnipeg it is inevitable that patios and driveways will move with the changing of seasons. A concrete paver surface is a flexible system that can move with these changes, but occasionally you will see fine cracks develop in the sand between the pavers.

In most cases the fix is simple – just add more polymeric sand to seal the joint. But it is important to deal with these fine cracks early, before they become larger and before they are contaminated by dirt and weed seeds.

If any cracks appear in the first five years after installation, just send us an email at dwayne@earthworkslandscaping.ca and we will happily take care of it for you.

Cleaning and sealing pavers

The dense surface of concrete pavers is resistant to many stains, but over time pavers can start to look dull and worn. Fortunately, for those who want that new look, there are cleaning products that can restore pavers to look almost exactly like new.

Brand new pavers sometimes develop a chalky residue on the surface known as efflorescence. This happens when water-soluble salts in the concrete are drawn to the surface with moisture. The moisture then evaporates and we're left with just the residue. This effect will wear away in a period of weeks or months, depending on the level of traffic, but there are efflorescence removers that can speed up the process.

To protect the surface and maintain that new look, sealants work well. Paver sealants can even enhance the colour of your bricks, or give pavers a wet-looking, beautifully saturated just-rained-on effect.

These finishes will need to be re-applied every two to five years

Earthworks does not provide cleaning and sealing services, but we would be glad to recommend another contractor!

If you have any questions, you know what to do! Send Earthworks an email at dwayne@earthworkslandscaping.ca.