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Maintaining Brick Paver Driveways and Patios

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A homeowner can do a lot with brick pavers. Durable, beautiful and used in a variety of ways, brick pavers can last a long time and increase the value of your home. But the opposite is true if they are neglected. They become unsightly, hazardous and cast a very bad impression on your home and even your neighborhood.

Following are 3 helpful recommendations for maintaining the look, feel and pleasure of your brick pavers:

Maintaining Brick Paver Driveways and Patios

A homeowner can do a lot with brick pavers. Durable, beautiful and used in a variety of ways, brick pavers can last a long time and increase the value of your home. But the opposite is true if they are neglected. They become unsightly, hazardous and cast a very bad impression on your home and even your neighborhood.

Following are 3 helpful recommendations for maintaining the look, feel and pleasure of your brick pavers:

Keep them Clean

Dirt, grime, and stains are the first place your eye travels when looking at anything. This certainly holds true for your paver bricks.

But keeping your pavers free of unattractive dirt and stains is easy when you clean them often.  It only requires lukewarm water. Granted, if you have particularly tough stains – especially in areas the a get the most activity – you’ll want to use a bit warmer water, some dish soap and a scrubber. Just be gentle when you scrub the surface.

You’ll also get results by using the strong stream of your garden hose. Try to stay away from the cracks when you’re spraying as it can shift the sand between the bricks. This will eventually lead to the pavers themselves shifting so use caution when spraying.

Get Rid of Weeds

Paver bricks spaces and cracks are a favorite spot for weeds to grow. To keep the surface of your pavers smooth, and to keep them looking their best, you must get rid of the weeds.

There are two methods for doing this. – with chemicals or by hand. Both are effective. It will depend on which one is best for you based upon your preferences. If you pull by hand, you’ll work harder for sure. However, keep in mind that you’ll still need to manually remove the dead plant residue from the cracks if you use any kind of herbicide.

Apply a Sealant

Maintaining your brick paver driveway or patio involves more than keeping up with its appearance. Sealing your pavers fills in pores which helps your driveway, walkway or patio stay cleaner. Sealants are sprayed or brushed onto the surface to create a shield that protects against the various deterrents known to harm or damage the pavers.

Applying a sealant also helps deter weed growth and makes the pavers easier to clean.  While providing this level of maintenance, an applied sealant functions like glue and helps the pavers to stay in place.

are the first place your eye travels when looking at anything. This certainly holds true for your paver bricks.

But keeping your pavers free of unattractive dirt and stains is easy when you clean them often.  It only requires lukewarm water. Granted, if you have particularly tough stains – especially in areas the a get the most activity – you’ll want to use a bit warmer water, some dish soap and a scrubber. Just be gentle when you scrub the surface.

You’ll also get results by using the strong stream of your garden hose. Try to stay away from the cracks when you’re spraying as it can shift the sand between the bricks. This will eventually lead to the pavers themselves shifting so use caution when spraying.

Get Rid of Weeds

Paver bricks spaces and cracks are a favorite spot for weeds to grow. To keep the surface of your pavers smooth, and to keep them looking their best, you must get rid of the weeds.

There are two methods for doing this. – with chemicals or by hand. Both are effective. It will depend on which one is best for you based upon your preferences. If you pull by hand, you’ll work harder for sure. However, keep in mind that you’ll still need to manually remove the dead plant residue from the cracks if you use any kind of herbicide.

Apply a Sealant

Maintaining your brick paver driveway or patio involves more than keeping up with its appearance. Sealing your pavers fills in pores which helps your driveway, walkway or patio stay cleaner. Sealants are sprayed or brushed onto the surface to create a shield that protects against the various deterrents known to harm or damage the pavers.

Applying a sealant also helps deter weed growth and makes the pavers easier to clean.  While providing this level of maintenance, an applied sealant functions like glue and helps the pavers to stay in place.

3 Ways to keep Great Looking Pavers Looking Great  

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You did your diligence. You selected the right pavers for your wants and needs – the right colors, texture, and placement. They’re installed and they look great. And you want them to continue to do so for a long, long time.

Granted, even the highest quality pavers lose their just-installed appearance over time. After all, they’re outside, confronted by extremely harsh heat, rain, and glaring sun. Not to mention the high traffic that comes with everyday outdoor life generated by people, animals, and ground cover.

So, it’s only natural that your pavers get moldy, soiled, and even fade a bit sooner than you’d like – even in as little as a few months.

Rather than be disappointed, be prepared!

Here are 3 things you can do to extend the life and look of your pavers:

Sweep and Spray pavers regularly

A broom with bristles and a hose is your first step. Use the broom to sweep as often as needed. Using a hose, spray your pavers. And make sure you spray with the intention of getting into joints and crevices. If your pavers are sealed (see the recommendation below) you can keep your pavers looking even more spruced up by pressure washing them.

Sand pavers occasionally

From time to time you’ll need to replace the sand between the pavers.  Forming a bond and surface, this sand hardens when it’s moistened.  This is what is known as proper sanding and it’s an imperative thing to do in order to make your patio or walkways look great.

Seal pavers periodically 

About every 3 to 5 years, go through the process of sealing your pavers. This timeframe relates to the extent of sun, traffic, activity, wear and tear and other damage-causing exposure. If preventing fading and corrosion on the surface is important to you, you’ll be motivated to seal your pavers.

Furthermore, if you recognize the importance of keeping sand joints from becoming washed out and want to prevent weeds and insects for corrupting the joints, you’ll accept that sealing your pavers every 3 – 5 years is well worthwhile.

Five Tips to Keep Your Pavers Looking New This Season

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Pavers can enhance the look of your home substantially but they also need adequate care to retain their original glow and appeal.

You can easily keep your pavers at home looking elegant and new by following simple tips and tricks. We have gathered some of the best ways that you can utilize to have elegant looking pavers.

1.     Frequent Rinsing and Cleaning

If you want to have your pavers at home looking new all the time and not lose their appeal, you should pay proper attention to their maintenance. Flooring materials are prone to degrade with time and this degradation is accelerated if you are not taking adequate measures to keep the floor clean and maintained.

You can have elegant looking pavers if you clean them regularly and not leave behind any stains of material like grease and oil for long.

2.     Pull Out the Weeds

Pavers for patio and other places can develop weeds. They can make the paver look old, and can curb the appeal of your home. To prevent such a situation from happening, you should scrap the weeds out of the paver joints right in the beginning.

However, you need to be careful in the extraction as you can damage the pavers in the process. You can fill the joint gaps with paver sand to prevent silting that eventually promotes the growth of weeds.

3.     Clean the Damp Stains Immediately

Retaining the glow and appeal of the pavers at home requires efficient cleaning. You should not let any damp stain sit on the paver for long. It can cause discoloration. If you notice that something has spilled on the patio, wipe it right away.

4.     Clear Debris with Water

Pavers for the patio can have dirt and debris gather on the surface and in joints which can bring down the appeal of the space. You can rinse the surface of pavers with some water to get rid of any debris that has gathered.

Rinsing your pavers every now and then can help you retain their glow.

5.     Use Power Washing

Some stains are harder to remove than others. If you see that you’re not able to get rid of stains by simply rinsing or sweeping, you can go for power washing. Pavers for patio and other surfaces can get damaged if you use the power washer at its strongest stream setting. So, keep the pressure at a mild rate to avoid any damage from occurring and get the required job done.

If you have concrete pavers, they’re easiest to maintain and retain their new look. This is because they rarely show any color or stain against their own. You can easily sweep or blow away the dirt present on the surface or use a hose to wash away the accumulated debris. The only secret behind elegant looking pavers is frequent and efficient cleaning. If you’re able to keep your pavers at home clean, you will not only retain their original appeal but also increase their life.

Things to Do Before Sealing Your Pavers

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Sealing your paver walkway or patio is a good way to protect your investment. It saves you from a great deal of hassle in the long run. However, before you do there is list of things that you must be aware of. Complete knowledge of certain factors will help you seal your pavers effectively.

Here are some things you need to do before sealing your pavers.

Know the Specs

Before you pay a visit to the local landscape supply store, spare some time to read the manufacturer’s instructions. It will help you understand the spec of the pavers and how to seal them. Furthermore, it will also give you an idea of what sealing products are safe to be used on your pavers. It will also inform you about the amount of time you must wait before sealing the pavers.

Consider the Weather

To begin with, the sealer must be applied to the pavers when they are completely dry. Keep a close eye on the rain and weather forecast. Make sure that it won’t rain at least 24 hours prior to applying the sealer. Furthermore, you should also avoid carrying out a project on days with extreme temperatures. It is alright if it is a sunny day but the temperature must be favorable. Something around 30 to 35 degrees is perfect for applying a sealer. Also, there must be no rain at least for 24 hours after the sealer has been applied.

Clean

Any reasonable person simply cannot seal his pavers before cleaning them. It is of vital importance to get rid of any stains on the pavers before sealing them. Not only is it important to remove the stains off your pavers but you also need to worry about efflorescence and take care of it before applying the sealer. This cleaning step, allows the sealer to bond perfectly with the surface of the pavers.

Removal of Contaminated Sand

If you finally decide to seal your pavers, let it be known that there are no shortcuts in the process. The contaminated sand needs to be removed from the joint sand replaced with polymeric sand. If you are replacing the sand, remember that efflorescence must be done after the replacement of sand. The sealing should be done after the efflorescence.

If you want to seal your pavers successfully, the above-mentioned tips will help you on the way.

8 Benefits of Sealing Your Brick Pavers

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Homeowners and commercial property owners often think about sealing their brick pavers. Although it is not a necessary requirement, there are several benefits of sealing your brick pavers.   Here are some benefits of having your brick pavers sealed.

1. Helps in Dealing with Water Damage

Water damage is one of the many issues that can prove detrimental to the quality of your brick pavers. Sealing your brick pavers can not only protect them from water damage, but it can also maintain their look while allowing them to last longer.

2. Keeps the Stains at Bay

No matter how hard you try to keep the stains off your brick pavers, you will end up leaving some stains on them. Stains are bound to occur every time you walk on your patio or drive on the driveway. Sealing will keep the stains at bay, especially the ones that are caused by grime or grease.

3. Facilitates Cleaning

Not only does sealing help in keeping the stains off your brick pavers, but it also helps in cleaning. Brick pavers that are sealed are easier to clean than the ones that are not. When you don’t have to spend a lot of time cleaning, it becomes much more enjoyable spending time on your patio or the driveway.

4. Enhances the Look

There are countless benefits of having your brick pavers sealed. Apart from dealing with water damage and keeping the stains away, sealing also enhances the look of your brick pavers. In addition, sealing increases the overall economic life of your brick pavers.

5. Offers Protection Against Ice and Snow

If you live in an area where it snows a lot and the ground is always covered with ice, it is a good idea to get your brick pavers sealed. Even if it doesn’t snow in your area, the sealer can protect your brick pavers against heavy rains. Sealers have the ability to withstand the harshest of weather conditions.

6. Strengthens the Pavers

One of the best things about sealing is that it adds to the strength of the brick pavers. This means that you do not have to worry about cracking and chipping. As a result, you won’t have to bear heavy maintenance costs either.

7. Prevents Chipping and Cracking

We have discussed in the previous paragraph how a sealer can strengthen the brick pavers. Sealing prevents cracking and chipping of the pavers. Cracks not only make your pavers appear filthy but can also make people trip and fall while walking over them.

8. Reduces the Chances of Grass and Weed Growth

There is nothing more unappealing than seeing grass and weed grow in between your brick pavers. Sealing your pavers keeps the grass and weeds at bay and maintains a neat and tidy look.  The benefits of sealing your brick pavers are endless. Not only does sealing protect your pavers, but it also gives them a fresh look.

For more information on sealing your brick pavers, contact JJW Brick today!  We would love to answer any questions you may have regarding maintaining your brick pavers.  We can be reached at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS.  Call us today!

 

Brick Paving Stone Makeovers Can Increase Property Value – Here’s How

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What could be better for homeowners than a home remodeling project that actually pays back? While paving stones are commonly used to improve a house’s appearance, they can actually increase the worth of the properties in which they are introduced.

There are several ways you can use brick pavestones to decorate your house and increase its worth at the same time.

More commonly used in driveways to make homes look welcoming and pristine, brick paving stones are also used in making entryways and creating brick pavestone borders around swimming pools. Brick paving stones add to the attractiveness and beauty of the places they are used at.

A lot of homes even have their patios given a paving stone makeover. Who knew something as basic as adding pavestones can actually compel you to cook and spend a relaxing time with the family without having to spend to go to lavish places or staying indoors?

Pavers are known to add a welcoming element and lovely appeal to outdoor areas. However, increasing the beauty of your home and its exterior isn’t the only benefit that these brick pavestones have to offer. They even increase home value like no other remodeling job can.

Here are some benefits of giving your home a brick paving stone makeover.

Benefits of Brick Paver Makeover

Well, who wouldn’t like to get a higher property value when it’s time to resell their home? That’s exactly what paving stones do for you.

Your home’s exterior creates the first impression on everyone who visits you and this includes prospective buyers. Beautiful walkways, driveways, patios, and swimming pools adorned with brick pavestones tend to compel buyers to make a purchase before someone else calls dibs. Buyers will be ready to buy your property at a higher rate because of both added beauty due to paving stones and increased demand.

Even if you don’t intend to sell your home right now, giving the exterior a paving stone makeover is a good idea. It’ll give you and your family a designated area to have some quality time together whenever needed.

Brick Paver Options

When opting to give your home a pavestone makeover, you have a variety of stone styles and textures to choose from including embossed stone, tumbled stone, cobblestone, and flagstone. Moreover, you also get to choose from an amazing range of neutral stone colors such as earth tones, cream brown, charcoal gray, terracotta brown, sandstone and so on.

You can even choose to create a mix-and-match pattern using different types of stone colors or textures. The stones can then be arranged in a random pattern, a geometrical design, or any other way you like. With paving stones, you can satiate all your wild creativity cravings!

Installing brick paving stones is nothing short of a full-flash investment. Don’t forget to get professional help regarding their maintenance and installation. In case you are already on the lookout, our experts at JJW Brick are waiting to serve you. Connect now by giving us a call at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS!

How To Clean Your Pavers And Enhance Their Look

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Homeowners want their pavers to look pristine and clean all year round. If there is a backyard in your home that serves as your spot for a barbecue party with friends or as a weekly family gathering spot, it is really important to clean your pavers and keep them intact.

But how can you do this? We’ll tell you here.

Importance of Cleaning Your Pavers

To ensure your pavers stay in a good shape, the most important thing you should do is to clean them often. Regular cleaning keeps pavers good as new and prevents damages that cause homeowners to call the professionals to restore them.

Paver installation is nowhere near being a cheap investment. It requires a lot of time, hassle, and money to get the right type of pavers installed by professionals. That said, you would not want to cause damages to them by failing to provide adequate care and maintenance.

As with other flooring options, pavers are prone to getting damages caused by natural elements like excessive rain, hailing, snow, humidity, and exposure to freezing temperatures. These factors can quickly result in staining, fading, and other similar damages in your home’s pavers. Ultimately, you will be compelled to look for professional help and spend money to fix things up.

However, with regular cleaning, maintenance and care, you can prevent natural elements as well as chemicals like oil carried by our shoes and vehicles from causing any such damages to the pavers. This will also help in making the pavers look attractive.

The best way you can manage this task is by making it a part of your weekly cleaning activity. By adding your pavers to your weekly chores, you can prevent your pavers from becoming tarnished and keep them looking more attractive than ever. Unless you enjoy spending thousands in restorations every few years, take the time to clean your pavers and save yourself the frustration!

How to Clean the Pavers in Your Home

You will need a deck broom or a brush, pressure washer, a rotary surface cleaner, and an effective cleaning solution available on the market to clean your pavers.

Contrary to what people think, paver cleaning is not a difficult task. To begin with, you only need the right equipment and the determination to clean your pavers.

Typically, a garden hose with a sprinkler attached to it can remove the dirt that has accumulated on your pavers. But if you locate any difficult spots, you can run the pressure washer and remove them. Nonetheless, be wary of using the washer on the fan setting to prevent damages to pavers and the joints in between them.

Once the spraying part is over, use the broom or brush to put back in place any sand that might have come out due to pressure. The solution or product that you buy to clean pavers should only be used when the power or pressure washers fails to remove certain stains on your pavers. Don’t forget to go through the product label before you apply these products.

If you want to replace your damaged pavers or need help with cleaning, connect with JJW Brick now. Sit back and relax while we prepare your pavers and surprise you!  Give us a call today for more information on how you can maintain your brick pavers.  We can be reached at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS.  We hope to hear from you soon!

 

The Importance of Cleaning and Sealing Your Macomb County Brick Pavers

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If you have an addition to your Macomb County yard that uses brick pavers, you’ve probably heard about the importance of maintaining them. While brick pavers are a durable and beautiful material, it’s important to do your part in ensuring they stay that way.

Two important ways to maintain your Macomb County brick pavers are to clean and seal your brick pavers. Most homeowners don’t put much thought into why it’s so important to seal and clean their brick pavers but doing these simple maintenance tasks are truly an important task.

Why You Should Keep Your Brick Pavers Clean

Many people mistake the low maintenance quality of brick pavers with the idea that they’re no maintenance. Maintaining your brick pavers ensure that they will last for years to come. One very important element of maintaining your brick pavers is keeping them clean.

Any built-up debris on your brick pavers should be removed to prevent any stains on the surface of your brick pavers. Some homeowners will let leaves stay on the surface of their brick pavers and decompose. In the spring, an unsightly stain remains on the surface of your brick pavers that will need to be pressure washed away. Moreover, if debris is regularly left on your brick pavers, over time loose stone and grit will deteriorate brick pavers

How Sealing Your Brick Pavers Extends Their Lifespan

Having your brick pavers sealed is a simple way to extend the lifespan of your new addition. A sealant is generally added to brick pavers every two to three years and acts as an extra layer of protection for your brick pavers.

A sealant can help your brick pavers maintain their color even when the sun beats down on them for hours. Brick pavers that have been sealed are easier to clean and less likely to stain. In most cases, oil spills and tire marks can be easily cleaned from the surface of sealed brick pavers.

Adding sealant to your brick paver structure not protects the brick pavers themselves, but also the joints between them. Over time, weeds, mold, and mildew can grow in the joints to brick pavers. Sealant acts as a guard against these elements and can prevent their growth, rather than having the hassle of removing them later.

Choosing Experts for All Your Brick Paver Needs

Most homeowners want their addition to last as long as possible, so it’s important to trust experts for all of your brick paver needs. Cleaning and sealing your brick pavers can help them last for years to come and save you time and hassle down the line. It may be tempting to make maintaining your brick pavers a do-it-yourself project, but here at JJW Brick, we have brick paver maintenance down to an art.

Using a three-step process, we ensure that your brick pavers are properly cleaned and sealed without damaging them in the process. With over 15 years of experience in sealing brick pavers, we truly are the experts. If you’re ready to have your Macomb County brick pavers cleaned and sealed, give JJW Brick a call today at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS.

Maintaining Your Clinton Township Brick Pavers This Winter

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While the first official day of winter isn’t upon us yet, the ice, snow, and cold weather are already hitting our Clinton Township homes. You may think it’s too late in the fall to have any new additions to your yard due to the weather. That simply isn’t the case.

Using brick pavers to for your new addition is a great way to boost your curb appeal during all seasons. If you choose to update the hardscape of your yard in the fall and winter months, those additions will be ready for you in the spring and summer months. Properly maintaining your brick pavers this winter is key to a smooth transition to the warmer months.

The Benefits of Choosing Brick Pavers

There are many benefits to choosing brick pavers for your new additions. Brick pavers can be used to update driveways, walkways, pool decks, patios, and more! Understanding the benefits of choosing brick pavers may help you understand why so many homeowners are choosing brick pavers for their own homes!

Brick pavers are a durable, slip-resistant material that can last for years without needing to be replaced. They are low maintenance and the repairs associated with them are often simple. In fact, in the case where a brick paver is cracked or damaged, only the damaged brick paver needs to be replaced. Other building materials require the entire structure be replaced when one area is damaged.

Another reason that homeowners choose brick pavers for their home additions is that brick pavers are customizable and can help create almost any design you desire. This beautiful and customizable building material is a great way to boost the value of your home.

Tips for Winter Maintenance

Once homeowners understand the benefits of brick pavers, they often want to do everything possible to maintain their new addition. The great news is that brick pavers are low maintenance, even in the winter months. Here are just a few tips to get help keep your brick pavers in the best condition possible this winter!

Tips for Dry Days:

  • Repair or replace damaged or broken brick pavers. Uneven surfaces can be a hazard in the winter months.
  • Remove leaves from the surface of your brick pavers. Leaves that are allowed to decompose on your brick pavers can stain and require extra work in the spring months to clean.
  • Add sealant to help protect the surface of your brick pavers.

Tips for Snowy Days:

  • Avoid using de-icing agents and use rock salt instead.
  • Use a plastic shovel when possible. Metal shovels can scratch the surface of your brick pavers.
  • Cover the blades of your snow plows and snow blowers with a plastic blade protector for added protection against scratches.

Whether you’re thinking about having a new addition placed in your Clinton Township yard or you already have one you’re trying to maintain, JJW Brick can help you with all your brick paver maintenance needs. Give us a call today at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS to get started today!

 

 

Brick Paver Maintenance for All Seasons

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You may have been on the fence about choosing brick pavers for your next home addition. Many people are afraid that brick pavers are higher a high maintenance building material and shy away from choosing them.

However, brick pavers are a durable and low maintenance option for many home projects including patios, walkways, or pool decks. Properly maintaining your brick pavers can leave them looking nice through all seasons.

Tips for Maintaining Your Brick Pavers

If you’ve been on the fence about brick pavers, it’s time to get off it and see for yourself what a great option brick pavers can be for your next project. Keeping your brick pavers looking nice for years doesn’t need to be a hassle. Here are some simple maintenance tips to prolong the lifespan of your brick pavers.

  • Fill in gaps with polymeric sand. Polymeric sand is sand that is combined with additives like silica that when mixed with water form a binding agent. Polymeric sand is a great addition to brick pavers as it can prevent weeds from sprouting up between brick pavers and can help level uneven spots. Loose or wobbly brick pavers can be corrected using polymeric sand.
  • Keep brick pavers free of debris. Keep your brick paver patio or pool deck clear of debris by sweeping regularly. This is especially important in the fall and spring. Leaves and other natural debris that is left piled on your brick paver can eventually stain or discolor your brick pavers. Not only does debris potentially stain your brick pavers, it also acts as a slipping hazard. Avoid these issues altogether by staying proactive about sweeping your brick pavers.
  • Apply a sealant to your brick pavers every two to three years. One of the best preventive measures you can employ for your brick pavers is the use of a sealant. Sealants act as protection against stains and discoloration from the elements, allowing you to extend the lifespan of your brick pavers. When brick pavers are installed, a sealant is generally placed shortly after and won’t need to be reapplied for the two to three years as mentioned above. Many people choose to apply sealant in the summer so that it quickly seals and protects the brick pavers.
  • Be proactive about repairing damaged brick pavers. While brick pavers are a durable material which can last for years, it’s still important to have damaged or missing brick pavers replaced. The good news is that only the damaged brick pavers need to be replaced, rather than replacing your entire brick paver patio or walkway. Brick pavers that are missing can lead to water pooling and then freezing in the winter, which can in turn damage the surrounding brick pavers. The best maintenance choice you can make before winter is repairing or replacing any damaged brick pavers.

The Trusted Choice

Maintaining your brick pavers can truly be a simple task if you follow the tips mentioned above. Maintaining your brick pavers can be made even easier with the help of your trusted brick paver contractors. Here at JJW brick, we help with not only brick paver installation, but also repair, cleaning, and paver sealing. Give us a call today at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS to start your brick paver maintenance.

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