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5 Tips for Fall Paver Maintenance in Michigan

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Fall has arrived in Michigan, bringing along with-it vibrant colors and natural beauty to your outdoor living space.  The cooling temperatures are a perfect reminder that it’s time to do some maintenance on your hardscape products outside your home before the harsh winter arrives in a few short weeks.

If you kept up with our blog over the years, you have learned that brick pavers don’t require much maintenance if you have maintained them properly over the years.  Here is our paver maintenance guide to keep your outdoor living space looking and feeling like new.

Apply Sealers

The basic rule of thumb for reapplying paver sealer is every 3 – 5 years.  Remember, your outdoor living space was an investment, and you want to keep the surfaces looking beautiful for years to come.  Over time pavers may lose the initial color so, making sure they are sealed will help keep the color bright.  Sealing your pavers prevents dirt, mildew, mold, and other substances off your pavers.  If you decide to apply sealer, we do recommend that you place soft pads on any patio furniture to minimize scratching and possible rusting if you have metal furniture.

Blow or Sweep

We recommend that throughout the fall season, you make it a point to blow or sweep leaves off your pavers.  If left on your pavers for extended periods, it is possible that the dead leaves can seriously stain your brick pavers if not removed.

Remove Outdoor Furniture

Leaving your furniture out year-long could be hard on your brick pavers.  Over time pavers can sink and settle in spots which can cause your patio to drain poorly and create issues for snow removal.   Furniture should be moved to a place where settling and heaving will be minimal.

Pull Weeds

Weeds in between brick pavers are not only unsightly but can also cause structural damage to your brick pavers.  With proper maintenance, you can prevent this from occurring.  If you find you have a considerable number of weeds growing in your pavers it could be that your pavers were installed improperly to include the contractor not using polymetric sand.  Without proper maintenance you can expect some weeds to grow over time.  Searching the internet you will find several techniques for removing weeds from hand pulling, boiling water, and organic herbicides, to using a weed torch.  Research the best solution that fits your budget and the environment.

Fill the Paver Joints

Polymetric sand is the recommended material to use between your pavers.  The joints that are created from it are even and durable.   It also reduces or eliminates any risk of weeds growing along with ant infestation between your pavers.  When combined with sealing, this is a great solution to keeping your pavers firmly in place and looking pristine.

If you have any questions regarding brick paver sanding, sealing, and maintenance, give us a call today.  We can be reached at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS.  JJW Brick is owned by PMS Brick Pavers, We’re The Guys, located in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Summer Hardscape Maintenance Tips For Your Oakland, MI Home

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The sweltering summer heat can take its toll on your home’s hardscape features, especially if you don’t take the proper summertime maintenance steps. We all know that summers in Oakland, MI can be harsh on lawns, structures, landscape plants as well as trees. However, this doesn’t necessarily imply that your landscape and home, in general, can’t look terrific all season. With a few straightforward tweaks to your summer hardscape maintenance tasks, you can keep your home looking amazing and aesthetically appealing.

Just know that conducting hardscape upgrades or repairs on your own isn’t hard! However, if you are committed elsewhere and don’t have time for that, you can hire an experienced brick paver specialist instead. With that in mind, below are proven practical tips on how to breathe a new lease of life into your home.

Repair retaining wall:

If you are an Oakland, MI homeowner whose landscape features sharp gradient changes, chances are high that you have retaining walls in your home. Apart from being bold and beautiful, retaining walls also prevent erosion. What’s more, they keep the soil intact. However, the extreme winter weather makes retaining walls prone to leaning regardless of the material they are made of. If not diagnosed and repaired on time, leaning retaining walls can only worsen.

If you are experiencing gapping problems, you should immediately correct them using the materials used in the initial construction of the wall. Of course, you’ve got to ensure the repairs and upgrades compliment the overall design of your retaining wall.

On the other hand, if you are facing leaning problems, it’s recommended that you use anchors. These support structures ensure your retaining walls don’t further because they attach themselves to hard-packed soil and brace your walls. And with time, these anchors will level up the wall.

Rejuvenate brick pavers:

Just like any other structure, brick paver patios in your yard’s entertainment area can lose their robustness and beauty with time. When your brick pavers begin to deteriorate in color, you should act fast and add more sealant. This can be a relatively affordable and straightforward way to rejuvenate your brick pavers’ health.

Fix your rusty outdoor fire pit:

Fire pits are very popular in Oakland, MI, thanks to the variety of benefits they guarantee. But you wouldn’t want to grill your favorite foods on an old, rusty outdoor fire pit. A rusty fire pit is not only unsightly but may also pose serious health concerns to you and your family. If your fire pit has become rusty because of the winter rains, it’s high time you clean and paint it. You can choose the paint that features rust-resistant enamel, protecting your fire pit from heat exposure for an extended period.

If you currently have a damaged metal fire pit, you should consider replacing it with a brick paver fire pit. A brick paver fire pit is not only highly attractive but durable as well. Repairs are also relatively easy to diagnose and fix, bearing in mind that you only have to deal with the damaged pavers.

Even though there are some home improvement tasks that you can handle on your own, most of these tasks are generally complex and require the intervention of a professional. Whether it’s hardscape repair projects or improving your landscape style through new upgrades, professional landscaping contractors can help you get the job done as you concentrate on other more important tasks.

Schedule a Quote from JJW Brick Today!

If you have any questions regarding brick pavers or brick paver lighting, contact us today.  Please feel free to give JJW Brick a call today for your Metro-Detroit, MI home.  We can be reached at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS.  We hope to hear from you soon!

Practical Tips To Help You Boost Your Hardscape In Summer!

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Every season has different perks that make it special, but there is something about summer that puts it in a league of its own. Whether you like having a cookout in your backyard with your friends or going to the beach, there is always something amazing to do during these fantastic months. And because you are a lot more active in summer, you will likely spend most of your time on your paver patio, which is generally good for your overall health. Depending on the age of your paver patio, you may have to maintain, repair, or make a few improvements to it by adding some new features. In this article, we provide you with proven tips on how to boost the appearance of your existing paver patio during the summer!

Address any necessary repair issues:

While brick pavers are generally sturdy and long-lasting, you may still have to address a few cracking or paver shifting issues. Cracking and shifting pavers are not only a huge safety hazard but could ultimately force you into making future costly repairs. One encouraging thing about brick pavers is that you’ll only have to repair a small part of the pavers than replace the whole structure as you would do with their concrete counterpart.

Consider adding a fireplace or pit:

A fireplace or pit can significantly boost your outdoor experience. These are highly versatile features that will allow you to unwind and entertain a large group of friends. Simply put, they allow you to get the most out of your paver patio during those warming and inviting summer nights. What’s more, they will allow you to use your patio even when the temperatures begin to drop.

Consider installing seat walls or enclosures:

If you are contemplating installing a fire pit, then seat walls offer a great design solution thanks to their unmatched functionality and appearance. Besides seating, the wall structure will equally help reflect the sweltering heat, guaranteeing a comfortable and relaxing experience. Alternatively, you may also install a walled enclosure without a sitting area to offer privacy as well as an incredible appearance.

Incorporate landscaping features into your paver patios:

Landscaping features can significantly enhance the overall appearance of your paver patios. You can add a brick border featuring shrubs, a retaining wall, or even some paintings to your pavers to boost their aesthetic looks. There are countless design options to choose from, and you can even choose plants to compliment the color of your brick pavers. Of course, you can always rely on the expertise and knowledge of landscaping professionals to help you choose the perfect design elements.

Clean and reseal your brick patio every two years:

This is an important step that you must implement. After addressing all the existing repair and maintenance issues, it’s now time to clean and seal your patio. And while you are free to clean as regularly as you would prefer, it’s recommended that you should seal pavers after every two years.

However, if your paver patio is relatively new, you should wait for a few months before you can seal them. It’s important that you allow your patio enough time for its structure to come together! On the other hand, if you are resealing your patio, ensure you first clean it using a pressure washing machine before removing the old sealing material and then resealing it.

Schedule a Quote from JJW Brick Today!

If you have any questions regarding brick pavers or brick paver lighting, contact us today.  Please feel free to give JJW Brick a call today for your Metro-Detroit, MI home.  We can be reached at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS.  We hope to hear from you soon!

Tips on How to Increase the Life of Your Paver Patio

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Over the recent past, the demand for paver patios has increased drastically and this is because paver stones are durable, versatile, and beautiful to look at — they accentuate the beauty of any space where they are added. However, since paver stones are quite durable, people assume that they do not need any kind of maintenance — like any other construction material, paver stones, too, need regular upkeep. We have compiled a list of tips that homeowners can use to their advantage in keeping their paver stones well maintained.

Always Use a Sealant

If you have paver stones in any part of your home, know that you will need a sealant. A sealant will not only protect the paver stone from stains and weeds but will also safeguard it against the damaging effect of extreme weather conditions. However, sealant cannot be applied at any time one wants.

For instance, one must not apply a sealant immediately after paver patio installation — homeowners are advised to wait at least two months after paver patio installation to apply a sealant. However, since most of us stay in areas that experience harsh winters, sometimes it becomes impossible to wait two months. In such a scenario, homeowners can choose to apply a sealant two to three weeks after the installation process.

Make Sure You Are Resealing Your Paver Patio Once Every Two Years

Sealing your paver stones once is not enough. If you have a paver patio, you must remember two things. First, make sure your paver patio is installed properly — any mistake during installation can lead to major issues in the long term. Second, make sure you are resealing your paver patio every two years.

While most homeowners think they can reseal their paver patio on their own, it is a task that should best be left to experts as most homeowners do not know anything about the kind of sealant to be picked up for the task or even how to get rid of old sealant. In other words, if you are not sure about how to reseal your paver patio, hire an expert and leave the task to them.

Rely on Experts to Make Fixes

Most homeowners invest in paver patios because they are sturdy as well as easy to fix — if there is a problem, one need not remove the entire structure. Instead, they can simply remove the damaged paver and replace it. While that sounds simple, it is a task not so simple that homeowners can take up on their own. Any mistake made during the installation process will lead to more money spent in the long run. Thus, homeowners who have a paver patio must resist the urge to make small fixes in their paver patio and instead rely only on experts to do the job.

Summing Up

Over the last few years, the popularity of paver patios has increased manifold, and that’s primarily because paver patios are sturdy, cheap, and easy to maintain. However, if you want your paver patio to last long, we recommend that you hire an expert and let them do the job. Proper installation is crucial if you wish to maintain your paver patios and give them a long life.

Schedule a Quote from JJW Brick Today!

If you have any questions regarding brick pavers or hardscape design, contact us today.  Please feel free to give JJW Brick a call today for your Metro-Detroit, MI home.  We can be reached at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS.  We hope to hear from you soon!

Here’s What You Can Do to Protect Your Pavers Against Harsh Weather Conditions

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Countries in the United States experiences extreme weather conditions — from heavy rainfall to heavy snow to dry and warm winters, the continent experiences it all. Though there is always something enjoyable about each of these weather conditions, they wreak havoc for our brick pavers. The good news is by taking a few precautions, it is possible to elongate the life of brick pavers, even when they get subjected to harsh weather conditions time and again.

In this article, we discuss few tips on how to protect your brick pavers from harsh weather conditions.

Seal Your Pavers After Every Five Years

The first thing you must do is seal your pavers. When you seal pavers, you essentially close the pathway through which water enters pavers and destroys them. Homeowners often ask us: how often should you seal your brick pavers? The correct answer is after every five years.

Design Pavers Using Sturdy Material

In the U.S., many areas receive snow for a considerable part of the year. If you live in such an area, you must design your driveway in such a way so as to keep space for things that you will need during the snow season, such as a snowplough. For this, you will have to make sure you are using the best quality material for your pavers. Anything sub-standard will develop cracks and become chipped eventually, leading to not only your home looking less beautiful but also compelling you to spend a fortune on repairs.

If you are using pavers to create outdoor decks, you must use a composite decking material. Using such material will protect your pavers from the damaging effect of water. That apart, call an expert and have them seal your pavers as soon as they are installed.

Use Sand Instead of a Deicing Agent to Clear Snow

When it snows, most homeowners use deicing agents to clear snow, unaware of the fact that deicing agents cause more harm than good. Deicing agents contain a lot of salt and thus, not only are these agents bad for plants in the surrounding areas, but they are also bad news for our brick pavers. Therefore, during the heavy snow season, instead of using a deicing agent, use sand. Clean the whole area and generously sprinkle sand over it. This will not only help clear the snow but also give traction to your brick pavers.

Talk to a Brick Paver Expert and Ask Them Which Colour Would Be Ideal for You

While choosing pavers, homeowners give the whole idea a lot of thought and usually choose a design and colour that they think will match well with their home’s interiors. Most homeowners also gravitate towards darker shades, simply because they think maintaining darker brick pavers is easier than maintaining light-coloured brick pavers when the truth is different. Dark-coloured pavers attract and trap heat and become discoloured soon. So, before picking any specific colour, talk to an expert and have them explain to you what colour would be ideal for you, keeping in mind the climate in your area.

Choosing brick pavers may seem like an easy task, but there are many things that one must consider if one does not want to spend an exorbitant amount of money on repairs later on.

Schedule a Quote from JJW Brick Today!

If you have any questions regarding brick pavers or hardscape design, contact us today.  Please feel free to give JJW Brick a call today for your Metro-Detroit, MI home.  We can be reached at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS.  We hope to hear from you soon!

Three Simple Tips on How to Maintain Your Brick Paver Patios and Driveway

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Brick pavers find great favor among homeowners. Their versatility, durability, and excellent aesthetic appeal are the prime reasons homeowners keep coming back to these construction essentials. The addition of brick pavers also immensely increases the value of properties. However, though brick pavers enjoy a long life, when neglected, their unsightly appearance can also damage a home’s first impression.

Three Simple Tips on How to Maintain Your Brick Paver Patios and Driveways

If you are a homeowner who has had brick pavers installed, here are three simple things you can do to extend the life of your brick pavers and maintain them well.

Always Keep Your Brick Pavers Clean

If you want your brick pavers to stay healthy, the first thing you must do is keep them clean. Dirt, grime, and stains do not only make brick pavers structurally weak, but they also take away their shine and aesthetic appeal. Lukewarm water is enough to take care of simple stains. However, if you are dealing with stubborn stains that refuse to leave with warm water, bring in some dish soap and a scrubber along with warm water. If the stains still refuse to leave the surface, use your garden hose and a strong stream of water to get rid of them. However, while doing so, make sure to keep the water jet away from any cracks the pavers may have as water can cause the pavers to shift and become damaged.

Make Sure to Apply Sealant on Your Brick Pavers

Cleaning brick pavers every alternate day can become very tiring. So, here is a simple tip: use a sealant on the surface. Sealants are sprayed on the surface of the brick pavers and do the important task of protecting the pavers against any kind of physical damage. Sealants function like the glue and hold all the brick pavers together. More importantly, they fill in all the pores and thus, help the pavers stay clean. Similarly, sealants also prevent weed growth, which is one of the most damaging things for a brick paver.

Always Immediately Get Rid of Weeds

Though brick pavers have a long life, like any other construction material, they are also susceptible to damage. When brick pavers develop spaces and cracks, these spaces and cracks become the places from where weeds find a way into your home. Thus, to keep your brick pavers intact as well as clean, it is extremely important that you do everything to keep weeds away. If you see weeds, get rid of them immediately. There are two ways to do this. First, pull the weed by hand. When you do so, make sure to also remove the dead plant residue stuck between the cracks. However, pulling weeds by hand requires time and effort. Therefore, you can choose to go ahead with the second option, which is using chemicals to get rid of the weeds.

Takeaway

Brick pavers patios and driveways are beautiful to look at and go well with all kinds of homes. They are also durable and last long years if maintained well. When neglected, brick pavers can turn their backs on you and diminish your home’s appeal and value. We hope the aforementioned tips will help you take good care of your brick pavers.

Schedule a Quote from JJW Brick Today!

Give JJW Brick a call today to learn more about sealing or re-sealing your brick pavers.  We can be reached at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS.

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!

 

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!

 

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