Summers are officially moving away to make space for the winter season. Make the best use of the last few sunny days of this year to prepare your hardscape for the coming harsh winters. Concrete pavers have the inherent ability to fight against the atrocities committed by the winter season. However, there are still a few essential things humans can do to ensure the longevity of pavers and other hardscape products.
This article sheds light on various industry-recommended cleaning practices for pavers and hardscape products.
Get Rid of Any Signs of the Fall
Fall leaves can wreak havoc for your concrete pavers and hardscape products and materials. Before either rain or frost covers the ground, make sure you have cleared all the debris. Fall leaves can leave behind obstinate stains after a heavy shower or snowfall. Similarly, also give due attention to your patios, walkways, and driveways. Make sure all the steps and seats are firmly in place. The frost and thaw cycles, synonymous with winters, are wholly capable of turning a minor flaw into significant damage. Taking care of minor issues while the sun is still out will allow your hardscape to emerge strong once the winters are over.
Check for Joint Materials
Joint materials ensure good health of pavers. In the absence of sturdy joint materials, pavers become susceptible to wear and tear, especially after snow and thaw cycles. Moreover, joint materials also play an essential role in getting rid of insects and weeds on the surfaces of pavers. The most preferred paver joint material is sand. Mix sand with a joint stabilizer, and you have the perfect joint material for your pavers.
While installing joint material, make sure to place the joint sand stabilizer between 1/8 to 1/4 inches below the paver. Such a placement will facilitate proper drainage of water. Moreover, once the material has dried, remove any extra bit left behind to prevent staining. Summer is also the time to ensure if the joints of your pavers are in good health. More often than not, rough weather conditions take a toll on paver joints and erode them.
Make Sure to Remove Snow and Ice Immediately
Removing snow and ice may seem like an arduous task, but it’s crucial to ensure the excellent health of concrete pavers. Remove both ice and snow from pavers as soon as possible. A shovel is the best equipment to do this job. However, the tip of the shovel can leave the pavers damaged. Therefore, cover the tip of the shovel with a rubber plate guard before using it to remove ice or fleet. Use the shovel gently and place it at a comfortable angle to the pavers to ensure no damage.
Some people will recommend using deicer agents to remove snow. We recommend you to keep your pavers as far away from deicer agents as possible as these agents induce efflorescence, leaving the pavers damaged. If you are anticipating heavy snow or rain, sprinkle a thick layer of sand on pavers to minimize any slipping or skidding.
Conclusion
Maintaining pavers and hardscape products and materials isn’t a difficult task. However, you must start preparing your hardscape now as winter is coming.
