So you’ve installed a brand new paver patio, and it looks phenomenal! But have you thought about how to maintain your patio installation to keep it in great shape?
Setting up a patio is a great touch to expand your home. It’s an outdoor space used for dining or recreation adjoined to a residence. But as most patio owners know, establishing a patio area is just half the battle! To truly enjoy what you’ve created, you have to make sure you keep it in good condition!
So whether you’re a new patio owner or thinking about installing a new paver patio, we’ve compiled a list of six tips to keep your patio installation in great shape! Keep reading to discover some important pointers and answers to frequently asked questions!
Before we dive into the tips, it’s important to start prepping and fixing your patio at the beginning of spring to get ready for summer days! Springtime comes with a lot of rain, and you want to make sure you get ahead of that so you can keep-up early on!
And now let’s look through some tips to keep your patio installation in good shape:
1. Use a paver sealer
It’s only natural that your freshly installed patio is exposed to elements, such as rain, blistering sun, and wet snow. To keep your paver patio intact, seal your patio using a paver sealer.
Most likely, if you hire professionals to install your patio, they will include this procedure. But if you’ve installed it yourself, consider using a good paver seal. This approach is one of the most effective ways to protect your paver – whether you’ve used stone, brick, or concrete.
Use sealers as soon as you have your stone pavers installed because waiting until later will cause your permeable pavers to fade or require more maintenance before sealing. The general rule of thumb is to reseal your DIY paver patio (or one put in by professional patio installers) every 2 to 3 years using a sealant designed specifically for pavers.
2. Clear debris and dirt regularly
In your regular maintenance schedule, this should be the first step. Dirt, debris, and dust will build up all over your patio, and without regular cleaning, this buildup of debris can cause your pavers to break down.
Simply sweep over your backyard patio pavers to remove dirt and debris to keep your bricks or stones clean to decrease the risk of staining the surface. Try not to put off clearing the dirt because that buildup will collect in the nooks and crannies of your patio and haunt you later on.
A great pro tip to remember is this: if you know it’s going to rain, head outside with your broom and sweep away any dirt, debris, and dust. Rain will make the cleanup process a lot harder!
3. Scrub stains with mild detergent
Wash away any grime and dirt by spraying down your pavers with a garden hose. Try not to spray directly onto the joints to avoid misplacement.
While you’re rinsing your installation, take the time to scrub any stains with a mild detergent. Mix water and mild detergent and work at pavers with a wire or deck brush to remove the stain. Pro tip: If you’re using a new wire brush, test it out with the detergent in a hidden area to prevent any damage!
Some stains are stubborn and won’t come off easily. You may need an extra pair of hands to work on all the stains to keep your installation looking fresh all the time. It’s crucial to spot clean as soon as you see them instead of putting them off for later.
4. Replace any chipped or broken pavers
Chipped and broken pavers not only look bad, but they are also very dangerous for anyone that has access to your patio. Replacing broken pavers is probably the most difficult part of patio maintenance.
You can either hire a professional patio builder to come in and replace the chipped or broken stone or brick pavers – or you could do it yourself. To do it yourself will most likely take a few hours and a lot of patience. You can remove and replace individual stones – make sure it’s the same color and material as the rest – without disturbing the surrounding pavers.
If there is too much damage and too many paving stones are chipped or broken, it might be time to replace the entire patio with new stones. It’s essential to choose the right type of paver material when installing your patio. The material will make or break the durability of your patio and whether it lasts for a few years or a decade!
5. Use natural solutions to kill pesky weeds
Weeds are a very insistent and common problem with patio installations. No matter how well you’ve sealed your paver joints, weeds have a way of popping up between stones.
Although it may be tempting to just pull them out and toss them, don’t do it! Opt for natural solutions instead. Many natural weed-killing solutions don’t involve harsh chemicals, which can potentially damage your pavers.
A common natural solution to kill weeds is vinegar, salt, and dish soap. Combining this into a spray bottle and treating the weeds when the sun is out is the best course of action to get rid of the pesky weeds! Multiple treatments will probably be necessary to keep them away once and for all.
6. Have a regular maintenance schedule
To keep your patio in tip-top shape, you have to commit to a regular maintenance schedule. People with phenomenal-looking patios keep their patio installation in great shape because they clean it regularly. Staying on top of your cleaning game and regular maintenance will ensure a fresh-looking patio installation. If you neglect taking care of your new patio outdoor living space or walkway for months, there will be a buildup of debris, dirt, dust, and stains. And when you go to tackle it, it will be very difficult to remove. So set a schedule and stick to it, to keep your patio installation looking brand new! Luckily you won’t have to do any heavy maintenance if you keep up with the small cleanups over time!
FAQ About Patio Installations
Q: What should you put between patio pavers?
Whether you’re installing the patio yourself or getting professionals to do it for you, the best thing to put between patio pavers is “polymeric sand”. This sand will hold the bricks together on your patio. And a bonus is that weeds don’t seem to like polymeric sand!
Q: How do you prevent weeds from growing in between pavers?
Proper installation is the first step to prevent weeds. A firm sand foundation gives a level base for installing the patio. Once all the pavers are in place, pack additional sand in the crevices and joints to ensure each pave stays in place. Ultimately, this step prevents weeds from growing between pavers.
Q: What is the best way to clean patio pavers?
The best way to clean patio pavers is to move any furniture or objects sitting on top, sweep away any debris, rinse the pavers with water and then start scrubbing! You can buy a non-acidic cleaning solution designed for pavers, or you can use water and mild dish soap to scrub and spot clean. Make sure to rinse all the cleaning solutions away for a polished look!
Q: Can you pressure wash patio pavers?
You can pressure wash patio pavers to remove any tough stains and break down any buildup. Dust, debris, spills, and leaves will leave marks all over your patio, and over time, it will be hard to clean it by just scrubbing. So many turn to pressure washing their pavers. Just be careful not to aim the pressure wash at any joints to avoid paver misplacement.
Final Thoughts
Regular maintenance will keep your outdoor paver patio in great shape while preventing damage. The main elements of patio maintenance are cleaning, sealing, and weed control. Do cleaning year-round. Seal them as soon as you install the pavers and then every 2 to 3 years after that. And weed control should be tackled every spring when weeds love to bloom. Fixing the menial issues and keeping up the look of your patio will save you the hard work of replacing the stones or bricks later on!
While patio installations don’t need a whole lot of maintenance year-round, they still need consistent up keep. It is the only way to keep your patio looking fresh for years to come!
Maintaining a patio that is show stopping and a great recreation spot for your family and friends isn’t out of reach! Hopefully, these six tips will help keep your patio installation in great shape for decades – or just until you get tired of how it looks!
Read More Here – How to Make Easy Brick Paver Patterns for Beginners