Immediately after your pavers are installed, the area can be used. No need to wait.
Occasionally, a white blush appears on pavers. This happens to many concrete products and is referred to as efflorescence. It is free lime generated by cement and aggregates within the product that travels from the inside to the surface of the pavers. In time, through the natural weathering process, these calcium deposits will wear off. In some cases, an efflorescence cleaner may be needed to remove the deposits. Only use these cleaners when absolutely needed as they can lead to premature aging of the paver surface.
Occasionally, weeds grow in the joints of the pavers from wind-carried seeds. A systemic weed killer can be applied without damaging the pavers. Many can be pulled by hand.
On most paver applications we use polymeric sand instead of washed sand. Polymeric sand is sand blended with polymers that, when activated, create a bond in the joints of your pavers. This greatly reduces the ant and weed issues that can crop up between pavers, reducing paver maintenance.
Paver color tends to lighten over time. This is caused by surface wear, natural weathering, and pollutants.
Most paver products are strong enough to support the weight of heavy equipment and/or vehicles. However, if your project was not designed as a driveway application and you need to have heavy equipment on your pavers, please contact us, as there may be certain steps you should take to protect your project.
Sealers can give your pavers a wet look and/or provide protection from staining. Sealers are not a necessity but can be used if desired. If you do wish to apply a sealer, please wait a year so that all efflorescence (see above) has worn off. Clean your pavers very well and allow to completely dry before sealing. Most sealers approximate a life of 2-4 years. Do not seal your pavers every year as the layers will build up and create a hazy surface. Food spills are easier to clean off of pavers that have been sealed. There are many sealers available, so ask us for help in choosing or applying the best sealer to suit your purposes.
Chipped or damaged pavers can easily be pried out with two flat head screwdrivers and replaced. Call us to help. General Cleaning: Common stains can be removed with readily available products such as Simple Green or Spic ‘n Span. A liquid dishwashing soap such as Dawn works well on light oil and grease stains. Heavy oil stains, rust, and paint require more specialized cleaners. We recommend using stain removers specific to concrete pavers. These minimize the risk of discoloring and damaging the pavers. Most building supply yards carry these products. Follow instructions carefully. Cleaning a small test area is recommended. Start cleaning at the low end of the area and work up hill. You see stains better on dry pavers. Apply lots of rinse water so the cleaners flow off the pavers. Some stains such as deep set oil stains may require more than one application.
Winter Care Tips for Pavers
We get a lot of questions about winter maintenance on paver driveways, walks and patios. These are some of the best practices that we recommend to deal with snow and ice while protecting the paver surface from unwanted wear.
Snow Removal
- Metal and plastic shovels are both okay to use.
- Keep in mind that metal rusts! The most widespread problem in spring tends to be rust transfer onto the pavers.
- Try to shovel snow at an angle to the joints to minimize the chances of the shovel edge catching on a joint.
- Do not use shovels or ice scrapers to chop at ice.
- Use of a snow blower with metal, plastic or rubber blades is okay.
- Keep in mind that the metal rusts and can also leave scrape marks behind.
- Set the height of snow plows to glide over the pavers.
- Aggressive scraping of the pavers with steel plow blades can leave scrapes, scuffs and rust behind.
- Consider the use of a poly blade to attach to your traditional plow blade to minimize possible damage.
Ice Removal
- Choose your ice melting agent carefully!
- Potassium salts (KCl) are the recommended ice melter. Potassium compounds are safe for the concrete as well as the surrounding landscapes.
- Calcium Chloride (CaCl) tends to leave a heavy white film behind and some studies show that this is damaging to concrete.
- Magnesium compounds (Mg) is not considered as safe for concrete as it can break down cement bonds.
- Rock salt/Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is corrosive to many different products and can accelerate aging of the pavers.
- Ammonium compounds should be avoided completely.
- Apply the appropriate amount recommended by the manufacturer or supplier.
- Pre-mix or add course sharp sand to your de-icing application to increase traction without adding more chemicals.
- Use ice scrapers carefully and sparingly to remove stubborn ice.
- Do not chop at the ice as this may cause damage to the paver surface.
