Brick pavers are some of the most versatile and durable surfaces that you can install in your Farmington Hills landscape. Not only do they look beautiful, but when cared for properly they can be long lasting and provide added value to your property. However, poorly maintained brick paver patios and driveways can become an eyesore, create safety concerns, and cause your home to look untidy. As a homeowner, there are steps you can take to maintain your pavers.
Brick Paver Maintenance Tip 1: Basic Cleaning
Keeping your pavers clean and free of stains is the easiest way to keep your brick patio or driveway looking great. If done regularly, this can be an easy task, and should keep stains from setting into the stone. Basic cleaning involves using lukewarm water to remove dirt and stains from your patio or driveway. For more difficult stains or high traffic areas, you may want to use a scrubber and some warm soapy water (use dish soap, it’s gentle and biodegradable). Gently scrub the surface of the brick to remove set-in dirt or stains. You can use a strong stream from your garden hose instead of scrubbing. Just remember to avoid the cracks as best as you can. Spraying into cracks will cause the sand between to shift, eventually leading to shifting of your pavers.
Brick Paver Maintenance Tip 2: Remove Weeds
The cracks and spaces between pavers are ideal spaces for weed seeds to grow. Removing weeds from the spaces between bricks is important for maintaining a smooth surface, and keeping your patio or driveway from looking uncared for. To remove existing weeds from your pavers you have two options; you can use chemicals or manually pull the weeds. Either option is fine, the option you chose depends on how you feel about chemicals and how hard you want to work. Remember, herbicides will kill the plant, but it will still be in the cracks, so after you apply chemical, you may want to go back and scrape out the dead plant material.
To prevent future weeds from growing in the cracks, use a slow release, powdered herbicide. Sprinkled in the cracks, these chemicals will prevent other weeds from growing in between the cracks. Remember, when using chemicals, whether spray on herbicides or granules, follow the manufacture’s application instructions.
Brick Paver Maintenance Tip 3: Seal Your Pavers
This last maintenance step will reduce all other maintenance tasks necessary for your paver patio or driveway. Applying a sealant to your pavers will fill in the pores in the brick, keeping it cleaner and easier to clean. It will also work as a glue for the sand between the pavers keeping it in place so that pavers shouldn’t shift and weeds won’t grow.
Generally, sealants are a water-based chemical that is brushed or sprayed onto the brick surface, forming a barrier against elements that may harm your brick paver patio or driveway. While this isn’t a difficult task, many homeowners don’t care to do this work themselves, and hire a contractor. Hiring a Farmington Hills paver contractor will ensure that the sealant is applied correctly and will not cause damage to your patio or driveway.
Contact a Farmington Hills Brick Paver from PMS Diversified Construction
Proper care of your brick paver patio or driveway is essential to keeping this large investment looking great. If you are looking for a Farmington Hills brick paver, contact PMS Diversified Construction and learn how we can help you maintain and keep your brick paver surfaces looking great. For complete information on paver installation and maintenance , please contact us at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS.