The summer is almost over and as we are getting back to our daily routine. It’s also time to prepare our front and backyard pavers for fall and winter. You might be asking yourself, “Do I even need to be thinking about it?” And if the answer is yes, “What do I need to do to get my pavers ready for winter?” Although concrete and pavers are designed to hold up well through winter weather, there are still a few things that need to be considered before the rainy days arrive.
- Fall clean-up of leaves and other debris will also help keep your pavers clean and stain free longer.
- Reduce the number of shadows covering the pavers. Cutting back the bushes and shrubs that are closest to your patio will help reduce the moss buildup caused by lack of sunlight.
- Typically, people replace joint sand between their paver joints at the start of spring, but doing so before winter (if the sand level is low) will help hold the pavers in place and allow for proper drainage.
- Add polymeric sand – joint stabilizer to the areas where the joints have cracked and shifted. The addition of polymer sand will stabilize the pavers and reduce the amount of water that will form between the joints during winter. This will help prevent moss from growing the following spring.
- Clear drainage in areas where water is pooling or not draining correctly. Pavers that do not allow for proper drainage will gather and create problems such as white calcium build up deposits. For this reason, it’s important to make sure drainage is free and clear.
In addition to drainage, ensuring that your pavers are properly cleaned and sealed before the rain begins will help to prevent unwanted stains and molding. It will also help to restore your pavers to a like-new appearance.
For more information on our Paver Cleaning and Restoration contact us.
