Monday, July 29, 2013

Clean and Maintain paving

Paving generally requires regular maintenance, it is recommend that paving is cleaned two to three times a year.

If the area has just been paved, allow it to settle for a few weeks. After this, you may wish to lightly hose down the paving to remove any excess sand or dirt. The area should then be treated with a weed killer suppressant, two or three times a year as required.

Regular sweeping to prevent the build-up of grime is always recommended. Light colored blocks, emphasize tire marks and oil spills on the driveway. These areas will need more maintenance if the overall appearance is to be maintained.

A light power hose at medium pressure is all that is required to clean general dirt and grime. Any jointing sand which is removed must be replaced. Do not use high pressure power washers! Aggressive power-washing can damage the pavement surface. A trial area should be tested before large scale power washing takes place.

For general cleaning of dirt and algae, vigorous brushing with a stiff yard brush with plenty of hot detergent solution, thoroughly rinsed with clean water should suffice. Repeated treatment may be required for paved areas sited beneath trees or in permanent near permanent shade.

Thick moss or lichen must be removed by scraping out the joints and then treating the area with a moss killer.  Once the moss and lichens have been killed, they can easily be brushed off.

Large weeds should be removed by hand and then the area treated with a weed killer. Smaller weeds can then be treated directly with the weed killer and these weeds should start to die within days.

It is also possible to seal your paving with a resin material which combats staining and weed growth, while also enhancing color and appearance. The acrylic sealer is sprayed onto the block paving and forms a 'skin' on top of the paving and the jointing sand giving an easily maintained finish. It is ideal for courtyards and other paved areas.

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