Protecting and Enhancing Your Pave Stone Investment

By Phillip Graves, South Central US Regional Sales Manager, Techni-Seal

Oil and rust stains make any pavement material unattractive. Concrete pavers are porous and it is important to use cleaners manufactured for them. It is best to first identify the type of stain (i.e. rust, oil, dirt, etc.) before selecting the cleaner. Muriatic acid tends to be too harsh on the cement content of concrete and can cause discoloration and expose aggregate. A more gentle cleaner created specifically for pavers is ideal for removing general grime and any lingering efflorescence.

Stabilizing sand joints and the use of cleaning and sealing products enhance and protect the aesthetic value and structural integrity of hardscape projects. They also reduce costly callbacks and maintenance work, and they produce long-lasting attractive jobs.

Joint Sand Stabilization

There are two primary joint sand stabilization alternatives: liquid sand stabilizers that are applied to a pavement that was installed with regular sand or pre-mixed and bagged polymeric sands. Both types usually remain flexible, unlike a mortar set application, so the pavement itself remains flexible rather than becoming a monolithic slab. Determining which product is the best to offer may vary depending on the job conditions. In the case of an existing pavement that requires frequent re-sweeping of sand, the application of a liquid sand stabilizer is probably easier than emptying the joints and refilling them with polymeric sand. A new installation presents a more difficult decision.

A liquid sand stabilizer typically costs a bit more, but it provides the added benefit of sealing the surface. However, the sealing properties of a liquid sand stabilizer aren?EUR??,,????'???t normally as good as those of a ?EUR??,,????'??true?EUR??,,????'?? sealer, and there are no options for the finished aesthetic look. Polymeric sand is a lower cost alternative both from a material and labor perspective, and different colors are available to complement the chosen paver. Polymeric sand also allows for any type of sealer to be applied.

There are a number of different types of sealers to meet specific needs or desired appearances. Some sealers enhance the color of pavers as if they are wet, while others are meant to merely preserve the original look of the paver. There are sealers available that produce a glossy sheen on the surface while others are completely invisible but provide powerful stain protection. If distinct colors are important in a multi color blend, a wet look sealer (shown here) will best help the colors to stand out. If the color is perfect from the plant and needs to be preserved as-is, then a natural look sealer fits the bill.

There are a number of different types of sealers to meet specific needs or desired appearances. Some sealers enhance the color of pavers as if they are wet, while others are meant to merely preserve the original look of the paver. There are sealers available that produce a glossy sheen on the surface while others are completely invisible but provide powerful stain protection. If distinct colors are important in a multi color blend, a wet look sealer (shown here) will best help the colors to stand out. If the color is perfect from the plant and needs to be preserved as-is, then a natural look sealer fits the bill.

Cleaning and Sealing Paving Stones

?EUR??,,????'??Cleaning and sealing pavers is typically a three step process,?EUR??,,????'?? said Steve Akin, Pavestone Company. ?EUR??,,????'??The first step is the removal of obvious stains with the appropriate spot cleaners. After spot cleaning, it?EUR??,,????'???s likely that the dirty stains will be replaced by ?EUR??,,????'??clean stains?EUR??,,????'?? on an otherwise dirty pavement. Therefore, step two of the process is to make the clean stains disappear by evening out the appearance of the pavement and preparing it to accept a sealer with the use of a general purpose cleaner, usually acid based. Muriatic acid tends to be too harsh on the cement content of concrete and can cause discoloration and expose aggregate. The third and final step is the application of the sealer itself.

Weeds in general are unsightly, but none more so than the ones that spring up through paved areas. Polymeric sand used as paving stone joint stabilizers inhibits weed growth and stays in place better than other sands because of its ability to resist erosion from water, frost, wind, street sweepers and snow plows. It is applied dry and hardens after being sprayed.

Just as there are various styles of pavers from which to choose, there are a number of different types of sealers to meet the specific needs or desired appearances. Some sealers enhance the color of pavers as if they are wet while others are meant to merely preserve the original look of the paver. There are sealers available that produce a glossy sheen on the surface. Still others are completely invisible but provide powerful stain protection. Regardless of the look, all sealers are designed to protect the paving stones themselves; some even offer UV protection to slow the impact of the sun. Like the options for joint sand stabilization, the selection of a sealer will depend on certain criteria. If the pavement to be sealed is around a pool and there will be children in it all summer, it may be best to go with a non film-forming sealer that has no impact on slip and skid resistance. If distinct colors are important in a multi color blend, a wet look sealer will best help the colors to stand out. If the color is perfect from the plant and needs to be preserved as-is, then a natural look sealer fits the bill.

Regardless of the look, all sealers are designed to protect the paving stones themselves; some even offer UV protection to slow the impact of the sun. The life span of a sealer depends on the environment, the traffic, the quality of what?EUR??,,????'???s in the can, what type of sealer is selected and a proper application. Most sealers last from three to five years, and in that amount of time they will have repelled countless stains that would otherwise prematurely age the pavement.

Building Blocks

1 to 3: Dollars per square foot,a typical price for quarried stone such as flagstone and silver mica.

48: Inches, the minimum width of a path designed to accommodate two people. A path for single file use should be about 36 inches wide. Source: On the House with the Carey Bros.

Polymeric sand is a lower cost alternative both from a material and labor perspective, and different colors are available to complement the chosen paver.