Cleaning pavers is not a one-time affair. It should be done periodically to ensure that the pavement remains intact and in good condition for a long time. Care should be taken to ensure that detritus does not accumulate after the cleaning is done.
Preventive maintenance measures have to be taken up regularly to ensure that there is no reemergence of any sort of weeds that will damage the appearance and stability after cleaning pavers.
Check if there is proper drainage facility for the pavement. Rain water or water that is used during cleaning should not stagnate. Moisture will serve as a breeding ground for a variety of organisms that will infest the pavement in no time. Discuss with a landscape consultant or building contractor about the proper way of draining away used or rain water.
Pavements that have regular movement of vehicles and people tend to develop cracks, loose joints, or broken blocks. Even regular cleaning and weathering over time might lead to the above problems. They have to be fixed immediately after cleaning pavers to ensure stability.
Joints between blocks in the pavement have sand. Seepage of rain water and water used for cleaning will make the sand moist and lead to loosening of joints. The joints have to be filled with sand immediately and sealed with cement mortar.
There are joint stabilizers available in the market that can be used to bind adjacent loose blacks of a pavement. They do not provide a permanent solution to the loose joints but will enable it to withstand the wear and tear for sometime. They are not useful in case the joints are wider and the pavements are made of cobblestone, flagstone etc.
Joint stabilizers act like a glue. They have to be mixed with water and applied to the whole pavement. The water portion evaporates after sometime while the glue part attaches the loose joints by binding the sand sufficiently with the help of detritus and dust that has been washed in while cleaning pavers.
Broken blocks in the pavement should be removed and replaced with new ones. Cracks if big should be appropriately repaired. If the cracks are minor and unnoticeable they should be left untouched as meddling with them might cause other problems.
If there are trees, creepers, or other plants that are shading the pavement it is advisable to cut off the branches or move the plants to another spot to ensure that the pavement receives direct sunlight. Exposure to sunlight will prevent moisture and retard the reemergence of any weeds, algae, or fungi.
Weed killers should be used once in three months to prevent growth of any unwanted plants. They can be sprayed or mixed in water according to the instructions of the manufacturer and poured on to the pavement.
Concrete sealer should be applied after cleaning pavers. Consult an expert for professional advice regarding the type of concrete sealing, method of application, and other relevant details as there are a wide variety of sealants available in the market. Sealants ensure that the appearance of the pavement remains unaffected for a long time.
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