Expert Paver Tips for Restoring Them to Look Brand New.
Do your pavers look dull and faded? Are you considering redoing them? Before taking that expensive step, read this post on how to make pavers look new.
The Sarasota climate is very hard on your exterior surfaces. The sun bleaches your pavers while the rain leaves grubby deposits. The effect is a surface that looks grimy and dull before its time.
Fortunately, it’s never too late. If you’re diligent about paver cleaning, you can easily reverse the damage. Paver restoration allows you to lock in that look and prevent further damage.
Understanding the Causes of Dull Pavers
The main reason that your pavers become dull is because of the Sarasota climate, especially:
- The intense sun exposure: The UV damage fades the surface.
- Frequent rainfall: The rain deposits mud and seeps into cracks, making them bigger. It also causes erosion.
- Winter: The cold in winter causes the concrete to contract, potentially causing cracking.
Other causes are heavy traffic and not cleaning the pavers.
How To Make Old Pavers Look Better
Paver Restoration is surprisingly easy when you know how. It’s usually best to leave this to the professionals. Here are the steps we follow to make pavers look new.
Repairing Damaged Pavers
First, inspect the surface for damage. To do this effectively, you need to understand the underlying causes of the damage.
- Cracks: Cracking can be due to shifting soil, extreme temperature changes, or heavy traffic.
- Chips: Chipping occurs when you drop heavy objects or abrasive cleaning methods.
- Discoloration: The pavers can change color due to sun exposure, stains, efflorescence, or exposure to harsh chemicals. This damage doesn’t affect the structural integrity, but it doesn’t look nice.
You should fix minor issues before continuing. If it’s a small crack or chip, simply fill it. If you need more major repairs, you’ll need to reconsider your approach. You may need to level the underlying surface or replace the damaged units.
Cleaning Your Pavers
You can rejuvenate pavers using the right cleaning technique. You need to match the method with the material or risk damage:
- Concrete Pavers: These surfaces can withstand higher pressure settings. Therefore, you can use a power washer.
- Brick Pavers: Bricks are more porous than concrete and more likely to crumble. Therefore, you should turn the pressure down a little.
Sealing Pavers for Long-Lasting Results
Most customers ask us, “Does sealing pavers make them shiny?” The answer is that it depends on what product you choose. You can find a high-gloss finish to enhance pavers or a matt finish to make them look more natural.
Why seal the surface at all? The benefits include:
- Protection: Makes the surface impermeable to spills. This prevents staining.
- Enhanced Appearance: The sealant brings out the rich tones in the surface. You can also opt for an attractive high-gloss effect.
- Extends the pavers’ life span: The sealant provides a buffer against the elements. It also prevents cracking.
Long-Term Maintenance Tips
Whether you can make pavers look new depends on how you maintain the new surface. You don’t need to do much more than clean regularly. However, you should always use non-abrasive cleaning agents and tools. Most of the time, plain water is fine.
You should sweep the surface every few days to remove loose grit. You can also hose it down once a week.
Aside from that, check for signs of wear every one or two years. These include:
- A loss of shine: This means that the sealant has worn through in places. If it’s a small area, you can patch it. However, if it’s in several spots, it’s time to reseal.
- Spills or stains that are hard to remove: Again, this points to the sealant having worn through. It’s also a sign that the product is reaching the end of its life span.
- An uneven feeling underfoot: This sign is difficult to pick up on. However, if you notice gouges and unevenness, it’s time to reseal.
- A cloudy look: This sign is fairly uncommon with high-quality products. You often notice it with solvent-based sealers, though.
The Sarasota climate is hot in summer and cool in the winter. If you choose the right sealant, it will expand and contract with the extremes of temperature. However, you might want to adjust your maintenance routine according to the season.
In the winter, it’s best to sweep to remove grit. You should wash the pavers every week and a half to two weeks. In the summer, you need to keep an eye out for organic growth like algae, mold, and mildew. This means more regular cleaning.
You should always budget for resealing every two to five years. How long you need to wait between each session depends on how much traffic your pavers handle. The more you use it, the faster the sealer will wear through.
If you’re unsure of the ideal maintenance schedule, speak to your contractor.
Ready to Make Your Pavers Look Brand New? Contact Us Today for Expert Cleaning and Restoration in Sarasota!
Restore your pavers and save a whole lot of cash. Call Patrick’s Paver Sealing at (941) 799-1571 for professional paver sealing services in Sarasota today! Schedule a consultation and see the stunning results for yourself. We’ll make pavers look new again.
