Are your patio pavers looking dingy and old? Are you thinking about replacing them?
You should first know patio pavers are a big a best investment. The average paver patio costs around $15 a square foot to replace, which can run you anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 to replace depending on size.
But there’s actually another solution instead of shelling out thousands of dollars. You can clean them!
Here’s a handy instruction guide for how to clean patio pavers by pressure washing.
How to Clean Pavers Overview
Patios make a huge difference in your home’s curb appeal. You want them to stay nice so they don’t have a negative impact on your home’s look. Even though pavers are very durable and reliable, they can still begin to get a little scruffy after all the fun barbecues and weather conditions.
Miss the days when your patio used to sparkle? No need to worry — cleaning pavers is pretty simple!
If you maintain your pavers, cleaning is less time-consuming. Regular maintenance and cleaning are also important to save you money because you won’t have to restore or replace them.
You should power wash your patio annually. You may need to purchase a basic cleaning solution for your pavers.
Be sure you test this solution on a small area before you clean the whole patio. This way you know that the solution won’t discolor your entire patio!
Cleaning your pavers properly has more benefits than just making them look nice. Regular cleanings make your pavers more durable and safer.
Pressure Washing
Using a pressure washer to clean your pavers helps remove any tough stains and breakdown all buildups. Grass, leaves, dust, debris, and spills leave marks on your patio.
You can rent or buy a power washer, or you can try a high-pressure setting on your hose nozzle. You may need to hit a couple areas twice to make sure they’re completely clean.
The key to not damaging your patio is in not using too much pressure where you don’t need to. You may need to use a higher setting to remove a stain, but you should probably take the pressure setting down on other areas of your patio.
Make sure you keep the stream on the pavers and not hit the joints directly. This could cause your pavers to get dislodged. It’s normal for some of the sand in the joints to get displaced, so just brush it back after you are done pressure washing.
After pressure washing, you should add a new layer of polymeric sand. You need to activate the polymers for it to harden. You can do this by applying a light mist to the sand.
Other Ways to Clean Patio Pavers
As mentioned, you should clean your patio pavers annually with a pressure washer. If you’re looking to clean other times, here are some other methods:
1. Soap and Water
You can use everyday dish soap to clean your pavers. Add some soap in a bowl and add water. Then start lightly scrubbing the dirty spots.
2. Simple Green
Simple Green is a great cleaning soap for patio paver stones. It does not have any harsh chemicals to discolor or ruin your stones.
3. White Vinegar and Water
Another natural way to touch-up your paver stones is to use a mixture of water and white vinegar. You have to use white vinegar because dark vinegar could stain. Let the vinegar mixture sit on the pavers for about an hour before using soap and water to scrub any stains.
4. Use a Broom
It’s important to remove dirt regularly from your patio stones. Grab a broom and sweep at least once a week.
If you think it’s going to rain, grab the broom and do a quick sweep because leaves can stain your paver stones when they get wet.
Removing Weeds
You don’t want weeds to ruin your newly-cleaned pavers. Weeds grow between the seams and are more than eyesores; they can also weaken these seams.
Use an anti-weed agent to solve this problem. Powdered herbicides are easy to sprinkle along the seams to combat those nuisance weeds. Be sure you remove any weeds you see by hand.
Sealing Pavers
You spend time cleaning your pavers, so it’s important to protect your investment even more by sealing it. Sealants protect against Mother Nature and can help prevent chipping. You should re-seal your patio pavers at least every couple of years.
The sealers will also help guard against stains because they add a protective thin coat. Apply sealers with a paintbrush after your patio is fully cleaned. Any debris on your patio prevents the sealer from bonding and protecting your pavers.
Repair Grout Lines
Keeping a clean patio helps your pavers last longer but sometimes you need to re-grout, especially if you use your patio often. Re-grouting seams is pretty simple. Use a putty knife to apply a small amount of grout where you need it.
Make sure you remove any excess grout from the pavers because it could stain. Use a wire brush to remove the dried grout traces. You can also use a grout-specific sealer to protect the seams if your patio has a lot of foot traffic.
Replace Pavers
No matter how often you clean, you may need to replace a few pavers. It’s relatively easy to replace a stone or paver without damaging the surrounding areas. Getting rid of that damaged stone will enhance your patio instantly.
Looking for a Pressure Washing Company?
If you pressure wash your pavers correctly, it will help your property look good as new. Don’t fret if you don’t want to handle pressure washing. It can be intimidating because you don’t want to ruin your patio and displace the pavers.
Now you know how to clean patio pavers, but maybe you want some help from an expert because you don’t have time or patience to get it done.
You can always contact us at Vista Pro for a quote to clean any part of your home’s exterior. Vista Pro and The Grounds Guys cleans it all from pavers, windows, gutters, siding, and more.