Paving stone - or more popularly as paving - adds a decorative element to any situation. Whether the paving is used for a walk through the garden/park, installed on a patio, or as a driveway for cars/vehicles, the paving you install will lose its luster over time. Luckily, you can restore paving conditions with a mild cleaning solution, a stiff bristle broom, replacement sand, and sealant (Sealants are gap-filling adhesives as well as coatings that prevent water/dust/dirt from seeping in).
Step
Part 1 of 2: Cleaning Paving
Step 1. Get rid of furniture and plants
Remove potted plants or any furniture that is in the cleaning area, depending on the location of the paving in your home. When doing cleaning you need a surface that is free of obstacles.
Cover with any landscaping tarps around the site that might be damaged by water or the chemicals in cleaning products. Also make sure to cover metal items
Step 2. Remove moss and weeds
Use a broom or a brush with stiff bristles to shake and remove any moss that has grown on the pavers or in the gaps between the pavers. Carefully pull out weeds that grow on the sidelines of the paving. When all the moss and weeds have been removed, brush off the remaining dirt from the paving surface.
If you're removing a lot of sand under your paving due to weeding (or haven't had a sand change in years), you should replace it as soon as cleaning is complete
Step 3. Saturate the paving surface
Before you start cleaning the paving surface with soap or any type of cleaning agent, thoroughly flush the area with water. In this area you don't need to pressurize; the paving just needs to be moistened so it doesn't absorb the cleaner and a dingy thin layer of algae/moss.
Step 4. Prepare the cleaning solution
There are several different types of cleaners you can use to clean paving. The safest cleaner is a mixture of warm water and a mild household cleaning agent, such as dishwashing detergent. Fill an 18 liter bucket with water and add about 472 ml (±2 cups) of dishwashing detergent. Mix the detergent into the water thoroughly. After the cleaning solution is ready, immediately pour a small amount of the solution onto the paving surface slowly. Perform cleaning in small areas at a time.
- There are also special cleaning solutions available in the market according to the type of paving material (concrete, clay, travertine / limestone, etc.). These special cleaners can be purchased at building materials stores. Consider asking store employees for advice on the type of cleaner that is suitable for paving in your home.
- Whatever cleaner you use, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions which are usually printed on the packaging. Be careful with cleaners that have a high acid content; Such cleaners can damage the paving and prove harmful to children, pets and plants around the paving.
Step 5. Brush the paving surface with a stiff bristle brush
Use a stiff bristle brush/broom to rub the cleaning solution on the paving surface. Scrubbing vigorously with a stiff bristle broom will loosen deeply embedded dirt and stains.
You may need to let the cleaning solution sit on the paving surface for some time, depending on the type of cleaning solution you use. This will help the cleaner to seep through the hardened dirt
Step 6. Rinse the area
As soon as you finish scrubbing and cleaning the paving surface, gently rinse with clean water to rinse and drain the cleaning solution into the nearest drain. To rinse off the cleaner, you can use a regular water hose or use a mechanical sprayer (high pressure sprayer) to remove stubborn stains.
However, high pressure sprayers sometimes do more harm than good (i.e. eroding sand in the gaps between pavings). So, be careful if you decide to use a high pressure atomizer
Step 7. Replace the sand on the paving
After all the paving is completely clean, the gaps between the pavings need to be filled with sand. Open a sandbag and pour about 1/3 of it onto a small part of the paving surface. Sweep the sand over the entire surface of the paving with a dry stiff bristled broom.
You may need to add more sand to fill all the gaps between the pavers
Step 8. Water the paving that has been sanded with a light spray
As soon as all the sand is dispersed into the gaps between the pavers, spray them lightly with a light spray. Or if you are using a mechanical atomizer, set it to mist spray mode (mist). Misty spraying will allow the sand to penetrate the gaps between the pavers well. Try not to saturate the paving and scatter the newly installed sand with a strong spray.
Part 2 of 2: Coating Paving with Sealant
Step 1. Consult an expert
Visit a building materials store to consult an expert about the type of sealant you should use on the paving surfaces in your home based on the paving material and appearance you prefer. The sealant will protect the paving and make maintenance easier.
In addition to receiving expert advice, always follow the directions on the sealant project you intend to use. Wear safety gloves to protect your hands from the harsh chemicals contained in the sealant
Step 2. Apply the first coat of sealant
Pour the sealant into the paint tray/tray, and use a long-handled roller brush to apply the sealant over the paving surface. Make sure you start from an area that allows you to move around it and don't get stuck in a corner.
- As before when cleaning paving: make sure you can still step over the paving while working. You don't have to trap yourself in one corner.
- The instructions on the sealant should state the time required for the first coat to dry, before the second coat can be applied.
Step 3. Apply a second coat of sealant
When the first coat of sealant is completely dry, add a second coat of sealant. If the color of the paving begins to darken, it indicates that the paving is absorbing the sealant well.
Try not to leave a puddle of sealant anywhere. If you see this happen, smooth out the puddle with a roller brush
Step 4. Allow the sealant to dry
Allow at least 24 hours for the sealant to dry completely before allowing people/vehicles to pass on the paving surface. If you want to check the progress of the drying process, you can use your finger to gently touch the surface of the paving.
Step 5. Return the furniture to its original place
When the sealant is completely dry (after at least a full 24 hours), return all furniture and plant pots to their original place. You can also remove tarps that cover surrounding plants or metal furniture surfaces.
Tips
- Troubleshooting tarnished paving may be very easy, simply by turning the paving over so that the reverse side is visible.
- Sprinkle a suction material such as cat litter or sawdust on the grease/oil stain. Let stand for one day, then clean the suction material by watering it.
- If only some of the paving is heavily stained, it may be easier to replace it.
