Why should stone and concrete pavers be cleaned and sealed?
Stone
and Concrete is commonly
used in the construction of Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways,
Driveways, Garage & Basement Floors, Brick, Block and Mortar.
Concrete paving materials are offered in the form of Exposed
Aggregate, Patterned Concrete, Paving Stones (commonly referred to
as interlocking stones) Slab or Pre-Cast. Concrete can be natural
or colored with pigments and is found just about everywhere you
look.
The appearance and/or integrity of
concrete can be effected by the following:
Staining caused by the
absorption of Engine Oils, Transmission and Brake fluids,
Automotive and Barbecue Grease, Rust, Paint, Rubber, Red Wines
or Colas, Tree Berries or Sap, Bird Droppings and Animal Urine.
Stains are aesthetically unattractive and may be difficult to
remove unless the stone or concrete is previously protected.
Acid Rain
will continually dissolve the concrete's colour pigments and erode
the finish of the pavement until it is left dull and pitted.
UV rays & Chlorine
based Swimming Pool Chemicals will dramatically fade coloured concrete
or stone over time.
Freeze-Thaw Cycles
(caused by water absorption into the concrete pores from rain or
melting snow on Fall and Winter days where the temperature is
above 0 degrees Celsius. Night time temperatures drop below 0
degrees Celsius and cause this absorbed water to freeze and
expand, breaking down the concrete cells and it's overall
integrity. Over time this will cause erosion, shoaling and
pop-outs. For great examples of this, examine any new sidewalk
compared to a 5, 10, 15 & 20 year old sidewalk. The difference is
shockingly obvious.
De-Icing Salts
can pit the concrete's smooth surface within one winter's use if
left unprotected.
Efflorescence Deposits
(white soluble salts which create a whitish haze on concrete
surfaces). Efflorescence will obscure the true colour of your
pavement, slow down moisture evaporation and trap dirt in surface
pores. Efflorescence is present in most concrete and "must" be
removed from the surface prior to sealing.
Weeds
and other vegetation will grow
in-between the paving sand joints as seedlings take root in the
surface of the dirt contaminated low sand levels.
Sand loss
from the paving joints is
inevitable with wind, rain wash out and tire pick-up. This will
lead to instability in the paving stones and the essential stable
base below. Sand joint stabilization is imperative.
Stains
and damage can be avoided by using premium sealers, repellents and paints.
More info about different stones and the
right sealer
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