Best Interlocking Maintenance Tips for Homeowners
Your outdoor areas can be made more functional and beautiful with the amazing power of interlocking stone surfaces. Whether it’s an exquisite driveway, a charming interlocking stone patio, or a lovely pathway, these surfaces give your home a distinct charm that never goes out of style.
But with such beauty also comes the need for regular upkeep and care so that these surfaces can keep their attractiveness year after year.
Our top 10 care suggestions for interlocking stone surfaces are covered in detail in this extensive guide. Following these recommendations religiously will ensure that your outside spaces stay welcoming and make an impression.
Interlocking pavers must be properly maintained in order to keep their original beauty. Failing to keep up with the interlock maintenance, your paver could grow weeds, start to shift and sink in. We have all seen those driveways! Tire tracks leading to the garage, weed infested pavers, oil spots everywhere and trip hazard as far the eye reaches. All those ugly eye sores could have been prevented with proper and regular maintenance.
Here is our Top 10 List on how to maintain interlocking surfaces
- Regular Cleaning is way to go
Interlocking surfaces need regular wash, leafs blown off and debris removed. Dirt, grime, leafs, debris or any other contaminant sitting longer period of time on your interlocking pavers will discolour and possibly damage your interlocking surfaces. Use leaf blower to blow off leafs, branches, small stones and gravel from the pavers. Use garden hose and wash throughout all pavers. This will wash off baked on dirt and sal residues collected over days and months. This step will prevent plant spores to dig in and germinate. Follow this step on monthly basis.
2. Use mild detergents and degreasers for stains
Accidents happen and oil dripping from cars can happen at any time. Children can use crayons or chalk on our pavers or we spill organic matter while moving garbage containers. These stains can be removed by using of proper detergents and degreasers. Motor oil would probably the harshest stain you will deal with on your property. Speed is the key! Once you discover a drop or two, it is crucial that you spray or pour degreaser on effected spots as soon as possible. Motor oil will otherwise go deep into the paver block and it will be very hard to remove. Once the degreaser was sitting on affected areas for about 20 minutes, use hot water if available to wash the stains off. Hot water will further brake down oils, making it easier to remove. If stains still remain, repeat those steps until you have satisfactory results. For other stains you can use other mild detergents. Do not use harsh chemicals as those could discolour your pavers and destroy you sealer.
3. Edge your lawn every time you move the lawn
Edging will prevent grass to move onto your interlocking surfaces. Grass roots are very strong and will dig deep if not kept in check. Edge your lawn about 2 inches away from pavers every time you move the lawn. Use leaf blower to blow off all lawn trimmings.
4. Inspect you paver for weeds and ant nests
Even with best cleaning routine weeds and ant nests can happen. Inspecting pavers for those interlocking killers can prevent further damages. Remove weeds and ant nests as soon as they appear. You could use speciality detergents, chemicals or even mild vinegar. Spraying those on effected spots will prevent further growth and spread.
5. Seal you pavers every 2-3 years
Sealing pavers is crucial in proper maintenance intervals. Sealers will protect and prevent environmental impact. Don’t get me wrong, our nature will always take its course, we can not bubble wrap our pavers, harsh winter and sun will have an impact on our properties, but, protecting our outdoor surfaces with best products will extend the lifetime and prevent preemptive damages. To seal our pavers with any local home improvement store sealer is still better than not using any! Better, more expansive sealers will have better protection and professional sealers especially acetone and oil based sealers will protect your interlocking pavers batter than any other. These professional sealers are hard to get and buying wrong sealers can cause even more greave. For professional outcome, contacting interlock maintenance professionals will get you the best outcome.
6. Pressure wash gently interlock pavers
Months after months dirt, grime and other contaminants can collect despite proper cleaning procedures. Here you can use pressure washer to clean your pavers. To use pressure washer means to know what pressure washer can do and how pressure washer can cause damages if not used properly. Get familiar with the pressure washer on surfaces that are nor important. Start pressure washing on corner edges first and if you get satisfactory results, you can move more towards the middle of your driveway or walkway. Do not use rotational nozzles or power nozzles a those will remove your polymeric sand in between the pavers.
7. Add polymeric sand for stability
Polymeric sand is the component that sits between the pavers. It holds levers together and prevents those from moving. Should you see checks or deeper grovers in between paver stones, adding more polymers sand will stabilize your pavers. In order to do this right, wash your interlocking surfaces first, let it dry for about 48-72 hours and add polymeric sand thereafter. Gently use soft brush to have all paver seems filled equally, gently remove excessive sand from pavers and gently sprinkle water over newly added polymer sand. Do not use a stream of water, this way the sand will be washer off. Instead turn your garden hose nozzle to shower or to drizzle. Polymer sand needs to be wet in order to harden. Soak the pavers, but do not over due it, do not wash the sand off. After couple of hours the sand will be hardened and your pavers can be used. You can also seal your pavers 48-72 hours later.
8. Repair damaged pavers
Perhaps you have a large tree beside your driveway or you just bought a home where some of the pavers are not perfect? In this case, the only remaining thing is to replace or repair the pavers. Remove uneven pavers at a larger radius than the shift it selves. Remove pavers using flat surfaces, avoid using screwdrivers ad those can damage other healthy pavers. After removing the affected area, remove also the sand and soil underneath. Use quartz sand to fill the area and compound it with tools designed for such use. Make sure the ground is smooth and levelled before putting back pavers. Level pavers and add polymeric sand in between. Use vibrational compounders for levelling the pavers. Water your pavers and reseal the surfaces.
9. Ensure proper drainage on all interlock surfaces
Interlock longevity is given with top paver installation. Make sure that you or contractors use slops to ensure proper water drainage. Avoid flat of sinking surfaces. Should you see sunken pavers after years of installation, these affected areas need to be repaired.
10. Inspect pavers regularly
Regular inspection does not need to be playing Sherlock Homes with magnifier glass! Instead walk around your pavers and watch out for weeds, proper edging, shifting, ant nests and cracks. Protect your investment with knowledge and best interlock maintenance practices.
Our homes are our oasis and by keeping up with all necessary maintenance schedules, we will have the best curb appeal while saving money. Remember, every $100 spend on maintenance is $1000 saved on repairs!
Should you like an interlocking professional to do the work for you, contact Como Maintenance Services for all your interlocking maintenance, repair and new installation needs. Como Maintenance Crew uses only the best sealers, pavers and polymer sands on the market. Added together with best maintenance schedules and know-how, Como Maintenance Services is the winning solution for you interlocking surface needs.
