Interlocking patios, driveways, and pathways are stunning and can significantly increase the curb appeal of your home. They can last for years as long as they are properly maintained. The pavers or stones will only start to look bad when they begin to sink or become loose, or weeds start to grow between them. To ensure that they remain in the best condition for a long time, they require routine maintenance and repair from professional landscaping contractors , just like any other part of your house.
If not, they might begin to sag or loosen to the point where they may become quite unappealing to look at and destroy the entire appeal of your home. Here are some recommendations to help you prevent these circumstances by performing some basic maintenance.
Consider Coating With Sealers
Consider applying sealer to your interlock driveway and patio surfaces to add an extra layer of defence against surface deterioration and staining that will inevitably occur over time. It will also assist you in preserving the paver’s original colour and extending its lifespan. A paver typically needs to be resealed every two to three years.
Before applying the sealer, make sure the paver surface is free of any materials, such as dust, leaves, and debris. Use a sprayer or a brush to sweep and clean the surface. Commercial paver sealers are now widely available on the market and can be tailored to the needs and types of pavers. It is always a good idea to hire a professional landscaping contractor to perform this for excellent results.
Clean With Power Washing
Power washers evenly distribute the pressure to ensure that your interlock driveway or patio is cleaned thoroughly and uniformly. You must replace the sand in the stone joints with landscaping sand or high-quality polymeric sand as doing so will remove the sand.
Make sure to remove all unwanted pieces from the joints so that the polymeric sand has more room to sink in and concretize the pavement. This brings us to our next recommendation.
Use Polymeric Sand
Polymeric sand is regarded as one of the best options for interlock driveway and patio joints. Its structure makes it simple to seep between the small gaps in the pavers and thicken the surface. Additionally, it prevents weeds from growing in the joints and cracks of the foliage. Further, polymeric sand shields your paver from the destruction caused by common pests like ants, which love patio sand.
The main benefit of polymeric sand for your landscaping design over regular sand is its durability, which will lower your long-term maintenance costs. Use this variation if you are building a new patio or driveway. When designing your landscape, you can swap out your regular sand for polymeric sand if the original design calls for it.
The old sand can be broken down with a pressure washer. Sweep the polymeric sand into the joints once the surface has dried completely, and then mist the surface very lightly. To ensure no gaps are left, you can then sweep over it again.
Also Read: Why Interlocking Driveways Are Not A DIY Project
Mist The Area
To ensure that the sand settles in and holds the stones firmly in place, it is a good idea to thoroughly mist all the stones. To avoid stirring up the sand and driving it away, make sure to only spray a light mist. The steps above should be followed about every two years to preserve the integrity of the interlocked driveway, patio, or pathway.
Reset The Pavers
By removing the pavers that need to be reset, you can fix an uneven paver surface. The surface should then be leveled by adding a small amount of sand to the base course. Make sure to compact the extra sand before replacing the pavers.
Sweep polymeric sand into the joints after the pavers have been replaced. Remember that this is only a simple fix you can carry out independently. However, it is advised to hire professional landscape contractors for repair services if the paver damage is too severe to restore it fully.
About Burloak Landscaping
Burloak Landscaping is a full-service landscaping design and construction company. We have extensive experience with interlocking patios, pools, and driveways. From landscape design to the setup of pools, patios, driveways, and landscape lighting, we have the know-how to transform your uninspiring property into a paradise. Learn more about Burloak Landscaping.
Are you considering an interlocking patio or driveway? Contact us now.
