6019 N. Blossom Ave., Tampa, FL carl@picturesquepavers.com (813) 598-9997

**Maintenance of Your Concrete Pavers

PREVENTION OF WEEDS AND ANTS:

Weeds can germinate between pavers from windblown seeds that lodge in the joints. They do not grow from the bedding sand, base or soil. Weeds can be removed by hand or with herbicides. Use of biodegradeable products that will not damage other vegetation or pollute water supplies when washed from the pavement surface is recommended. Applying a sealer to the pavers surfaces can prevent seeds from germinating and also prevent ants from entering.

COLOR AND WEAR:

Color in concrete pavers is achieved by adding pigment to the concrete mix during production. The cement in the concrete mix holds the pigments in place. They are very stable, showing little change in their properties over time. As the pavers wear from traffic or weather, the cement and pigment particles are gradually eroded causing a color change over time. Like all pavements, concrete pavers receive dirt from foot or tire traffic which changes the surface color. One way to moderate the rate of change is by cleaning and sealing the paver surface. In addition to enhancing their color, applying a sealer to the pavers can prevent dirt from lodging in their surface.

REMOVING STAINS:

There are commercial stain removers available that are specifically made for removing stains from concrete pavers. The container label will provide a list of all stains that can be removed. Identify the stain before applying the cleaner and a test application in a small area should be done to test the effectiveness of the cleaner. Some stains may require repeated applications. Be careful not to remove any sealer that may have been applied to the pavers.

A booklet entitled "Removing Stains from Concrete" by William H. Kuenning describes some methods for removing some of the more common stains. Some of their suggestions are as follows:

• Asphalt - Chill with ice, scrape away and scrub the surface with scouring or abrasive powder. Rinse thoroughly with water.
• Blood, candy, ketchup, mustard, grease drippings from food -Try to treat these stains immediately. For stubborn stains, apply liquid deterget full strength and allow it to penetrate for 20-30 minutes. Scrub and rinse with hot water.
• Chewing gum - Scrape off excess and scrub with a poultice of denatured alcohol. Rinse with hot water and detergent.
• Efflorescence - Efflorescence is the whitish deposit which appears on pavers as a result of the calcium hydroxide in the paver migrating to the surface of the paver and reacting to the calcium dioxide in the air to form calcium carbonate or efflorescence. It will eventually disappear on its own, but a proprietary efflorescence can be used on it as well.
• Leaf, wood rot and tobacco stains - Apply bleach and scrub with a stiff, bristled brush.
• Mortar - Let harden and carefully remove hardened spots with a trowel, putty knife or chisel.
• Paint - Fresh paint should be mopped up immediately with rags or paper towels by blotting. Do not wipe as it will spread the paint. If it is latex and water based, soak and then scrub the area with hot water, scouring powder and a stiff brush. For dried paint. scape any excess oil based paint, varnish or paint off the paver surface. Apply a commercial paint remover and let it sit for 20-30 minutes and then loosen with gentle scrubbing. Do not rub the loosened paint into the paver surface, but instead, blot it up.
• Tire skid marks - Scrub the skid marks with water, detergent and scouring powder.

 

** From the ICPI's "Peak Performance from Concrete Pavers"