Improving Your Curb Appeal by giving New Life to your Pavers

Improving Your Curb Appeal by giving New Life to your Pavers

Eventually, all type of exterior tile or natural stone will suffer weathering from continual exposure to the elements no matter where you live or any precautions you take. For that matter, you may be looking for ways to improve the look of your outside space when it comes to your pavers. Some people prefer this weathering, and others prefer the clean look of freshly installed stone, it’s just a matter of preference. However, all paving stones can be restored to their original state with knowledge and know how. We have put together some tips to improve your homes curb appeal by giving new life to your pavers. Improving your homes curb appeal means you’ll be in a position to get a better sales price or to have a quicker sale turnaround if you are in the market to sell your home. If you are not interested in selling, good curb appeal will be an enjoyable addition for your family and your guests. It’s a great way to make your outdoor space more enjoyable and to give the same space a new look. The great thing about pavers is they are relatively low maintenance.

Image: Georgia Pavers Restoration

Simple
A solution of a common household product is a great way to start. White vinegar is a nontoxic, environmentally friendly cleaner that will not harm you, your children or your pets. You can clean paver stone with a solution of equal parts of common white vinegar and water. Vinegar is a mild organic acid that will eat away most common mineral deposits and weathering from the face of tiles and stones. The solution needs to be applied to the surface and then allowed to sit for several minutes, after which you need to scrub the surface with a scrub brush and then rinse it with clean water. Vinger is also a natural weed killer if you are having issues with weeds around your pavers.

Power Washer
If cleaning your pavers with vinegar hasn't worked, but they're in good standing with no damage, you can always try some tough love. Blast the surface with a pressure washer to remove the buildup of dust, dirt, grass, leaves, and debris, as well as spills that may have occurred. This is a good option if you have access to a pressure washer, as you don’t need to use any chemicals. Normal water can be used with a direct jet of water from the nozzle end of the pressure water. You can make multiple passes if necessary, but the pressure washer will peel back any buildup to reveal the natural stone beneath. It can also be used in combination with the vinegar and water solution above in place of hand scrubbing. After power washing, you will also need to replace any missing sand between pavers.

Tough Stuff
If the above tips didn’t help you may need to try something with more power. You can purchase a stone cleaner to use if pressure washing and vinegar/water does not show the desired results. While chemical solutions are readily available in any home improvement store, you should use caution. They should be ONLY be used for the most stubborn of weathering buildup. If not used properly they can cause damage to your surrounding grass or natural environment. You will need to follow the manufacturer directions for mixing, direct application, washing, rinsing, and disposal.

Muriatic Acidmay maybe another solution if you happen to have a particularly difficult buildup of minerals and weathering on the surface of the stone, you can purchase at a home improvement or hardware store. While it will not harm natural stones, be aware that you cannot use muriatic acid if your paving stones are man-made or cement-based. Muriatic acid eats through anything that contains cement and is ideal for calcium and salt buildups. If you have any question if you will be able to perform ANY of the above steps it's highly recommended that to proceed to the next step without question.

When in Doubt Higher a Professional
If you have damage to your existing pavers or just don’t have the material or time to do it yourself your best bet is to higher a professional. Georgia Paver Restoration could be the perfect solution for you. They offered a verity of services like paver sealing, paver cleaning, paver repair, and installation services. They are passionate about their customer's service and stand behind the quaily of their work. With years of experience on all types of pavers and natural stone, Georgia Paver Restoration is your expert in hardscape cleaning, sealing, and repair. They offer a full-service hardscape restoration solution for your patio, walkway, driveway and pool deck in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.