How to Clean and Maintain Your Patio Slabs

Your patio must be in top shape at all times – it begins by choosing top-quality paving slabs and ensuring you install the Patio Slabs the right way. If you aren’t a landscaping professional, hire an expert to help with the installation process. These experts understand how to lay the slabs and prevent water pooling. Moreover, they know how to prepare the sub-base so that the slabs remain in position for a long time.

Patio Slabs

As the property owner, you also have a role to play in ensuring the outdoor space looks fresh and inviting at all times – the answer is patio cleaning and maintenance. A proper maintenance routine also improves the longevity of the paving slabs. So, what does a proper patio cleaning and maintenance routine look like?

Seal the Slabs as Required

Some people underestimate the importance of sealing slabs. However, you should know that sealing your slabs is a strategy to enhance the longevity and aesthetic appeal of your outdoor space. For example, the sealant provides an additional protection layer. So, Sealing the slabs creates a water-resistant barrier on the surface, preventing water from seeping into the porous material. Besides, the sealant prevents stains from penetrating the slabs’ surfaces – the slabs can, therefore, maintain their enticing visual appeal while being easy to clean.

How frequently should you seal the slabs? That depends on the volume of traffic the patio is exposed handles and how exposed the space is to agents of wear and tear including UV rays and environmental factors that can break down the sealant over time. The ideal frequency is after every 2 to 3 years – use top-quality sealants.

Inspect Your Patio Regularly

As part of your maintenance routine, make it a habit to inspect your patio regularly. Through these inspections, you can identify problems in the slabs early. For instance, you can identify loose and cracked slabs, instances of weed growth, and any other issue that can damage your patio.

The inspection routine doesn’t have to consume a lot of your time. The best place to begin is visual inspection - you can spot issues such as cracks, uneven slabs, and deteriorating mortar. Pay close attention to the edges of the patio, as these areas are often more vulnerable to movement and erosion. Other issues you should assess during the inspections include:

·         Test the stability of the slabs

·         Monitor slab drainage

·         Assess any signs of surface damage

Sweep and Wash Your Slab Surface Regularly

Dirt, leaves, and other debris accumulates on your patio surface in the course of its use. They make your patio unsightly. So, it’s critical to sweep this dirt off your patio to keep it pristine all year round. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be a laborious task if you have top-quality slabs – just sweep the surface of the patio with a bristled brush. Periodic washing with water helps remove loose dirt, mud, and other surface contaminants that sweeping might miss.

If the slabs have engrained dirt, a low-pressure wash could be the best alternative. This washing technique is particularly effective where you intend to remove ingrained dirt, moss, algae, and mildew.

What happens in a case where the slabs have stubborn stains from food, drinks, oil, or rust? a mild detergent and water with a sponge can effectively remove these stains. Harsh chemicals could negatively affect the structural stability of the slabs.

Keep your Outdoor Slabs in top shape at all times. Sealing enhances the visual appeal of the slabs while protecting them from agents of wear and tear including harsh weather conditions. Inspect the patio regularly to identify any issues that require your attention. Besides, proper patio sweeping and washing are critical.

Outdoor Slabs