The backyard of your dreams has finally come to life.
After weeks of design consultations, product selections, and installation, your family can begin to enjoy your new living space in the beautiful outdoors of Northern Michigan.
The hot dogs are fresh off the stunning built-in grill, marshmallows are toasting over the natural fire pit, and friends and family sit at the patio table enjoying drinks and laughs well after it gets dark. You sunk some serious cash into this space, and it has been worth it all summer long.
Packing up the cushions from your patio chairs and removing your annuals as fall rolls in, you look forward to next summer when you can relax outdoors again, but is your patio ready to take the beating of a Traverse City winter? What do you need to do next year so it looks just as great as it did when it was installed?
Check out our three tips to protect your investment, and ensure your patio looks exactly how you would like it to for years to come.
1. Consider Sealing Your Patio
Depending on the product you chose and how you like your patio to look, you may need to seal your pavers frequently in Northern Michigan.
The hard winters and usually sunny summers can make your patio not look as bright as it did after installation. Beyond just the way it looks, there are several reasons to seal your patio.
Ultimately, be sure to have a professional seal your patio. Many hardscape products have a warranty, and if a professional does not complete the work the warranty no longer stands. They have the right tools and the knowledge of how to seal your product correctly.
2. Clean Your Patio
Most manufacturers recommend just warm soapy water and a deck brush. Avoid using wire or metal brushes as they can scratch or remove the sealant from your stones.
DO NOT power wash your patio. Polymeric sand was installed to assist in preventing weed growth, hold your pavers in place, and prevent washout. Power washing your patio will likely remove polymeric sand, and a team of professionals will need to come back out to fill it back in.
For a homeowner, repairing polymeric sand that was blown out can be a time-consuming process. Homeowner use of a power washer can also void some product warranties as well.
Most manufacturers recommend just warm soapy water and a deck brush. Avoid using wire or metal brushes as they can scratch or remove the sealant from your stones.
DO NOT power wash your patio. Polymeric sand was installed to assist in preventing weed growth, hold your pavers in place, and prevent washout. Power washing your patio will likely remove polymeric sand, and a team of professionals will need to come back out to fill it back in.
For a homeowner, repairing polymeric sand that was blown out can be a time-consuming process. Homeowner use of a power washer can also void some product warranties as well.
3. Care for Your Pavers in Winter Months
If your pavers are installed on a driveway or an area that needs to be clear in the winter months, be sure to be aware of how you are clearing snow and what type of products you are using to melt ice.
For walkways or small areas, be sure to use a plastic shovel with no metal edge.
If plowing, consult with a professional if your product is one that is a good candidate for successful plowing or if snow blowing would be a better choice. If you decide to plow or hire a company to plow, ensure the plow has a plastic blade cover such as Teflon. Any metal blades directly scrapping across your pavers will scratch them.
Most products discourage the use of de-icer use directly onto the product itself. Calcium and sodium chloride products tend be safer for pavers than magnesium chloride, but this can depend on the product. Consult the professionals who installed your product or check out the product websites for guides on what is safe for your specific paver or stone.
As a final winter reminder, remember to cover your paver patio equally. If you chose to leave your table out and cover it with a tarp for example, be sure to cover as little of the patio as possible. That area of the patio will not get the same amount of sunlight and weathering as the rest of the patio and this may show when summer rolls around.
Maintain your Patio with a Professional
Maintaining a paver or brick patio is not very complicated if it was installed correctly. A few simple steps like cleaning up spills quickly, brushing leaves off, and taking note of what products and equipment is used during the winter months can help your investment last for years to come. Having a professional team clean and apply sealer to your patio can improve the look of your patio greatly as well!
Looking for help maintaining your property through the seasons? We provide excellent comprehensive residential and commercial year-round maintenance services that give you more time to spend doing exactly what you want. Get started today!
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