The 4 Step Guide To A Cleaner Patio

It's a given that most paved outdoor garden areas are going to need maintenance. This is due to their design where there are small gaps between slab stones , flagstones or whatever you decided to lay. Most professional landscapers or semi decent enthusiasts will fill these crevices or cracks with a compound filler or cement of some description. However over time it is only inevitable that at some point with wear and tear weeds will take root and start to grow. Tackle weeds regularly to ensure that weeding doesn't become an overwhelming job.

Start by pulling the weeds; you can do this by hand or use a hooked knife. When weeding my own patio area I always use a pair of gloves just to avoid any hurt. I have a preference for the Town & Country Gardening Gloves they are breathable, flexible and most importantly offer great protection.

Weed killers:
If you want a more permanent solution to ridding your patio of weeds this is it. The Roundup Biactive friendly weed killeris especially designed to be used on non-lawn surfaces such as tarmac and paving stones. So it is non corrosive to paved areas; leaving you nothing to worry about. Always follow the manufacturer instructions and take relative safety precautions before use. It can be directly applied through the joints to target the roots directly or alternatively you can use a sprayer.

Please Note: Regardless of the grouting or fill between patio slabs; once weeds have been removed there is a great likelyhood that filling will come loose with heavy set roots. It is best to find a suitable filler to replace, for both structural competency and weed prevention.

Removing Mortar & Cement

Cement and mortar residue is an unfortunate by product of the creation of beautiful patios. A sure fire way of removing any residual cement is with a hammer and chisel. Take care when hammering on your paving stones as a chisel will easily crack lightweight concrete slabs. The best technique to implement involves holding the chisel at a recommended 30º angle to the slab and striking it with light hammer blows until the debris is removed.

The 4 Step Process To A Cleaner Patio

Now that you've managed to remove the weeds from the patio slabs joints and any residue cement / grouting it's time to start cleaning the slabs. This section of the guide is going to take you through the best and recommended (professional) process in which to remove any algae, moss and dirt from paved areas.

Step 1: Pre-surface cleaners: This step involves the pre-treatment of the patio's surface. The most basic and easiest way to do so is by applying hot soapy water to the surface. However despite been the easiest to pre-surface washer to use sometimes it just doesn't quite cut it. Most of the time you'll be disappointed to find that there are still some patches of algae or moss left. We stand by Patio Magic which is a concentrated disenfectant especially designed to tackle algae and moss on hard surfaces. Alternatively you can always use Jeyes fluid, but just be careful to take care as it is an incredibly caustic solution which could be potentially damaging to specialist slabs. Check manufacturer specification before use.

Step 2: Brushing & Scrubbing: This is probably the most tedious and energy consuming step. Some may argue that with the previous addition of patio magic it's not a necessary step we however beg to differ. If you want fantastic results then it takes the hard work. Simply scrub the paved area with a hard bristled brush. Recommended scrubbing techniques include circular motions or figure of eights for maximum deep cleaning. The Harris patio brush is a fantastic tool for this task. It has been specially designed with tough metal bristles to tackle dirt and grime on hard surfaces.

Step 3: Pressure Washing: Pressure washers go a long way when it comes to patio cleaning. Combined with steps 1 and 2 plus a good quality pressure washer you will be able to bring your patio to life. The Karcher K3 950 Premium Home Pressure Washer Patio Kit gives fantastic pressure to lift dirt and grime and on top of that it includes the industry loved T350 patio cleaning accessory.

Step 4(optional): Sealing Paving & Patios: There are a huge variety of patios and paving available in todays market however they all share the same trait. The majority of flag, patio or paving stones are manufactured from porous materials i.e materials that are water absorbing so they may look fantastic when they are initially installed, but over time they will start to become old and worn looking due to natural erosion. The addition of moisture to the stone promotes the growth of algae, weeds, moss and so forth. In order to prevent this we recommend using a good sealer. There are a huge range of patio sealers available in todays market so choosing the right one can be hard. Just make sure that when making a decision it is the correct sealer for your type of stone. We stock the Thompsons One Coat Patio And Block Paving Sealwhich is great for a variety of patios and paving and has the added benefit of only needing one coat. The idea of applying is a sealer is to prevent the material from absorbing water, thus preventing the growth of weeds etc.