Even though winter is currently drawing to a close, it won't be long before autumn is upon us once again and we are starting to experience the cool weather we dread so much. As we venture out into our backyards for, probably, the first time in months, however, you may notice that some of your pavers have sustained a little damage since you last saw them. To prevent this sort of damage from reoccurring next winter, perform the following tips on your pavers well before autumn sets in:
Tip #1: Regularly clean your natural stone pavers to ensure that they are long lasting and remain aesthetically pleasing at all times of the year. By cleaning the pavers before the cool weather really sets in, you can remove tree sap, mold, mildew, fallen leaves and other stains that may have developed. This will prevent these sorts of problems from being frozen into the stone over autumn and winter, which will make them much harder to remove.
Tip #2: Do not apply any ice melters to your pavers at any time during the winter months ahead. Whilst ice melters can be useful in ensuring that your patio area does not become too slippery or frozen over when it's cold, they can actually cause serious damage to pavers that have been sealed. They can, for example, stain the stone or cause spalling to occur. If you want to remove a layer of ice, use a less abrasive method.
Tip #3: Never use any plows or snow shovels on your pavers, as these tools are extremely abrasive when it comes to scraping against natural stone. If you would really like to remove fallen snow or ice from your patio area, make sure that you only use a rubber bottomed plow or a plastic snow shovel to lessen the damaging effects that your pavers could sustain. It is also recommended that you only do this when you really need the patio.
As well as following each of the above tips, you should also ensure that your pavers have been properly sealed against the weather that they will be exposed to over the cold months ahead. It is recommended that pavers are resealed every two years and the end of summer is the perfect time to ensure that this task has been completed, as the sealant will dry quickly and will ensure that the stone has a protective layer between it and the punishing weather of autumn and winter.
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