Cleaning and Sealing Clay Brick Pavers

Introduction to Brick Pavers Brick pavers are extensively used all over the world for several applications such as homes, outdoor flooring, driveways and retaining walls. They are the most commonly used paver material nowadays. They come in a range of fantastic colors as well as traditional and irregular shapes and sizes.

They require little maintenance. By maintaining them, you are extending their life span and keeping them looking fresh and brand new. To assist you with doing so here are some basic procedures to help you maintain your brick pavers.

Cleaning Procedures

Brick pavers are a cement, sand, water and aggregate mixture. Some of the finest materials are used to make brick pavers therefore they do not require a harsh cleaning solution to clean them. This will only be needed if the pavers are stained heavily.

After the installation, you will find in a couple of weeks or months that your brick pavers are starting to be covered in dust, dirt, leaves and grime. If this is so, then they are in need of a general clean over. You can start this by sweeping over the pavers using a broom and removing all this excess waste. Once you have done so then you should start up your high pressured hose.

Apply the hose to the area and give it a quick rinse over to remove further waste. Mix in some household detergent with warm water into a bucket and release this mixture onto the surface of the brick pavers. You will need your broom again to sweep it over. As you are doing so you should scrub areas where you see they are stained. Hopefully this mild detergent mixture will remove the stains.

Then use the hose once again and flush the area thoroughly to ensure that all suds and soap is removed. You can then leave the area to dry. By doing this simple procedure you will be making your pavers looking as good as new.

For Harsh Stains

For harsh stains that have occurred such as petrol and oil stains, you are able to purchase a brick paver stain remove solution to assist you with the removing of the stains. Seek professional advice and you must make sure the surface is cleaned before you even attempt to use stain removals.

How to Seal Brick Pavers

Sealing is a personal choice. Some like the look of the high gloss finish and others like the natural look of the brick pavers. Everybody has taste and needs. But sealing is of great benefit to the actual pavers. A sealer will protect the texture and surface of it and will prevent stains and scratches from occurring sealer are available in low sheen, high gloss, and low gloss, matt and flat finishes.

Here is a simple guide to sealing brick pavers:

Step 1: Firstly you must ensure that the area has been perfectly cleaned and there are no traces of water or moisture. Step 2: If they have been previously sealed then you can choose to remove it by sanding the surface off, but this is not necessary. Step 3: You will need a paint brush or rolling pin to apply the sealer to the surface of the brick pavers.

Step 4: Begin to seal the brick pavers by taking light strokes with the brush. Ensure that you do not apply to much sealer firstly because this will result in it being spread out unevenly. Start in a far corner and work your way back so you do not get caught out.

Step 5: Leave this to dry for a couple of hours the repeat the steps again if necessary.

Sealing should be done every 1 to 2 years to protect and preserve your brick pavers!