A Guide on After Care for Natural Stone Paving
Regular maintenance is essential to keep your paving pristine and attractive. As a baseline, we recommend thoroughly washing paved areas three or four times a year. Cleaning couldn’t be simpler – just use warm soapy water and brush off with a stiff broom.
Over the years, it is normal for patio slabs to become dirty, gather moss and lose their aesthetic appeal. To maintain the look of your patio, it should be jet washed a minimum once a year. This is help cut down the accumulation of algae, dirt and mildew built up. For gardens that are shaded and/or located under trees or any other vegetation, cleaning is likely to be required more often.
Jet washing is often a quick and relatively easy method. There are professional companies that carry out these services, but if you are planning to carry out this procedure yourself, then take the utmost care and seek professional advice before commencing. Whilst most Natural Stone products can withstand the force of domestic high-pressure washers, care must be taken when cleaning. Be sure not to spray too close to the surface of the stone and direct the jet at a maximum of 30 degrees to the surface – Never direct the jet at 90 degrees. Take extra care when cleaning near joints, as excessive pressure may dislodge the jointing compound. For cleaning joints, please seek advice on cleaning methods from the manufacturers of the jointing compound used.
For more stubborn marks or discolouration, a cleaning solution may be needed to remove them, restoring the paving back to its former glory. We stock a full range of Lithofin after care and cleaning products, therefore we can literally offer solutions for most of your requirements. We would reccomend the following cleaners for Natural Stone Bero and Power clean.
Please take care when using cleaners and sealers on Natural Stone paving:
Aways
- Read the label before buying to make sure the product is suitable
- Read instructions very carefully and always seek advice from a professional if you are at all unsure of anything
- Test a small, hidden area first
- Wear protective clothing such gloves, eye protection, boots, and overalls
- Ensure anyone working in the same area are protected too
- Make sure you are outside or have good ventilation
- Be careful not to damage, contaminate or stain any adjoining material
- Dispose of any runoff material carefully and responsibly.
To help prevent marks or discolouration, sealers are available to reduce the porosity of the Natural Stone. We stock a range of products by Nexus, so please ask for advice on which product would be suitable for your requirements.
The above is a guide, and RF Paving cannot be responsible for damages and/or injuries caused whilst maintaining your stone. Please get in touch if you need any further advice or require more details on manufacturers guidelines.