After a long day at work, you really enjoy sitting on the patio with a cup of tea and a book. This nicely paved outdoor area gives you comfort and helps you relax. To keep your patio looking its best, make sure you give it the attention it needs to stay in good condition. Patios are made of durable materials and therefore do not require too much of your attention. However they do need some maintenance from time to time. Homeowners can take a few small steps to protect their patios; Canterbury patio installation companies can attest to the importance of regular maintenance.
There are three main materials that typically used to create patios: brick, concrete and stone pavers. Each of them requires a different level of maintenance.
1. Clay brick pavers have an irregular surface, which makes them vulnerable to cracking and chipping. If one is damaged, it can be replaced with a new one. Given that surface colour and texture can change with time, applying a polished or flamed finish once every few years is recommended so that the original texture and colour last longer. This is actually recommended for all types of pavers.
The use of cleaning and sealing products helps in prolonging the appearance of the brick or other type of paver. Maintaining patios – Canterbury patios especially, given the cold and snow exposure in the winter – also involves taking into account that the pavers can expand and contract under such conditions. This will cause them to move if the seams loosen; adding sand to these spaces between pavers makes the bricks more stable.
Weeds pose another problem; they can grow between pavers and compromise the stability of your patio. By using herbicide spray, the growth or re-growth of weeds can be prevented. Since the use of herbicides can be dangerous if you have children or pets, you can replace them with a mixture of vinegar and water or lemon juice and water, which can be safely applied wherever weeds might grow.
2. Concrete pavers have the advantage of being easy to replace. When a paver gets stained or damaged, it can easily be removed and replaced with a new one. Stains will however be often masked by the colour the concrete pavers come in. Just like with brick pavers, care should be given to preventing the growth of weeds in between the pavers, at the joints.
3. Stone pavers are very durable, and can look like-new even decades after installation. Their rough surface can be abrasive and uncomfortable to walk on, but there is an easy remedy. For natural stone patios, Canterbury residents should know that a simple polish from time to time keeps the surface smooth. Weeds pose the same threat to stone pavers as they do to other patio surfaces, and can be dealt with using the same methods.
If they care about their patios, Canterbury residents should always remember to inspect the surface once in a while and properly take care of any minor issues; regular maintenance will keep your patio looking great for years to come.
