Royal Creations Blog

Hardscape Maintenance

A lot of people think that hardscapes, the solid surfaces of the landscape, don’t need any maintenance.  After all, concrete and paver stones are hard as rock, right?  To look their best, they do need some tender loving care. 

Clear Debris 

Sweep or blow your hardscape regularly.  Leaves and other debris can keep your hardscape damp and cause stains to occur.  Over time, the constant moisture begins to break down concrete and the finish of the pavers.  At that point, the sand between the pavers can also wash out, destabilizing the stones.  One tip is to clean your hardscape on the same day of the month every time, you won’t forget to do it. 

Power Wash Your Patio & Driveway 

Once a year, you should use a power washer to wash the hard surfaces of your property.  Power washers force water out in a strong stream, so it washes off the dirt that has been ground in over the last season.  Be careful not to direct the power washer on the joints between paver stones.  You want to keep the water moving over the stones, not wash out the joints.  Many tool rental stores carry power washers if you do not have one. 

Chemically Clean and Seal 

Every two or three years, your concrete and pavers need to be cleaned with special chemical cleaners to remove the particles that can be removed by the power washer.  This step also prepares the pavers to accept the new sealer.  You can do this on your own with a pump sprayer and scrub brushes, but the chemicals are harsh, and it is better to let a trained professional do this correctly and be safe.  Once the patio is completely cleaned, you may need to touch up some of the sand joints. However, you will have to wait for it to completely dry again before applying any polymeric sand to avoid it sticking to the surface of your pavers.  We like to use a wet-look sealer on most applications to bring out the colors of the pavers and give them a wet look. 

Let Us Do The Work 

As mentioned above, chemically cleaning and sealing pavers and concrete is best left to the professionals.  At Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping, we have the right equipment and training.  If you subscribe to our hardscape maintenance program, we will come power wash your hardscape once a year.  Every two years, we will chemically clean and seal your hardscape.  To take advantage of this affordable program, call our office at (816) 825-2524 or schedule a consult soon.