Refreshing Your Patio: The Importance of Power Washing, Re-Sanding and Sealing
- Home
- >>
- Refreshing Your Patio: The Importance of Power Washing, Re-Sanding and Sealing
A patio that has been beautifully installed requires a lot of upkeep to continue looking amazing and staying functional. At M&G Landscaping, we advise that you should aim to repair and refresh your patio every one to two years. This will help keep your patio looking amazing and performing to the standards that it was originally designed for. This is especially true for Connecticut residents since the extreme weather and high volumes of foot traffic will deteriorate patios a lot faster.
Power Washing: A Fresh New Look For your Patio
With time, patios can start to look dull with a build up of dirt, algae, moss, and other organic matter that can even be slippery. Power washing is the best first step to a new looking patio.
A professional power wash will do the following:
- Take away layers of dirt and deep set stains
- Get rid of unwanted moss and algae
- Bring back the original color of the pavers
- Get the pavers ready for new sand to fill the joints
Power washing, when done the right way, can bring life back to pavers. Power washing will not damage the pavers so long as the process is handled the right way. It is crucial to handle the process the right way so that too much of the joint material isn’t blown out or the base disturbed.
Re-Doing Joint Sand: The Structural Reset
Joint sand is a crucial element when building a paver system. It helps keep the pavers from shifting, removes the potential for weeds, and helps reduce erosion.
During a deep clean, the joint sand is usually worn down or sometimes even completely removed. This is when we need to resand the joints.
For the different types of patios, we usually recommend the following:
For the standard patio, Polymeric Sand (this sand is activated by adding water to it and makes the sand hard and resistant to insects and weeds)
For open-grade or permeable systems, we suggest using Nitro Sand or Permeable Joint Materials.
Applying joint sand again:
- Re-stabilizes the pavers
- Stops weed growth and ant infestation
- Sheds water properly across the surface
- Paver systems lifespan is increased
This is a very important step because if we leave it out pavers will start to shift and costly repairs will be needed.
The Benefits of Sealing Your Patio:
After cleaning and sanding your patio, sealing will give your patio an additional boost.
With a high-quality sealer, you will get protection and enhancement.
Protection:
- Prevents stains from food, cooking oil, and other organic materials
- Prevents water from penetrating the sand
- Reduces the fading from UV exposure
Enhancement:
- Brings out the color in your pavers
- Adds a slick finish
- A high-quality sealer will make your patio look new again
Sealing your patio isn’t a necessity, but a good sealer can add a high-end look to your patio, and can definitely be worth it, especially for a patio that sees a lot of use.
How Often Should This Be Done?
For most patios in New England conditions, we recommend:
- Every 2-3 years for a full maintenance cycle (power wash + re-sand + optional sealing)
Items such as drainage, usage, and exposure to elements can shorten or extend that timeline.
M&G Landscaping’s Method:
Here at M&G Landscaping, we believe that patio maintenance deserves the same care as patio installation. That’s why we analyze the condition of each individual patio and the type of base it has (either open-grade or dense-grade) as well as the type of joint material before we recommend a service.
We have one goal in mind:
Preserve the investment you have made, and maintain your outdoor space to ensure it looks just as good today as it did the day it was completed.
Want a New Looking Patio?
There is no reason to settle for a worn or faded patio. Unevenness also can be easily remedied. There are endless options to spruce or restore your patio. We can help with any of those options.
Call M&G Landscaping LLC for any patio maintenance needs.