You love spending time outside. So naturally, when you bought your house, you also purchased a beautiful patio with pavers. The only problem is that the pavers started to crack and deteriorate after just a few months of exposure to the hot Florida sun and frequent rains. If you live in the same area as we do and have experienced problems with your pavers, don’t worry; you’re not alone! In this blog post, we’ll give you all the tips to keep your patio paver installation looking brand new for years to come. Keep reading to learn everything you need about patio pavers and preservation techniques to ensure your patio pavers in Naples, FL investment lasts for as long as possible!
Know the different types of pavers before installation.
As you may know, there are many types of pavers, each with unique characteristics. For example, natural stones like granite, limestone, and marble are incredibly durable but expensive. On the other hand, manufactured concrete pavers are much more affordable and can be produced in any color of your choosing — but they won’t last as long and are more prone to fading. When installing these different types of pavers, in most cases, you’ll want to use a mortar or epoxy adhesive for the best results. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for correct installation, though.
Protect your patio pavers with a sealant.
If you’ve had your patio for a few years, you may have already noticed that your natural stone or concrete pavers are starting to fade or become discolored. While some of this is just a part of the normal aging process, much of it is caused by exposure to the elements. In humid climates like ours here in the Sunshine State, water and extreme temperatures are the two biggest culprits in discoloration and fading. While a good cleaning will help, you’ll immediately get the best results by applying a sealant to your pavers. We recommend a water-based sealant, as it will easily penetrate the pores on the surface of your pavers without leaving behind an oily residue, which can attract dirt.
Repair any minor cracks right away.
When installing new patio pavers, it’s only natural to expect a few small cracks to appear here and there as the cement dries out and contracts. However, if you catch these cracks early on and fill them in with a quality concrete repair product, your pavers will look brand new again! In most cases, cracks smaller than 3/8” in width don’t need to be filled in, as they will eventually close up independently. However, if the crack is more comprehensive, you should apply a concrete repair product and let it dry completely before walking on it again (or it will crumble under your weight!).
Light color pavers will help keep your patio cool.
If you’re worried about your patio getting too hot, you may want to consider installing light-colored pavers. While dark-colored pavers can be beautiful and look great on patios, they absorb more heat than light-colored materials. In addition to preventing your patio from becoming uncomfortably warm, lighter-colored pavers will stay cleaner longer and require less upkeep. Dark-colored materials will also stain much more efficiently, which means more time cleaning and maintaining your patio.
Choose durable pavers for high-traffic areas.
If you don’t want to replace your patio pavers every few years, choosing wisely when shopping for new materials is essential. For example, if you have a high-traffic area, such as a walkway or patio entrance, you’ll want to use a more durable type of paver. While you can use just about any type of paver for your patio, there are some materials that will hold up better to foot traffic. You may want to go with a hard stone like limestone or a manufactured paver made from a more robust material like concrete.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve finished reading this blog post, you know everything you need to know about patio pavers. You know what to look for when shopping for materials, how to install them properly, and how to keep them looking their best for as long as possible. From now on, you’ll surely have a beautiful patio that everyone will love using!
