Many people ask if sealing our pavers is necessary. Sealing is a personal choice; it is not required to maintain the structural integrity of your pavers. Sealing will enhance the appearance and color of the pavers, slow color fading, and gives added protection against weed growth and ants. By deeply penetrating the pores, sealing makes pavers easier to clean and aids in stain removal. Sealers, however, are topical products and must be reapplied regularly (generally every 3-5 years). Sealers may be water-based or solvent-based as long as they are low VOC and compliant with government regulations.

It is always a good idea to have a few spare pavers left behind after you have had your paver project completed. One of the advantages of pavers is that individual units can be removed and replaced in these situations. Remove the sand around the paver and then use two flat head screwdrivers to lift the paver out. Rocking the paver gently in a back-and-forth motion will facilitate removal.

It is not necessary for the sand in the joints to be flush with the top of the paver. Some erosion of joint sand will occur due to rain and traffic. If the sand becomes too low in the joint, the pavers may become loose. Reapplying the fine joint sand can be done by your local installation company. Sealing the pavers with a joint stabilizer will also help reduce joint sand erosion.

Oil, paint, tar, rubber, and fertilizer stains are the most frequent stains that occur on pavement surfaces. AWBPcarries a complete line of cleaners that are designed to remove these stains. All products have specific cleaning instructions on the containers.

Try Clorox® diluted in water (10 parts water to one part Clorox). Be careful not to get it on other plant material. Keep in mind that there is nothing that will keep it from growing back if it’s in a shady, damp area. For a more permanent solution, you will need to correct the moisture and shade problems that are encouraging the moss or mold.

The white deosit is EFFLORESCENCE, a natural and common occurrence in concrete and brick products. Efflorescence is the result of natural salts in the materials used in production migrating to the surface of the pavers. This is not a defect nor harmful to the pavers, and will usually weather away with time. Although it is best to allow a year or more for efflorescence to weather away, if you don’t want to wait, there are products to remove it. Do not use efflorescence cleaners repeatedly. Once the pavers are cleaned, it is recommended that they be sealed.