A new patio is a long term investment and provides many years of service and enjoyment. To help you keep your paving looking at its best for longer, Bradstone has put together these special guidelines to answer the questions most commonly asked about care, cleaning and maintenance.

frequently asked questions:

No. During freezing and thawing conditions, the use of salt can affect both the durability and the looks of the paving. Use a plastic shovel or stiff brush to remove snow and ice.

Why do the paving stones have dark patches?

This is due to differential weathering, where the surface of the paving has cured at different rates, causing darker colour variation on the paving. Generally this is exaggerated by the presence of efflorescence which, once removed, will reduce the effect of the dark patches. As with efflorescence the dark patches will generally disappear with time.

Can I use a pressure washer to clean my patio?

Yes but, as always, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Do not pressure wash your patio too strongly or too frequently as you may damage the surface of the paving.

How often should I clean my patio?

Regular washing and brushing should be adequate to maintain your patio in pristine condition. However, you may wish to clean your patio using a proprietary cleaner. This can enhance its appearance but it may affect long term durability and should only be used sparingly (only two or three times during the lifetime of the paving). Consult your paving supplier for advice and a suitable cleaning product.

Can I use a sealant on my patio?

Yes, check proprietary manufacturer’s instructions and suitability for sealing concrete paving. Please note: applying sealant to paving may affect the colour.

Can I use Bradstone paving inside my house?

Yes, but it is preferable to seal the paving with a sealant after laying inside to protect against stains and reduce incidence of dust.

stains

The following guidelines deal with everything from rust marks, paint, algae and chewing gum, to naturally occurring phenomena such as efflorescence. Please note that, although sometimes unsightly, blemishes or stains are unlikely to affect the performance of the paving in any way.

For all proprietary cleaning materials suggested on these pages, please consult your paving stockist to recommend an appropriate product, and remember: always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Always test a small area before cleaning the patio.

ALGAE AND FUNGAL GROWTHS – Apply a proprietary fungicide according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

BEVERAGE STAINS – Scrub the stain with hot soapy water. For stubborn stains apply a 1 : 10 diluted sodium hypochlorite solution (household bleach solution) and finally rinse thoroughly with clean water.

CHEWING GUM - Chewing gum is best removed with a suitable aerosol freezing agent before scraping it off. Use according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

FRESH OIL STAINS – Soak the oil up with an absorbent cloth or paper towels. Do not wipe. Then cover the affected area with a 'dry' absorbent powder and leave for 24 hours. Repeat until the powder has absorbed all or as much of the oil as possible. If a stain persists, apply a proprietary cleaner according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

PAINT / WOODSTAIN / VARNISH – Wet Stain - soak up the spillage with an absorbent cloth or paper towels. Do not wipe. For paint – the stained area should be immediately scrubbed with scouring powder and water. For woodstain/varnish – the stained area should be immediately scrubbed with detergent and water. Paint removers or solvents should not be used on stains that are less than a week old, as this will increase penetration into the concrete. Dried Stain - scrape off as far as possible. Apply an appropriate proprietary paint remover, preferably one supplied as a thick gel. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions or contact the paint manufacturer.

RUST – Rust can be a blemish found on concrete paving and is caused by iron oxide staining. Use a proprietary rust remover or concrete cleaner, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

WOOD PRESERVERS / CREOSOTE – Soak the stain with white spirit and scrub with a hot detergent and water. Finally rinse thoroughly with clean water, or contact the manufacturer of the preserver.

efflorescence

Occasionally, after a few weeks or months, white patches may start to appear on the surface of your paving stones. This is known as efflorescence (or white bloom).

WHAT IS EFFLORESCENCE? – Efflorescence is a natural phenomenon and can occur with all cement based products, as well as other paving products. It may appear randomly and will possibly appear more pronounced on coloured paving. The white bloom may give the impression that the colour of the paving is fading but, when wet, you will find that the efflorescence vanishes and the paving returns to its original shade. The white bloom will often return again when the paving dries. Be reassured that efflorescence has no detrimental effect on the performance of the paving and will generally disappear with time.

HOW DOES EFFLORESCENCE OCCUR? – All concrete products contain cement which produces water soluble calcium oxide (lime). Concrete paving stones contain millions of tiny invisible pores; when moisture penetrates into these pores - either from rain, dew or condensation - it dissolves part of the lime to make calcium hydroxide. When the paving dries out, the calcium hydroxide rises to the surface and reacts with the carbon dioxide in the air, sometimes leaving a white bloom of calcium carbonate once the water has evaporated.

WILL EFFLORESCENCE DISAPPEAR NATURALLY? – Yes. The efflorescence action is arrested by carbon dioxide reacting with calcium oxide within the pores of the concrete, so blocking them. The efflorescence itself is then, over a period of time, either converted back to soluble salts and washed away by rain or simply disappears through the action of trafficking, snow or ice. Once the efflorescence has disappeared naturally it does not usually recur. It is therefore not necessary to replace the paving or to take other measures against efflorescence.

HOW LONG WILL EFFLORESCENCE LAST? – This is difficult to predict as factors such as climate conditions, location and aspect (damp/shady or open/sunny) are variables which can affect the extent of the phenomenon. However, on average, it can take from 12 months to two years to disappear.

CAN EFFLORESCENCE BE REMOVED WITHOUT THE WAIT? –

Efflorescence may be removed with a proprietary brand patio cleaner, but be sure to follow all the manufacturer’s instructions as incorrect cleaning can result in damage and discolouration of the paving surface. Efflorescence may reappear if there is free lime within the paving or the pores have not yet been blocked. Ideally, the new paving should be left several months to allow as much of the lime as possible to leave the concrete to minimise the risk of recurrence.