How to maintain patios and paved areas

1. How to maintain patios and paved areas
The exterior of your home and workplace should
be given the same care and attention as the
interior, which is why maintaining your patios,
driveways and paved areas is a must. This DIY
guide will walk you through the steps needed to
keep these areas looking clean and tidy.

2. Step 1
Start off by removing any pot plants, furniture or
obstacles that may slow down the cleaning
process. Sweep over the area you wish to clean
with a common brush to remove any leaves and
dirt. For stubborn weeds, use a specialist weed
removal tool to get right down to the roots or
spray them with weed killer using a garden
sprayer.

3. Step 2
If you have any weeds nestled between your
paving slabs, be sure to remove these as best as
you can. This will slow these from resprouting, and
neaten up your overall paved area.

4. Step 3
Be sure to wear the correct personal protective
equipment for cleaning the dirty paving slabs with
a power washer or a patio cleaner, which will
blast away dirt and grime. Check the
manufacturer’s instructions to use the correct
washing pressure for the desired surface.

5. Step 4
If you are dealing with concrete, you should
regularly check for holes and cracks, to prevent
them from getting any larger. Chip away any
loose concrete with a chisel and club hammer, and
undercut the surface edge slightly to hold filler in
place. This will control the cracking and allow for
a neater look and finish.

6. Step 5
For sinking paving slabs, try re-laying them for a
neat finish. You can achieve this by chipping out
the pointing and lifting the slab out with a spade.
Remove the old mortar before repositioning the
slab once again on fresh mortar. You can tap the
slabs into place using a rubber pavers mallet, to
avoid any chips or damage.

7. Step 6
When your paving or patio has been thoroughly
cleaned, be sure to redecorate the area to show
off your hard work. Try some colourful pot plants
or shrubbery for a neat, welcoming effect.
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