With high summer (hopefully) on its way, many of us are looking forward to being outside more in the weeks and months ahead. And if you’re lucky enough to have a paved outdoor area such as a patio to call your own, you’re no doubt eagerly anticipating balmy evenings and weekends spent enjoying this space.
After all, you have a versatile, low-maintenance extension of your indoor areas, and a patio enhances property value while providing the perfect location for dining, relaxing and entertaining as temperatures rise.
But your patio, in common with any exterior feature of your property, requires the right upkeep to remain looking its glorious best. And your slabs potentially face everything from moss growth to staining from garden furniture and barbecues. So a little TLC throughout the year can go a long way. However, at this point in the calendar, as you prepare your space for the summer, cleaning and maintenance become especially important.
Here are some important patio maintenance tips:
- Regular cleaning makes a real difference
This is the best (and easiest) way of lengthening the lifespan of your outdoor space. Just a quick sweep once or twice a week clears dirt, leaves and other debris before stains occur. This also prevents scratching as you move on to more thorough cleaning methods. If you want a deeper clean, some warm, soapy water plus a stiff brush will do the job in most cases. Rinse well with clean water using a garden hose.
For especially stubborn marks, try a specialist patio cleaner from a garden centre.
You may need to be gentler with natural stone to prevent marking of the surface, while porcelain patios typically require only minimal scrubbing since this material’s finish is non-porous.
- Jet-washing your patio safely
If your patio looks particularly tired, jet-washing can be highly effective, but you need to do it safely. Keep the pressure low with limestone or sandstone, while for all surfaces you’ll need to hold the nozzle 12 to 18 inches away. Don’t blast directly into paving joints, and stick to a fan spray instead of using a pencil jet. Work your way methodically over every slab.
Keep things under control – if you overdo jet-washing, you could loosen paving, damage pointing or leave streaks behind.
Let the area dry out thoroughly before you replace any furniture or seal the slabs.
- Dealing with algae
Not only does algae look pretty unsightly, it can present a trip risk. Together with moss, this stuff thrives in shade or on damp patios. Sweep up frequently, and keep your paved area as dry as possible.
Every year or six months, you may want to apply a specialist treatment product. All surfaces benefit from appropriate care, but natural stone is especially susceptible to this issue.
You can also try making up a solution of one part bleach to four parts water. Leave for around 20 minutes on affected areas before scrubbing and rinsing.
- Seal the deal
In some cases, for example with concrete and sandstone, it’s a good idea to seal the surface of your patio. With a high-quality sealant, you protect your paving from stains, water absorption, algae growth and general weathering. You don’t typically have to do this with porcelain slabs, but if you seal the grout or jointing compound, you can still safeguard against the build-up of grime.
Lastly, it’s worth resealing your slabs every two or three years to maximise the benefits.
- Cold-weather care
Next winter may seem some time off, but during the coldest time of year you’ll want to prevent cracking and lifting of your stones.
So if there’s snow, remove it rather than allowing it to compact. Use a safe, non-corrosive de-icer, and not rock salt. Keep trapped water out of your patio’s edges and joints. Protect your patio from frost damage ahead of winter by checking the pointing.
- Getting rid of weeds
Weeds can be a proper nuisance. If you can, uproot them by hand or, alternatively, use a specialist weedkiller for patios and paths. Another, more natural, idea is just to pour boiling water over them. And if you repoint patio joints with polymeric sand (which hardens when wet) or fresh mortar, you make it harder for weeds to take hold.
Patio services from AS Landscapes
At award-winning AS Landscapes, we provide a complete patio design-and-build service from our in-house designers and landscapers. Working across Surrey, Windsor and Ascot, we create unique designs tailored to individual spaces. And we’ll be with you every step of the way, from initial consultation through to installation by our expert team and beyond.
Check out our range of garden furniture for your new patio and contact us today to take the next step – your delightful new patio could be in place by the summer.