How to maintain your patio

To keep your patio in its prime condition will require regular maintenance.

A regular sweeping of the surface will ensure that the area remains free of most of the dirt and detritus and that no major stains form. However, over time, more stubborn marks – staining, spills – and organic growths – moss, algae, lichen – can develop and these will require more attention.

Fortunately, there are multiple methods to cleaning your patio:

Soap & Water

As the first resort to dealing with cleaning any stain to your patio, a brush and soapy water can be highly effective especially if you’re dealing with minor stains or if you want to take extra care with the surface.

All you require for this is a broom and bucket for the water and some washing up liquid.

Before you start, it is important that you clear the area of any furniture or garden pots that are in the way and brush the area to remove most of the dirt. Then, pour your bucket of (preferably, warm) water and washing up liquid over the affected area and start scrubbing it with a hard brush. When you think your job is done, all that is left is to rinse the area with a hose. If, when the patio is dry, you find that some stains have remained, simply repeat the process and target these areas.

Pressure washing

This is the easiest method and is efficient in removing tougher debris but care should be taken to ensure that the surface of the patio is not damaged, even if you are dealing with more durable materials such as block paving.

As with the other methods, you must ensure that you clear the patio and sweep it of major debris. With pressure washing, you should always start with the lowest setting to reduce the risk of injury to yourself and damage to the surface and slowly increase it to a level that you feel confident with. Avoid spraying directly onto the paving, instead, keep the jet spraying at an angle to the paving and constantly move in a diagonal motion to avoid damaging the pointing and avoid overexposure.

Seasonal Maintenance

As we move between seasons, the maintenance requirements for your patio are likely to change. Here are some tips on how to keep up with the changes in weather and keep your patio looking its best all year round:

As we move into spring, a deep clean of the patio will be needed after the winter months when organic growths are likely to have developed – there will be more general dirt too. If any tough stains or marks have appeared from the decay of leaves or the residue of moss, lichen and algae, try one of the above methods. This is also a good opportunity to check the patio, especially the joints between the bricks or slabs to see if any new sand or re-pointing is needed. Taking the time to clean your patio thoroughly as the winter months subside, will significantly reduce the maintenance required through the rest of year.

In summer, care is needed as you begin to use your patio space more in the warmer weather. If there are any spillages or spills, it’s best to clean these immediately to reduce the risk of staining.

During the autumn months, more maintenance is required as leaves from trees and shrubs can fall and start to stain the patio if left unremoved. To save time removing stains in the spring time, it is recommended that you regularly sweep the area to keep it clean, before the colder winter months arrive, when there is little opportunity for much maintenance to be done.

If you are in any doubt about how to take care of your patio, feel free to contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help you, likewise, you can always contact the manufacturer of the product directly for more advice.