If you're like most people, you want your paver patio to look its best. In order to achieve this, you may need to use a paver sealer wet look. This type of sealant will help protect your pavers from fading and staining, while also giving them a beautiful shine.
The simplest path to reviving tired pavers is to apply an acrylic-based semitransparent concrete stain, such as Behr Premium Semi-transparent Concrete Stain ($27/gal.; Home Depot) or Valspar Semi-transparent Concrete Stain ($28/gal.; Lowe's).
Over time, the continuous high-pressure blast of water will erode the layer of color on the pavers and expose the stone and aggregate contained in them. Oftentimes, the stone and the aggregate do not retain the color of the pigments used and will appear dull.
Lots of Color Enhancement and Low to High Gloss – If you want to darken your pavers to give the a similar appearance to being wet, and you want a low to high gloss finish, then a solvent based acrylic sealer like the Armor AR350 or Armor AR500 are a great choice.
If you still think they need to be enhanced, you could use paver sealant to bring out the color of faded pavers. The use of paver sealant is a bit controversial because it blocks water from evaporating on the surface of the pavers. This could lead to problems down the line if you're in an area with heavy rainfall.
Mild detergent and water.
Mix some mild dish soap with water in a bucket to create suds, then use a brush or a sponge to scrub the surface of the pavers. If your pavers are textured or have intricate designs, this cleaning method can be gentler than a power washer.
Mix Solution of dish soap and water, and use a brush to scrub the pavers clean. Make sure to rinse the pavers thoroughly afterward. This process may need to be repeated for tough stains. A recommendation is to do this every few months.
Generally, interior pavers that have been grouted and sealed just need to be swept, mopped, and spot-cleaned as needed with a gentle, non-acidic multipurpose cleaning solution, such as Enviro Klean All Surface Cleaner or Light Duty Concrete Cleaner. Exterior paver patio hardscaping is even more low-maintenance.
Yes, you can pressure wash your pavers. But while using a pressure washer at a basic level is simple, ignorant and inexperienced users can easily damage their pavers by using a stream that's too powerful, by holding the wand too close to the pavers, or by falling into any number of other rookie mistakes.
Dish soaps are ideal for this job. While they feature surfactants that are able to remove tough grime like oil and grease, they are also safe enough to use on paving stones without compromising their integrity or appearance.
A dish soap, like Dawn, is a safe place to start. The surfactants in dish soaps are designed to remove oil and grease, they're gentle enough to be used without issue on your pavers. In a bowl or bucket, mix the soap with water and pour it onto the stain and agitate. Rinse and repeat if needed.
The acetic acid in vinegar is a little stronger than acid rain, so exposing your pavers to this substance can lead to bleaching, corrosion and the loss of protective sealant.
Baking soda is an amazing household cleaner, and it can work really well on your pavers too.
Start with a sandpaper that has a fairly rough grade, such as 120 grit, and polish the entire travertine surface. Then, move onto finer grades of sandpaper, polishing the floor fully with each level of grit. Next, you will need to buff the travertine with steel wool to achieve that high-gloss shine it is known for.
Similar to cleaning pavers with muriatic acid, avoid an intense concentration of bleach, as it can damage the pavers.
Use a detergent such as Dawn or Ajax dishwashing liquid mixed with water to brighten a concrete patio that hasn't been cleaned in a while. Just as you would regularly vacuum the floor and dust your furniture inside your house, you should keep your patio clean so it's ready at a moment's notice to entertain.
Concrete paint is a remarkably effective way of making tired concrete patios look as good as new. These come in a range of colours and can make cleaning and maintenance much easier. To apply concrete paint make sure your patio has been cleaned thoroughly as described in the previous section.
To clean smaller surfaces areas, pH-neutral soap, a little water, and a brush are suitable. If you want to clean larger areas of natural stone efficiently, you can reach for the electric patio cleaner or work with the pressure washer and a surface cleaner.
Whether your patio is sealed concrete or cement, or even sealed concrete pavers, a bleach and water solution makes it easy to clean away built up soil, stains from leaves and pollen, mold, mildew and algae.
3) USE A CLEANER FIRST
I used a bleach-free pressure washer concentrate and sprayed it over each section to help loosen the grime before going at it with a higher pressure nozzle. It didn't take long to apply and helps get those stubborn mildew stains out.
Water and white vinegar is a great cleaning mixture that can remove stubborn dirt and stains. If you have the time, you can use this in conjunction with a classic cleaning solution for the best results. Soak your stained pavers with the white vinegar & water solution, then let it sit for an hour.