Flooding can occur because of insufficient ground slope or ground that slopes in the wrong direction. No matter the reason, it can cause many problems, especially where pavers are involved. Water can cause a wide range of damage like eroding the paver surface, causing pavers to weaken and crack, making them unstable.
An influx of water that sits for a long period of time can damage your paver surfaces by weakening the cracks or chips already present. If your pavers are already loose, they may collapse. Flooding can also lead to erosion when soil and rock are transported and deposited into the area.
Pavers are permeable and are laid with small spaces in between them. These features allow water to run through them and back into the ground below instead of sitting on top, like it would with asphalt or concrete.
Can Excessive Rain Damage Your Pavers? There are a few different issues that heavy rain can cause to driveway pavers. The most common cause of damage like this occurs when water is able to build up beneath the pavers on your driveway.
Therefore, keeping track of the weather can help you avoid sealing before impending rain. If a storm does occur before sealant application begins, consider waiting at least 24 hours until the dampness evaporates. If the pavers are wet due to a pressure wash, allow them at least 24 hours to air dry.
Acidic cleaners: Harsh, acid-based cleaning products and stain removers can damage the seal and finish of your concrete pavers. Bleach: This alkaline solution may be effective for other household uses, but it can discolor concrete pavers that have been colored or stained.
The cause for this visible difference in appearance is most commonly* a variation in the concrete used to make the blocks. For all sorts of reasons, the precise “recipe” used to make the concrete will change over time, mainly due to changes in the aggregates used.
Standing water weakens pavers, leading to chips, cracks, and even erosion. During colder weather, water that gets into these cracks and crevices can freeze, causing cracks to expand and worsen. To prevent pavers holding water, you want to invest in draining the pavers.
Protect your cement pavers from water and get a beautiful wet look finish and enhanced colors with Dyco Clear Paver Sealer Acrylic Waterproofing Sealer. Dyco Paver sealer is non-yellowing and helps protect your surfaces from water – making it ideal for protecting your driveway, patio and pool deck pavers.
Non-permeable pavers do allow some water through the joints and into the soil, but not nearly to the extent of permeable pavers. For a patio that tends to collect pools of water, or for a driveway that slopes toward your house, permeable pavers will tend to be a better solution than traditional non-permeable pavers.
Decreased Drying Time: Properly sealed pavers do not allow water to absorb inside them. This significantly reduces drain time. Pavers that dry more quickly, are much less likely to support mold and algae growth or develop efflorescence.
Pavers should be flush with the ground for a smooth look and feel.
Try permeable pavers
Permeable pavers are a great option for ensuring that you have adequate drainage for your pavers. You can even use a strip of permeable pavers as a type of french drain at the bottom edge of your driveway, along a fence line, or next to your house.
Tips for Pavers Sealing
Use a pressure washer to remove any dirt, dust, or debris accumulated on the surface of your pavers. Make sure your pavers are dry before applying sealer. If your pavers are wet, the sealer will not be able to adhere properly and will eventually peel off. Apply the sealer in thin, even coats.
Efflorescence is also known as calcium hydroxide or free lime. The phenomenon of efflorescence occurs when water soluble salts migrate to the surface of the paver with the help of water (i.e., condensation, rain).
Theuse of polymeric sand increases the durability of the entire surface of the landscaped area. This minimizes the opportunity for water to seep below the surface of the interlocking pavers and into the sand and/or crushed stone foundation below.
Unfortunately, pavers sink from time-to-time, most commonly because of uneven soil drainage. There is hope, however! To fix sunken pavers, follow the six-step process we've outlined below. Sunken pavers are quite the tripping hazard and can leave you with large, unsightly puddles of water.
What Happens If You Don't Put Gravel Under Pavers? Drainage can really make or break an area where pavers are installed. If you have a paver patio, for example, without gravel or an alternative drainage system in place, water can roll back on it, causing damaging erosion.
The basic rule of thumb is every 3-5 years. For film-forming sealants, you will be able to notice when the physical barrier is showing signs of wear. For non-film-forming sealants, you will begin to see a significant color change of pavers during a rain when the sealant is wearing thin.
You can't cover your patio with copper sheets, but you can spray on a liquid solution of copper that will soak into the top surface of the concrete pavers. This copper will stop the growth of the pesky green and black organisms in their tracks. The easiest way to apply the copper is to buy copper sulfate crystals.
If your pavers have been sealed, which is a service that we offer, it's a lot easier to maintain and it does slow down mold growth for the simple fact that when your pavers are unsealed, that moisture will sit in the joints and make mold grow. Mold likes damp, dark areas.
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.
A strong jet of water can damage the pavers, dislodge them from their positions, and break sand out of the joints. Do not panic if you see traces of sand strewn around after pressure washing, as this is normal. Keep in mind that the joints must be supplemented with polymer sand after the pavers have dried.
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).