Why are my pavers discolored?

Author: Genevieve Koepp  |  Last update: Saturday, October 21, 2023

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). Once the mixture of water reaches the surface, it mixes with the carbon dioxide in the air and creates a white haze/film that covers the pavers.

How do you fix discolored pavers?

How to Restore Color on Faded Pavers
  1. Clean the Pavers Thoroughly. ...
  2. Apply Paver Sealant to Enhance Faded Pavers. ...
  3. Stain Concrete Pavers to Change the Color. ...
  4. Can I Paint Brick Pavers? ...
  5. Add a Border or Accent Pavers to Update the Look. ...
  6. Schedule a Quote for Paver Restoration.

What causes pavers to discolor?

Exposure to sunlight is the primary reasons why pavers fade. The sun causes fading of any pigmented item, from fabrics and paint to the pigments in the stones. You might notice some mottling of the color of your paving stones as the years go by. This is because the pigments do not penetrate into the aggregate.

How do you clean discolored pavers?

CLEAN PAVERS WITH SOAP OR DETERGENT

Directly apply dishwashing soap or laundry detergent to the smudge and let it sit for at least 2 hours or longer if time permits. Reinforce it by pouring dish soap and water mixture. Use a bristle brush to scrub your paver lightly.

How do I get my pavers back to its original color?

Try Concrete Stain

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).

Why do my pavers have efflorescence?

Does vinegar discolor pavers?

Once again, acetic acid will wreak havoc with your block paving. Porous stones like limestone and sandstone are more susceptible to damage than most, as the vinegar can seep into the stones themselves, though even sealed and non-porous stones can discolour and bleach.

Will Dawn clean pavers?

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.

Does bleach work on pavers?

Cleaning your pavers with bleach has a lot of benefits: Disinfecting the Surface: Bleach is an effective disinfectant and can kill any bacteria or mold on the surface. This will help to prevent any health hazards from occurring. Removing Tough Stains: Bleach is also effective in removing tough stains from the surface.

Will bleach damage pavers?

To create a powerful mold-killing mixture, you can add one cup of bleach to a gallon of water. However, you should exercise meticulous care and caution since bleach can discolor your brick pavers and thus ruin your precious hardscape.

Do pavers lose their color?

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.

How do you fix faded patio pavers?

Over time, pavers can become stained and faded, but they don't have to be replaced – they can be restored!
  1. Try power washing them. This will remove most of the dirt and stains.
  2. If that doesn't work, try using a paver cleaner. ...
  3. Finally, if all else fails, you may need to have them professionally cleaned and sealed.

Can water stain pavers?

The water stains on pavers that people refer to are from efflorescence. Efflorescence is caused when soluble salts in the pavers react with rainfall, humidity, and temperatures fluctuating. As the water evaporates, the salts come to the surface, creating a white power-like deposit on the pavers.

Do pavers change color?

The reason that concrete brick pavers fade is simple. The manufacturers add dry-shake pigments in with the sand, small gravel, Portland cement and water that's used to create the brick. This pigment has the consistency of flour and, just like the Portland cement, it coats the surfaces of the sand and gravel.

What is the best paver cleaner?

Water and mild dish soap is a popular cleaning solution because it's easy to find at home and it won't damage brick, but it will tackle stains. The BIA recommends using hot water for surface cleaning with a detergent. White vinegar and water, another common household cleaner, can also be used on mildew.

Will bleach change the color of pavers?

For human-made colored concrete paving slabs or concrete pavers, we don't recommend the use of bleach for cleaning. That's because the substance could fade your paver colors if regularly cleaned with bleach over a long period.

Does baking soda clean pavers?

Baking soda is an amazing household cleaner, and it can work really well on your pavers too.

Does OxiClean clean pavers?

OxiClean is a powerful concrete cleaner that works well on various materials, including pavement and grout. This concentrated solution provides excellent cleaning without leaving residue.

Can I use hydrogen peroxide to clean pavers?

Although bleach is great at the whitening effect, you can use peroxide to achieve this. Hydrogen peroxide is an oxygenated bleach. It is safe for plants, so when you rinse this solution, it won't harm anything. It works together with the dish soap and baking soda to remove dirt and whiten dirty concrete.

Can you spray vinegar on pavers?

Yes, using vinegar is a good choice for cleaning pavers and very effective as well. Once vinegar is a non-toxic and biodegradable solution, it is a great way to clean your pavers without resorting to chemicals, which is safer, since you don't harm your plants, pets, or the soil.

Should you pressure wash pavers?

Can you power wash pavers? Power washing (also known as pressure washing) is also a very effective method by which you can remove dust deposits and various stains from your pavers. Just make sure that the water jet is not directed directly at the joints between the paving stones.

Can you stain faded pavers?

This residential application had pavers that had faded badly over the years. In this case, it was too late for any type of clear sealer to try to revive the pavers. The options would be to stain the pavers from products available at the big box stores OR utilize National Sealing's revolutionary dyeing process.

What is the best cleaner for patio pavers?

Dilute white vinegar with water in a bucket, at Walmart (a 50:50 solution is fine), and apply this natural, eco-friendly cleaning solution to the paving slabs with a firm brush and rinse thoroughly.

Should you seal old pavers?

“Do I need to seal my pavers?” The short answer is Yes. Paver sealant is an important maintenance tool to keep paver patios, walkways, driveways and pool decks looking as beautiful as they day they were installed.

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