Paver Maintenance: What’s Involved in Post-Installation Patio Care?

Outdoor living projects, such as patios, walkways, and driveways, are no small investment. For that reason, you probably want to know what’s involved in long-term paver maintenance so that you can ensure the upkeep of your new hardscape space for many years to come.

The good news is that when installed properly (and that’s a HUGE factor), paver care is minimal. This is a key reason why it makes sense to invest a little bit more money in high-quality pavers and a landscaping company that has the expertise to install them right.

Your driveway, walkway, and paver patio's lifespan will be much longer if you choose a top-notch product installed by an experienced company.

In this article, we’ll answer some of the common paver maintenance questions that we get, including:

• Do pavers require a lot of maintenance?
• How do I protect my patio pavers?
• Is it better to seal pavers or not?
• How to choose the best paver installation in Northern VA?

We’ve asked Senior Landscape Designer Alan Macbeth to answer these questions and share important information that you should know to help maintain your pavers for many years to come.

Do pavers require a lot of maintenance?

If installed properly, your paver patio, walkway, or driveway should not require a lot of maintenance, says Alan.

“With the quality standard that most pavers are made to now, a well-installed paver surface is incredibly durable,” he explains.

“Once installed, the key thereafter is just looking after the surface. Do your best to eliminate stains like grill grease and red wine. But even in those cases, there are now excellent cleaners, so these one-time major issues are quite easily addressed.”

One of the key benefits of installing a paver patio, as opposed to a material like concrete, is that the maintenance is minimal.

While poured concrete is the least expensive option among hardscaping materials, it can be prone to maintenance problems, such as cracking over time. This is particularly true in our region, which is subject to the freeze-thaw cycle.

If a paver does crack due to an accident of some sort (like dropping something heavy on it), it’s easier to remove that one paver and replace it than it would be to fix a concrete patio (which is poured as one big slab). Concrete patching can be a bit of an eyesore.

The key, of course, is that the pavers are installed properly. Ongoing maintenance issues can arise if pavers are improperly installed, says Alan.

It is essential that the base for the pavers is graded properly to ensure they do not sink or fail over time. This is often an area where inexperienced landscapers make mistakes. But this can be detrimental to the finished project.

Drainage should also be taken into account, says Alan. You don’t want your hardscaping to cause or experience drainage issues because this wasn't considered in advance.

How do I protect my patio pavers?

Homeowners are most often concerned about patio maintenance, as this is where they’re spending most of their outdoor time.

Alan says that paver care for a patio is mostly limited to periodic cleaning as needed.

If you have debris on your patio, like fallen leaves, sweeping it off can make a huge difference in preventing stains. Much of the staining on patios is from leaves and other debris that were left lying on the patio for a long time, likely during many rainstorms.

We occasionally get questions about paver sealing as a way to protect a patio, but we don't insist that it's necessary. We’ll answer that question in more detail next.

Is it better to seal pavers or not?

There are mixed opinions when it comes to paver sealing, says Alan. Even our manufacturers have told us that it's not always necessary, as it's mainly done for aesthetic purposes, he says.

Sealing can help enhance the color of the pavers. It can also help pavers resist stains; however, due to the effectiveness of cleaning products, this is not something you need to do.

There can also be logistical challenges to effective paver sealing, says Alan.

Pavers need to be clean and completely dry on the day of sealing. Caution needs to be taken so that nothing gets on the pavers after the sealing process. Even something tiny like pollen or other fine debris can be a major factor once the sealer has been applied and is still wet, Alan says.

Sealers will also break down due to natural foot traffic and patio usage. For many, it’s an added maintenance step that may just not be worth it, Alan says.

How to choose the best paver installation in Northern VA

Ultimately, the biggest decision you will make that influences paver maintenance is the company that installs it. It’s imperative that pavers are installed properly so that surprise maintenance troubles don’t arise.

The company you choose to design and build your patio will have a tremendous impact on your results. While many companies offer professional landscape design and paver installation in Northern Virginia, not all of them are created equally.

The best landscaping construction projects start with an in-house design. This will help ensure that unforeseen troubles are avoided.

At Kingstowne, we believe that having in-house landscape designers helps prevent any disconnect between the design and building processes. They should be seamless so that you end up with the patio you truly want. If you’re unsure of the company’s process or wondering if they do their design work in-house, you might want to ask.

Before you go any further in the process, you could ask them outright how they handle their designs.

In addition, you also want to make sure you work with a company that invests in high-quality paver products, says Alan.

“Today, there have been continued improvements of pavers, and they are highly resilient to problems,” Alan says.

Pavers also continue to improve and have come a long way in recent years. That means less need for upkeep and more enjoyment of your finished project!

Researching and ultimately choosing a paver installation and design company is a big decision and may require some time. But by putting in the effort on the front end, you’ll find a company you can build a long-term relationship with, rather than feeling as though you’re headed right back to square one when it didn’t work out with the company you chose.

In the end, making a smart choice will help give you peace of mind. By choosing the right patio contractor for the work, you’ll be able to feel confident that you have the optimal solution for enhancing your property.

If you want to be confident that your landscape design will have everything it needs, request a landscape consultation, get your customized plan, and relax as you receive the royal treatment.