In seasons gone by, patio areas were “put in bed” in early Autumn, along with the rest of the garden. Nowadays, with the advent of products like outdoor heaters, hot tubs and lounge-style furnishings, these spaces are used year-round. This makes regular maintenance even more important, to ensure that spaces are safe and well-kept during the damper, colder months.
Establishing An Outdoor Regime
Paths and patios will benefit from a thorough clean every couple of months or so – ideally, twice during the winter and three times during late spring/summer. Surfaces that are regularly cleaned will be far easier to keep clean. Regular cleaning of inside-to-outside surfaces, like those that run through bifold doors, will also help maintain a seamless aesthetic.
Before embarking on a late summer clean-up, identify any furnishings or materials that aren’t winter or frost proof; these will need to be packed away or covered up before the weather turns. It’s worth emptying and stacking pots as soon as flowers are spent to make patio maintenance easier; some might need to be stored away if they’re not frost-resistant. Pavers can then be swept to remove dirt, debris and fallen leaves.
It’s worth sweeping up leaves on a regular basis, as they can quickly decay and cause a slip hazard. Certain leaves, like sycamores, are a particular menace; aphids that live on the surface of the leaves excrete a sugary substance that provides a food source for algae. The combined sugar and bacteria leaves a telltale black spot stain and sometimes whole leaf prints.
A Note About Pressure-Washing
A blast with a jet wash may seem like a quick and easy way to clean pavers but it will only wash dirt off the surface. Over the autumn and winter, use of excessive amounts of water can exacerbate staining and slip issues. Jet washing can also loosen grout, erode a stone surface and damage any protective sealant applied. A specialist treatment will react with ingrained residue and organic matter, drawing it out of the stone’s porosity, and will also help to prevent regrowth of algae and other organic material.
Cleaning Your Paving
To properly remove stains and ingrained dirt, we recommend a thorough wash with ECOPROTEC Intensive Cleaner. This treatment is also especially effective at removing leaf stains, including those left by Sycamore leaves. Before cleaning, remove furniture, pots and other objects. Then, test your cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area.
How to apply ECOPROTEC Intensive Cleaner
1. To remove mild staining, dilute one part of the cleaner with 10 parts of warm water. Wash the surface thoroughly, using a brush or yard broom, and rinse with clean
water.
2. For more severe staining, dilute one part of the cleaner with 3 parts of warm water. Agitate with a scrubbing brush and leave to act for 5-10 minutes, adding more
solution to keep the surface wet.
3. Sweep up any residue and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
If your patio is prone to black spot, lichen, moss and algae, we recommend periodic treatment with ECOPROTEC Black Spot & Algae Remover, which will break down microspores and black spot ‘hyphae’ before they colonise. Late summer is a good time to carry out the first treatment. The remover is acid-free, so it’s safe to use on acid-sensitive stone, but it does contain a bleaching action to remove stains. So, as before, test first on an inconspicuous area. Then, remove furniture and other items from the area to be treated.
How to apply ECOPROTEC Black Spot & Algae Remover
1. Apply neat Blackspot onto clean pavers with a plastic watering can or light pressure
garden spray.
2. Leave to absorb for 2-4 hours; the product will begin to fizz as it gets to work.
3. Hose off thoroughly with clean water.
Stopping Water Ingress
Once you’ve cleaned your pavers and they’re dry, it’s an ideal time to replace any lost jointing sand or cement mortar. This will stop the ingress of water and will help protect paving during the freeze and thaw cycle of winter.
Adding Protection
If your patio hasn’t been sealed, consider applying a protective treatment. We recommend ECOPROTEC Patio Sealer for natural stone and our barrier treatment, ECOPROTEC Pre Grout Protector for matt porcelain pavers. Both are non-film forming and will help prevent the absorption of moisture and organic particles, reducing staining and the spread of algae, mould and black spot. They are also water-based, so can be applied over some residual moisture. As a rule of thumb, it is safe to apply a treatment provided that no rain is forecast for 24 hours, either side of application.
ECOPROTEC Patio Sealer is a water-based, impregnating sealer that’s applied using a foam roller or paint brush. It will protect pavers from moisture, stains, weathering and efflorescence, and it’s also UV-resistant and non-yellowing.
ECOPROTEC Pre-Grout Protector creates a barrier against organic matter and makes ongoing maintenance easier. On newly laid tiles, it also protects against staining and helps increase grout working times.
Done!
If you follow our how-to guide, your patio will stay looking its best throughout the Autumn months, saving you some time on Spring cleaning!
If you have any questions about keeping your patio maintained during the Autumn, feel free to reach out to us on 01206 700 599 or via email at support@nustone.co.uk.
Alternatively, reach out to ECOPROTEC directly to find out more about patio maintenance! Contact ECOPROTEC on 01823 666213, technical@ecoprotec.co.uk or visit their website at www.ecoprotec.co.uk.
