Paver Patio Restoration

Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see patios conctrusted using concrete pavers. In fact, paver patios are one of the desirable features in a landscape. Outdoor kitchens often times feature a paver patio, a grill, and seating. Yet, there are occasions where a paver patio may need a bit of TLC to get it up to par. That's where paver patio restoration can come in handy. In this article, we will take a look at what paver patios are. We will also examine what is meant by "restoring paver patios" and what can be done to correct some of the common causes of the need to restore a paver patio.

What Are Paver Patios?

In simple terms, a paver patio is an outdoor surface constructed using concrete pavers or, concrete units formed into various shapes and sizes which can be arranged on the ground to create a flat surface. Paver patios are used as gathering places, for entertaining, and as part of an outdoor kitchen. These outdoor centers of activity are a beneficial part of the home environment. People choose paver patios for a variety of reasons but this article entitled: 5 Benefits of a Paver Patio lists some common ones.

Why Paver Patios Need Restored

Even though paver patios are such an integral part of the home, there are times when a patio needs to be "restored". There are a number of ways in which a paver patio can fall into a state where it needs to be "restored". Let's look at some conditions that might cause a need for attention and what the causes can be.

Incorrect Slope

One of the reasons paver patio restoration is a subject that is on people's minds is that there is a specific slope need for a paver patio to function correctly. At first, you may be thinking, "it needs to be level, right?" Well, the answer is actually no. Installing a paver patio so it is completely level will allow water to run toward your home. Therefore, when installing a paver patio it should slope 1/8 of an inch every 8 feet. This allows water to run away from the house.

So, the patio should have a slight slope so it is not level. Yet, it should not have too great a slope. Incorrectly sloped paver patios are one reason for paver patio restoration. but This si not the only reason.

Plant Growth Affects Pavers

Another reason for paver patio restoration is that area vegetation affects the structure in various ways. For example, nearby tree roots grow under the patio and move the pavers. Creating raised spots in it and causing a need for fixing uneven patio pavers. Additionally, weeds and other plants may sprout between the pavers or seeds from plants may make their way into the crevices of the pavers and begin to grow leaving the owner with the task of removing paver patio weeds.

Because of the effects area plants have on these home features, paver patio restoration could mean correcting a surface that is uneven or maybe doesn't look like a patio because of all the plant growth. But not all restoration work is such a large task. There are smaller tasks that restoring entails.

Restoring the Appearance of Dirty Pavers

A patio restoration need not be a huge undertaking. It may only involve cleaning up the pavers so that they can be seen. Restoring the appearance of a paver patio by using an effective concrete cleaner or a professional stain remover to get the surface clean may be all that is needed.

Enhancing Appearance

What if you want to go beyond restoring pavers and would rather enhance the appearance of the patio instead? This is achievable by using a stone enhancer suitable for concrete pavers. Enhancing concrete pavers adds another dimension to the look of your patio. Enhancing the stone gives the color a deeper, richer look and an additional benefit to enchancing the pavers is that some enhancers are also stone sealers. So, the look is enhanced, but the material is also protected from water and oils based liquids that could stain the pavers.

In the end, the term restoration, really has many meanings. Depending on the condition at the time the patio restoration begins, it will require different treatments and work to get it back to its original condition. Knowing what is needed and how to handle it is what will determine your degree of success.