Once your brick patio is installed, it doesn’t need much maintenance. This is one of the great traits of brick. Over time, because of weed growth, sediment deposit or falling leaves, you may want to give that patio a good cleaning. Before you do, review these simple instructions to make sure your brick patio stays beautiful for years to come.
Before – Neglected brick patio with mold and mildew
Start off by sweeping or blowing your brick patio clean of any debris. If you have weeds growing in the joints between your pavers, spray them with weed killer or pull them out by hand. Give your patio another sweep to remove any dead plant material or loose soil.
If your patio is in a damp or shaded area in your yard, you may notice some mold or mildew growing on the bricks. While this will not damage the integrity of the patio, it can be unsightly. Luckily, this is easily removed with a simple cleaning solution:
4 cups of bleach
1 gallon of warm water
Apply the cleaning solution in small sections, so that the solution doesn’t dry on the pavers and scrub with a stiff bristle brush. Rinse it thoroughly with a garden hose with normal pressure and if needed, scrub it a second time.
You want to avoid using a high-pressure nozzle or a pressure washer as the force of the water can remove the sand between the joints of the brick. Pressure washers can also cause the edges of your pavers to chip.
Once you’ve removed the weeds and rinsed your patio, you may notice that there’s some sand missing from your joints. Simply sweep sand back into the joints with a push broom. Concrete sand (or river sand) is a good option because the grains are angular and the sand will ‘lock into’ the joints.
After: Simple cleaning method restores brick patio’s natural beauty