How to Maintain Your Sandstone Pavers

  • Posted by: Troy Morgan

How to Maintain Your Sandstone Pavers

Sandstone has become the go-to material for designers and decorators in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Queensland, and Canberra, especially when it comes to flooring options both inside and outside homes. Sandstone is a naturally occurring stone that is highly porous, but they are also durable. Sandstone pavers can uplift the look and feel of your home and for this reason, many are using it for building their patios and driveways.

Like most natural stones, it is important to have some regular cleaning work done to ensure that the sandstone keeps looking good. Discolouration and loss of texture is a very common problem in sandstone pavers. This usually happens with the passage of time, the footfall the pavers endure, the type of plants that surround the pavers, and the impact of water and dirt.

Staining is another problem that sandstone pavers face. This usually happens because of:

  • Algae formation within the pores of the sandstone
  • Formation of lichens because of organic fusion between different organisms like algae and fungus
  • Growth of moss which usually happens if the sandstone is left damp and dirty

Now there are many companies which will tell you that they have ‘maintenance-free’ pavers. Well, here’s some news for you – they don’t exist. The main reason for it is the simple fact that sandstones are formed naturally and, like anything found in nature, it will deteriorate over time. But that does not mean that you cannot take care of them and increase their longevity. With the right kind of maintenance, you can give your patio a new lease of life.

Basic Wash

As mentioned earlier, an occasional cleaning can help clean and maintain sandstone pavers. A simple wash with soap and water is more than enough for this purpose. Even the dirtiest patio, driveway, or paved area will look good with the minimal effort that you will put with a basic wash. A basic wash is a great way to keep off dirt, moss, and algae that could cause stains on your sandstone pavers. But do remember that this is just a temporary solution for keeping the area clean. Over a longer period. a more specialised cleaning job will be required.

 

Beware of Hazardous Chemical-Based Cleaning Products

Always ensure that you keep away strong chemicals from your sandstone pavers as they could permanently discolour the stone. There are many different types of fungicides, bleach, elbow grease, strong detergents, and disinfectants, among other products, that remove contaminants effectively but also stain the sandstone.

 

Power Washer

If correctly used, a power washer can do wonders for your sandstone pavers. Power wash is an effective way to clean sandstones, especially if you have a large area to maintain. Given that you can use hot water for cleaning, you will be able to blast away all the contaminants that could be stuck in the pores of your sandstone pavers. But if you get your power wash wrong, it could cause irreparable damage to the sandstone surface. If the pressure on your power wash is set too high, it could instantly erode a layer off your sandstone pavers. This could lead to loss of shine, texture, and above all, it will affect the appearance of the pavers.

Using Sealant Products

There are many naysayers when it comes to the use of sandstone sealers and driveway. Most of these so-called experts say that use of sealers could lead to staining. But they are wrong. Non-alkaline based sealers like the ones Elite Coatings supplies, guarantees to maintain the look of sandstone pavers.

By using a natural-looking sealing product like Elite Guard or Elite Shield, you can protect your sandstone pavers against oil, greasy spills, and other possible stains. These products from Elite Coatings are terrific sandstone sealers and driveway sealers.

For those who claim that letting sandstone deteriorate naturally has a certain beauty to it, we say that they have no idea about the advancements that have been made in sealing techniques.

Elite Coatings offers water-based sealer for use on porous sandstone. It seals natural stone in order to prevent staining and cuts down the formation of salt deposits, thus reducing efflorescence. This not only improves the life and quality of sandstone pavers, but it also maintains their natural look while keeping away all contaminants.

Call the Sealing Experts Today

If you are looking to protect your sandstone flooring, then call Elite Coatings today. Our products like Elite Guard and Elite Shield are the best sandstone sealer and driveway sealers available in Canberra, Queensland, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. Call now at 1300 161 372 to learn more.