Taking care of pavers after installation in Long Island, NY is key to keeping them looking new. We can rejuvenate old pavers but save yourself the headache down the road and take care of them from the beginning. Sealing early on will keep them looking new much longer and make it easier to clean while not dealing with all the weed, and algae growth.

Wading River, NY Paver Pool Deck Paver Cleaning and Polymeric Sand Installation.

We experience drastic seasonal changes that wreak havoc on Masonry and Asphalt driveways and hardscape. Regular cleaning, like soft washing helps maintain their appearance, stunts premature wear of paver joints and prepares them for sealing. The trees we have on the North Shore of Long Island in areas like St James, Setauket, Miller Place and Wading River make pavers get dirty quickly. Likewise, we have drastic weather patterns and climate influences from the ocean and bays.

Pavers face challenges such as weather changes, UV damage, foot traffic, stains from oil, and the growth of weeds and algae, which can damage them over time. Regular cleaning keeps the pavers and joints in good shape if done consistently. Proper care ensures that pavers stay safe, slip-resistant, and attractive, increasing your property's value.

New Paver Installation 1st Year Upkeep

Efflorescence: White haziness cast across your new patio is normal and will dissipate with rain in about 1 year. Covered areas may need to be wet down periodically to fully complete the efflorescence process. This haziness will show under a sealer. This is the primary reason we do not recommend sealing in the first year. Any remaining efflorescence can be chemically treated to lessen its appearance.
Regular Cleaning: Low impact cleaning. Blowing and sweeping the pavers regularly to remove dirt, seeds, leaves, and debris. Use a mild detergent and light hose water for deeper cleaning, avoiding harsh acidic chemicals that could damage the surface.
Combat Weeds: In most cases, new pavers will have hard polymeric joints that don’t allow weed growth. If you do see weeds, use a weed prevention product to inhibit the growth of weeds in the joints of your pavers. Consider reapplying this treatment periodically throughout the year.
Avoid Heavy Loads: Try to keep heavy vehicles or equipment off new pavers for at least the first few months to prevent any settling or cracking.
Manage Water Drainage: Ensure proper drainage around your pavers to prevent pooling or erosion, which can cause structural damage over time. Irrigation systems that wet pavers on a daily basis will cause expedited deterioration of stabilizing joint sand. If joints begin to look dark or green a soft wash service may be needed.
Use Furniture Protectors: If placing furniture or pots on pavers, use pads or coasters to prevent scratching, rust stains or indentations.
Promptly Address Stains: Clean up spills immediately to prevent staining. For oil use hot water and soap and other stains, use a specialized cleaner as soon as possible.

How do I Keep My New Pavers Clean?

Keeping your pavers looking fresh and well-maintained in their first year eliminates the need for deep cleaning and ensures they are ready for sealing next season. This does not mean to stop cleaning and regular cleaning like blowing off debris. Moreover, if you just had a deep clean and joint sand installation it is important to do light cleanings to ensure pavers stay in new like condition. In our North Shore service area from Northport to St James to Wading River NY, trees are constantly throwing shade and debris onto our paver patios. We understand paver upkeep is demanding and very frustrating if you in a heavily wooded area. It feels almost impossible to keep the dirt away for long periods of time. We offer our clients low cost maintenance packages for light soft wash cleaning multiple times per year that keep your pavers in great shape all Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Why are my Pavers turning black and green?

On the North shore of Long Island, NY pavers can turn green and mold very fast.

The number one culprit of algae ridden pavers is water.
Irrigation systems that constantly wet pavers every watering cycle will cause organic growth at a very fast rate.
Do your best to keep the pavers from getting soaked every day.
Another reason Pavers turn green and black is bad drainage.
Bad drainage is very common and should be taken care of immediately if you like clean pavers.
Sunken pavers or poorly pitched paver decks and patios pool moisture which penetrates the ground below deeply. This is a breeding ground for organic growth.
Landscapes that drain toward a paver patio can also wet the subsurface of patios keeping them full of moisture.
Taking the additional water out of the equation will greatly reduce Algae growth. The next culprit is our towering oaks and beautiful ornamental trees and plants. Every time the wind blows, debris shower down upon your pavers.
Blow off or sweep your patio regularly. Keeping debris off your patio will ensure it stays clean longer.
Hose rinse your patio regularly. A quick wide pattern spray off can really make a difference.
Keeping leaves on your patio will stain the paver if they get wet. Debris act like a sponge holding water and like we said above, water is the enemy if left to dwell.
Missing Joint Sand or old Polymeric Sand can hold water
Pavers missing joint sand allows water to infiltrate the base of your pavers, allowing water to penetrate deep into the base. It provides water for insects, weeds and could freeze causing damage in freeze thaw cycles.
Notice where there is moss or weeds in your pavers? It has no sand!

Paver Restoration in Mt Sinai, NY.

Older Pavers that have lost their luster can be brought back to life with new Polymeric Sand and Sealer. The longer you wait the more weathered pavers get! Textures and color become muted and color washed out. Sealer can enhance color and slow future texture loss.

Is It Worth Sealing My New Pavers?

What are the Benefits of Sealing New Pavers

Yes. Sealing is pertinent to keeping your investment looking great longer. Sealing after efflorescence has completed after first year is essential. Sealing is the best way to maintain surface appearance over time. Unsealed pavers will lose their color, shine and texture. Before Pavers are ready for sealing, we recommended keeping pavers clean with regular low-impact soft wash maintenance plan.

Sealing your hardscape one year after installation is ideal since they aren't dirty or worn yet. Sealing prolongs the stones life by protecting them against UV degradation, Snow, Acid Rain, and traffic wear. A good sealer will not only enhance the color of the surface but will also add a beautiful natural, semigloss or gloss finish that can elevate the overall appearance significantly while preserving the original texture and look. Sealer also hardens joints, and repels water from penetrating, reducing freeze thaw damage to joints and warding off algae and weed growth. Sealer also makes routine cleaning easier. The protective coating doesn’t allow dirt, spills and mold to penetrate making routine cleaning a breeze.

Sealed with a 2 Part Semi-Gloss Urethane. Preserve the original texture of your stone by sealing.

Should I Seal Older Pavers?

Yes, There is still life in them. First Step is To Deep Clean

Sealing old pavers will bring back color and stop degradation. Deep cleaning unmaintained pavers is the first step toward new looking pavers. Preparation is key, and deep cleaning is necessary step in restoring the appearance and function of your hardscape. Not to worry, for those unmaintained patios that are heavily soiled or algae-covered, we can get you up to snuff with a surface cleaning. Pressure washing is the only way to dislodge and remove old joint sand, moss, debris, and stains that accumulate over time. A MSM Surface Pro-fessional will also utilize a soft washing technique to complete the deep clean and stain removal in prep for sealing. To ward off deterioration of newly cleaned and sanded pavers it is important to keep up with regular cleaning like soft washing or simply blowing off debri.

Pressure Cleaned Patio Test Spot — A Pressure Cleaning Test Spot shows a stark difference in cleanliness. This area experienced drainage issues, pooling and irrigation dampening.

Do I need Polymeric Sand?

Polymeric sand is a go to for most paver patios and pool decks that are not being sealed. Polymeric sand becomes very hard and stabilizes paver joints and also stops water from penetrating deep into the base. It also helps ward off weeds. It is not the end all for weeds or ants but it is another layer of armor that greatly diminishes these annoyances. Choice of joint sand relies on many factors including traffic level, base type, drainage and mineral deposits. If we are sealing, our experienced technicians may choose to use colored, angular joint sand instead of polymeric sand. Sealer hardens and stabilizes regular joint sand similar to polymeric sand.

Installing Stabilizing Joint Sand

The next step after removing old joints is to install new polymeric sand or colored joint sand. Keeping up with routine maintenance like joint repair is essential to keeping pavers clean, stable and level. This ensures that the joints between your pavers are clean, moisture free and free of debris. Remember, the number one reason joints don’t last is regular wetting from irrigation systems or bad drainage. A proper installation of Polymeric sand is important for a long lasting quality job. At MSM Surface Pro, our technicians are meticulous with their procedures, ensuring the highest quality sand installation.

Pouring polymeric sand in an ”S” pattern ensures polymers in sand are spread even throughout the paver area.

Paver Sealing has many benefits that keep pavers looking great longer while making maintenance easier.

Paver sealing can effectively restore and bring back to life the overall appearance of your old, worn pavers, significantly enhancing their original beauty while also extending their overall lifespan in a meaningful and impactful way. This valuable and important process not only protects the surface from everyday wear and tear but also greatly prevents damage from harsh weather conditions, ensuring that your pavers remain attractive, resilient, and durable for many years to come, thereby maintaining the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor space. If you recently installed a patio, speak with a MSM Surface Pro-fessional about sealing options and save the headache of trying to bring old pavers back to life.