With the decrease in temperature these last few days, we are here to remind you that your yard needs to be prepared for winter! Here are 6 tips from our experts:
1. Pick up the dead leaves
In the fall, regularly sweep the dead leaves off of your paver. Leaves, petals and buds left on your paver, under the snow and all winter long could stain it. This way, it will look brand new as soon as next spring is upon us!
2. Prune the nearby plants and bushes
The shade created by their branches mixed with the humid fall weather could nurture the growth of moss in between the slabs.
3. Remove heavy objects
It's best to remove large pieces of outdoor furniture from your paver to prevent it from losing its shape. Because of the soil expands when it freezes and thaws, your terrace can move quite a bit. The heavy weight of objects such as furniture, pots and the bases of umbrellas could accentuate its deformation.
4. Prevent icing on your paver
Watch out for water dripping from the downspout! Accumulations of water or ice onto your paver could make it very slippery and consequently, dangerous! To prevent this problem, install a gutter extension. This way, you will avoid it altogether.
5. Replace the polymeric sand in between the pavers, if necessary
If you notice that some of the paver joints look empty or even cracked, it might be time to add polymeric sand! In addition to stabilizing, it's an effective solution to:
- Prevent the accumulation of organic matter in the joints
- Reduce the quantity of ice that will form in between the pavers and/or slabs
- Prevent weeds from growing in the joints the following summer
6. Get prepared properly to remove the snow off of your concrete pavers
Make sure you have a plastic shovel that has no metal blade because it could damage your paver. If you hire a snow removal contractor, ask him if his machinery has a Teflon plate. This is what will do the job best!
If you follow these 6 tips, your concrete surfaces should stay good-looking for longer!