A simple maintenance routine that keeps a paver patio looking new — and the mistakes that stain it.
Pavers are low maintenance, not no maintenance. Fifteen minutes a season keeps a patio looking like the week it was installed.
Routine cleaning
Sweep debris regularly, especially organic material that breaks down and feeds moss. Rinse with a hose and use a stiff brush with mild soap for spots. Pull weeds from joints promptly — they are almost always seeds landing on top, not growing from below.
Pressure washing cautions
A pressure washer held too close, at too high a pressure, or at a bad angle blasts joint sand out and etches the paver surface. Keep the tip well back, use a fan tip, and plan to re-sand joints afterward.
Sealing
Sealing is optional but helpful. It deepens color, resists oil and leaf staining, and stabilizes joints. Wait until efflorescence has run its course — usually the first year — then seal a fully dry, clean surface. Reapply every three to five years.
Common mistakes
- Sealing a damp patio, which traps moisture and clouds the finish
- Using de-icing salts that spall paver surfaces — use sand or calcium magnesium acetate
- Metal shovels and blades that chip edges during snow removal
- Ignoring settled areas instead of resetting them early
Talk to a real hardscaper
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