You know the deal: once you have your paver patio installed, it’s time to take care of it. Even after sealing, keeping an eye out for your project is essential to prevent any eventual damage from climate conditions. Especially with driveways and fire pits – which are usually under constant sun exposure – the joints between pavers are prone to attract weed growth, mold and mildew after some time in the outdoors. So what’s the best way to get rid of the intruders? Can you power wash weeds from pavers without problems?
That’s a recurring question that many professionals receive. Faced with a variety of cleaning solutions nowadays, homeowners still wonder if they can use their own equipment to solve the problem themselves – one of which, of course, being the pressure washer.
Keep reading this article to find out if it’s possible to power wash weeds from pavers without damaging them further and, if so, the proper way to do it.
Is it possible to power wash weeds from pavers?
Yes, it is, but just every once in a while.
You see, pressure washing anything means that you’ll send a high jet of water straight into its target. For pavers that are cracked and disjointed, the water will most likely remove more than just the weeds sprouting there. If your project was made over a sand base, for example, water flooding can even unlevel your pavers, which becomes a much bigger problem than the one you had before.
There are subtle techniques, though, that you can use to remove the weeds. If you still opt to power wash the surface area, you just need to be extra careful not to overdo it – because depending on the age of your pavers, you might even crack some of them. Faulty slabs need to be replaced as soon as possible to not compromise the whole project and make a routine cleanup worthless.
Heads up!
Keep in mind that weeds are organic beings. Due to factors such as wind and humidity, their seeds are naturally deposited in enclosed spaces, hence why sealing the joints of your pavers is always the best way to avoid this headache.
However, that’s not the case for mechanical stains, tyre marks and transmission fluids – which can also damage your pavers in the long run. Needless to say, you can’t just power wash these away. To read in detail how to deal with them, take a look at this complete article.
How to power wash weeds from pavers the right way
Now that you have a general idea on what power washing is capable of, we highly recommend you consult a nearby expert first. Like we mentioned, maybe you’ll need a few extra pavers for the surface area or some sand to refill the joints after they’re clean, so make sure to get every resource you’ll need beforehand.
When everything’s in order, you can start by pulling the most robust weeds from the ground by hand. Yes, you heard that right – it’s best to remove the big stuff before moving on to the little ones. After you’re left with just the ingrained dirt, it’s time to get the pressure washer from the deposit.
From now on you’ll have to measure your dose regularly. For evident reasons, even if your project is very sturdy, you’ll need to control the strength of the water being pumped. Most units can do this with some interchangeable nozzle tips. Warm water is best here.
Test the jet force in a small area first, then move on the sides when you see that the floor holds up. Power wash your pavers, one by one, and always avoid blasting off the base underneath them. If it all goes well, you can repeat this process until you get the whole surface rid of weeds and other unwanted residue.
Get a professional crew to do it for you!
As a branch of Eagle Stones in Sarasota, Florida, our experts provide clients with the best cleaning services in town. If you happen to be around us, why not give us a call to help you out? We can pressure wash the weeds from your pavers and even seal them afterwards – you don’t need to worry about the specifics or anything.
Also, click here to check the online catalog in case you’d like to switch your faulty pavers altogether. There are many options available. We’ll be waiting for your contact!