Flagstones + Paving + Kerbs + Steps Specification Guide
Additional Products + Info
MAINTENANCE GUIDANCE Paving and flagstones should be regularly brushed with a stiff non-metal brush to prevent a build-up of dirt. We also advise a more substantial clean two or three times a year, especially during spring and autumn.
General Wear Newly completed areas of paving or flagstones should only receive a light brushing in the first few months to allow joints to settle naturally. From then on, general maintenance should be carried out regularly.
Maintenance of Joints Jointing material may be lost during the early life of the pavement in both dry and wet weather, being blown away in dry conditions or washed away from the surface during heavy rain. It is therefore important to inspect areas of new paving regularly in their early life and top up joints where needed.
General Dirt + Grime To remove general dirt, a cyclic maintenance regime should be considered based on expected traffic and use. If detritus dulls the colour of the paving, it can be re-established by mild controlled pressure washing or scrubbing with proprietary solutions following the manufacturer’s guidelines. This can be carried out by hand or by using industrial cleaning equipment. Using a bristle brush with mild detergent and hot water is normally all you need to remove any build-up of dirt and grime. Mechanical sweepers or scrubber drier machines can be used to assist cleaning regimes long term however, it is advisable to avoid this cleaning process in the early life of the pavement to allow detritus to have sealed the joints.
Lichen, Moss + Algae Moss, lichen and algae may grow on paving in areas which are heavily shaded or under trees or are not laid to an adequate fall, leading either to slow running off or ponding of surface water. If such growths do occur, the areas should be treated with an appropriate proprietary weed killer, used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Rust Stains – Effects of Other Landscape Products If rust stains occur on the paving, the first requirement is to eliminate the source of the staining. To remove rust stains, the surface should be wetted and the affected area treated with a prop solution. After cleaning, the paving should be well washed down to remove all traces of the acid. It is common to find that rust stains can be sourced to the spreading of weed killer on green areas close to the paving. The chemicals in the weed-killer react with the pigments in the paving and rust coloured stains result. If there are locations where green areas and paving meet then consider using a block paving which has low pigment content.
Beverage + Food Stains Most stains associated with everyday life such as mineral / alcohol and food can be removed easily. These can normally be removed by scrubbing with a strong detergent and hot water solution. If the stain is persistent, apply a bleach solution and then rinse the area well with clean water.
Chewing Gum Chewing gum is difficult to remove from all paving surfaces. Newly discarded gum can be scraped off using a scraper, but hardened gum can only be removed by freezing / heating or chiselling it from the surface of the paving, or by using a high pressure water jet. If persistent then consideration should be given to a quality sealant to put a protective coating on the paving.
Rubber Tyre / Footwear Scuff Marks Scuff marks are common in locations where vehicles are used. These can normally be removed by mild power washing / steam cleaning, or by scrubbing the area with a strong detergent and hot water solution.
Grease + Oil Stains
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Oil does not penetrate readily into the body of paving, but if oil is spilt on the paving the spillage should be removed promptly with an absorbent material. After soaking up the majority of small spills, prompt washing with a prop solution should remove the stain.
