A great way to extend your living space and add value to your home is to have a beautiful patio area installed somewhere outside. This allows you to enjoy a spot of al fresco dining (when the weather is fine) and provides you with the perfect place for entertaining when friends and family pop by… all at very affordable prices indeed!
However, it’s certainly worth doing some research into the care and maintenance required to keep your investment in good condition, serving you well over the years. The good news is that there isn’t a huge amount that you need to do in order to protect your patio, with just a bit of regular cleaning required to keep it looking spick and span.
That being said, it’s important to think about the type of cleaning products you’re using, as some of them can be abrasive and cause damage to the slabs. Pressure washers for example, while convenient, can cause a bit of harm if they’re overused, wearing down the stones and breaking the sealant if they’re the go-to option.
Something else to be on the lookout for is bleach. You might be tempted to use this to get rid of any difficult stains and marks, but you can ruin the stones and strip them of their beautiful colour and natural markings, so try to avoid this if possible.
There are lots of specialist cleaning products out there that have been designed to suit a range of different materials, so always check to see which product would be most applicable to the type of paving slab you’ve gone for.
And finally, pest control is another area not to neglect if you’re worried about damaging your patio. Ants, in particular, can be rather troublesome, burrowing away beneath your slabs and potentially displacing the base and joint material. Be vigilant, keep on top of ant populations and you should ensure that your patio lasts for years. Result!