Paver Patios, Walkways & Driveways are a popular hardscape material choice. Installing pavers is an investment that needs to be protected with maintenance. Without proper care and maintenance your paver investment can quickly become a slippery, weed & moss filled hazard much to your embarrassment.

Regular maintenance is absolutely necessary to get the most out of your paver walk, patio or driveway and keeping it looking like new. The reason we recommend annual maintenance is to prevent any hard stains or buildup from becoming a larger problem. As with most things in the landscape, addressing problems early is always easier.

The best practice is to treat your pavers similar to a kitchen floor. It's best to clean it regularly as you would indoors. You can start with water and a push broom. Every year, clear off the area so that you can see all of the pavers. If you have a pool, be sure to perform this work prior to opening so you do not allow the dirty runoff to enter it.

Use a hose or power washer with a spray attachment and a push broom. Thoroughly rinse off your pavers and follow it by sweeping them off with the push broom. Use the hand-held brush for more stubborn areas. This should remove most dirt and debris.

For soil residue, moss, mold, or other stubborn stains a pressure washer works best. When you do so, some of the dirt & sand will be dislodged between the paver joints. You’ll want to pay close attention to how much sand is removed from the paver joints as this is what holds them in place.

Often, when the sand is too low, pavers have a tendency to collect dirt, become loose or can be lifted completely out of place. Obviously, this can be a dangerous tripping hazard. If, overall, the sand in your paver joints are low, we recommend removing as much of the existing sand as possible and replacing it with polymeric binder sand. This type of sand gives your paver joints extra staying power because it is mixed with a bonding agent. It also provides a stronger barrier to prevent weeds from growing between pavers as well as ants from making your patio their home.

As you are cleaning the pavers, look for any dips where the base stone bed may have sunk. You’ll want to take care of dipping areas early. If one paver is uneven, it may be a simple repair. But if a large section has sunk, it could be a larger problem as pooling water will cause the sand in the joints to erode faster. If the dips are occurring near the house, it could eventually cause damage to your foundation. If you just don’t have the time or are not comfortable removing and repairing a large section of pavers, its best to call a professional company to get the repair done right the first time. R&S Landscaping has been designing, installing, and repairing patios in the Bergen County area for over 30 years. We'd be happy to help you with any repairs.

R&S Landscaping offers a large and diverse number of landscaping solutions, including drainage and grading installation; installation of steps, walks and walls; installation of plant material; privacy screening; installation of fencing and garden structures; pool and spa installation; sprinkler system installations; installation of landscape lighting systems; lawn renovations and more.

Using its proprietary Eco Earth Design method, R&S provides low-impact outdoor design, focusing on the installation of green roof systems, ecologically sensitive outdoor solutions, water efficient irrigation design and installation and bio-diverse landscape design.