Yearly reminder to Winterize your Brick Pavers

Paver Patios, Walks, Porches, & Driveways need protection

Simple and easy paver maintenance can help you avoid long-term repair or restoration costs if you just follow this manageable winterizing tips for your brick pavers. Any steps taken to avoid erosion from snow, ice, and rains will greatly improve the performance & appearance of your brick paver patios, walkways, driveways, and porches.
 
Letting interlocking pavers and modular retaining wall blocks & caps move freely with winter frost in states like Michigan will allow paving stones to properly flex and reset.  Most homeowners neglect these simple brick pavers maintenance tips and respond by saying, " I will just wait until Spring".  The most stress on any pavement or structure in Michigan and other frost states is the effects of winter freeze thaw cycles.

Here is the link to Winterizing Brick Pavers that I repost each year to remind homeowners of the need to perform these much needed steps to protect their investment.  Any qualified brick paver contractor will offer these winterizing services if you do not have the time or resolve to perform them yourself.

Paver Tip: Sweep in Joint Sand to Winterize Your Pavers

Necessary paver maintenance for Winter

If your pavers patio, walkway, driveway, porch, etc.. is in need of paver joint sand this Fall, this is an important time to perform this brick paver maintenance service.  One of the most important steps in winterizing your pavers is making sure the paver joints are filled with joint sand.

Winter snow, ice, and melt off will run into paver joints that are not filled with joint sand and may create preventable settling, erosion, or heaving.  I gave some suggestions for preparing your pavers for Winter in an earlier post about winterizing brick pavers. A quick review will  help you insure long-term performance of your paving stones patio, walkway, or driveway.



Paver joint sand creates friction between paving stones causing vertical and rotating interlock to occur.  Paver joints play a cushioning role in preventing damage between paver to paver contact.  Angular or course joint sand will prevent sand movement and help sand retention in the paver joints, thus avoiding long term erosion or settling of your patio paving stones.

It is so simple to just sweep in paver joint sand. In the Fall, you can just concentrate on sweeping paver joint sand in the areas that are in need of joint sand.  Touch-up sweepings throughout the year will save you unnecessary paver repairs over the years. Neglect of this simple brick paver maintenance requirement will result in costly paver repairs.  So during this Halloween season, grab a broom from a witch and sprinkle in some paver joint sand from Lowe's and start brewing.