Paver Maintenance

What is efflorescence?

There is a chance that after a few weeks or months, you may notice a white haze appear on the surface of the pavers. Many people think that this is the color of the pavers fading, but that is not the case. This white haze is known as ‘Efflorescence’ and is a natural process that occurs in all cement-based products. All concrete products contain cement which produces lime or water soluble calcium oxide. Lime can also be in the bedding sand, aggregate base materials, or soil. Although concrete pavers are solid, strong, and very dense, they contain millions of microscopic capillaries that run from the interior to the surface. Moisture from rain, sprinklers, and dew enters these capillaries. Calcium oxide inside the pavers reacts with the water in the capillaries and forms calcium hydroxide. This rises to the surface, reacts with the carbon dioxide in the air, and forms a white haze of calcium carbonate. When the moisture on the surface evaporates, the white haze of efflorescence becomes visible.

When will efflorescence stop?

The white haze will disappear when the supply of calcium hydroxide is exhausted. If you live in an area of frequent rain and sunny days, efflorescence and its passing may occur quickly. The process may take much longer in drier climates. Typically, efflorescence will stop developing in approximately 18 to 24 months.

Can it be removed without the wait?

Yes, VerdeGo recommends and offers efflorescence cleaner and services to rid your pavers of efflorescence. This specific cleaner will dislodge efflorescence and ground in dirt. It will brighten up the color and prepare the surface for the application of a sealant. For more information on Efflorescence and Hardscape cleaner, please contact VerdeGo.

Polymeric Sand

The substitution of Polymeric Sand in the joints of the pavers instead of typical mason sand is becoming more and more popular. Polymeric sand is a high-tech mix of graded sand and binder, specially formulated for longer lasting strength and durability.

The Polymeric sand is applied to the pavers just like the mason sand by sweeping it into the paver joints. After being swept in, the sand is then misted with water which causes it to harden and solidify. This application strengthens the interlocking of the pavers and has numerous advantages:

- Becomes water resistant after 90 minutes
- For surfaces exposed to normal to heavy traffic
- Inhibits weed grow in joints of pavers
- Deters ants and other insects in joints of pavers
- Resists erosion – water, frost heaving, wind, power washing, etc.

VerdeGo offers Polymeric sand for retail and also installation services. Please contact us for more information.

Should I seal my pavers?

Sealing your pavers is always a good idea. However, sealers should NOT be applied until the pavers have had an efflorescence cleaner applied. Sealing the pavers before or during the efflorescence process will cause the white haze to be trapped under the sealer and become permanent. Sealing is not essential but offer some major key benefits.

- Choice of wet look, natural look or invisible protection
- Protects against stains and makes cleaning much easier
- Easy to use and very durable

Once applied, the sealer soaks into the concrete and joints and protects by having special repelling agents penetrate deep into the material. These agents bond with the minerals without leaving a coating on the surface. There are different types of sealers available that give you the option of wet look, natural look or invisible. Since they are a transparent paint-like coating, sealers generally need to be reapplied every 3 to 5 years.

VerdeGo offers services to clean and seal your pavers. For more information on sealers please contact VerdeGo.