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Cleaning Pavers

Congratulations for selecting KOETTER PAVE as your new paver installer. Your choice constitutes a wise investment adding aesthetic and monetary value to your property while providing long term savings through durability and low maintenance.

The successful combinations of attractive, durable pavers, high quality materials and craftsmanship of KOETTER PAVE, makes Interlocking Concrete Pavement Systems the best choice for your paving needs.

Koetter paves concrete pavers are made in the most modern facilities to the exacting requirements of ASTM C936. This is the same standard, which all commercial and industrial interlocking concrete pavers must meet. The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute certifies that all pavers comply with ASTM C936.

The KOETTER PAVE interlocking concrete pavers used in your pavement are extremely durable. We have our pavers manufactured using specific sands, crushed stone, cement, water and color fast pigments which provide most of the color. A computer operated machine, especially designed for the purpose, forms the concrete mixture into the shapes used in your pavement. Most pavers are manufactured with a beveled edge around the top of the paver. The bevel, or chamfer, ensures that there is no tripping hazard if a paver happens to be slightly higher or lower than its neighbors. The chamfer also reduces the chance for chipping of the paver edge. You will notice that the surface of your paver is slightly coarse to the touch. This texture is to provide a safe non-slip walking or driving surface even when wet. The very dense structure of the paver minimizes the amount of moisture, which can penetrate and cause damage during freezing cycles.

KOETTER PAVE places the pavers in a sand setting bed surrounded by an edge restraint, which keeps the desired uniform joint spaces between pavers and prevents the edge pavers from moving outward. The sand used to fill the joint spaces provides vertical interlock between pavers and allows the pavement to behave as a strong but flexible mat. Your pavement features superior aesthetic value and far less maintenance than the competing pavements.

The color of your pavement is a combination of the pigmented cement paste which holds the sand and aggregate particles together and the natural color of the sand and aggregate particles themselves. When manufacturing pavers, some of the pigmented paste covers the sand and aggregate particles at the surface of the pavers. A combination of the installation process, use and weathering over the first year or two will remove that paste from some of the particle surfaces, resulting in a mellowing of the overall appearance of the pavement in much the same way as fine wood achieves a patina with age. The exposure of some of the sand and aggregate particles not only adds to the character of the pavement but also can enhance the slip resistance.

We use pavers with synthetic iron oxide pigments, which are very stable and fade resistant. A perception of fading can occur when the phenomenon called efflorescence takes place. Efflorescence results when water-soluble salts within the pavers are brought to the surface by moisture. They then react with air to form small crystals on the paver surface. Efflorescence can manifest itself as a slight haze or white powder like coating. The phenomenon is quite common in most concrete products and some clay products especially those which incorporate mortar in their structure. Efflorescence is not harmful in any way and it is recommended that you allow the weathering process to effect removal. If for some reason you wish to hasten the process, you may follow the procedures listed in the section on cleaning.

Your Pavement is a durable pavement and very reistant to the damage spilled fuels or deicing materials may cause to other paving systems. Sealing is not necessary to preserve the strength or durability or your Pavement.

You may use a sealer to "deepen" the color tone of your pavement or give it a "wet look".

Recommended sealers can help to protect the appearance of your Pavement from oil leaks, tire marks or spilled liquids and foods.

Consult the section on Sealing before sealing your Pavement.

If you plan to seal your pavement it is best to first remove any stains then clean the pavement prior to sealing.

Following is a list of common stains and the procedure used to remove them. The list has been taken from Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute Tech Spec Number 5. In all cases follow recommended procedures and practices and use the proper personal protection equipment.

Asphalt and Emulsified Asphalt – Chill with ice (if warm outside), scrape away as much as possible. For large areas use Paint, Tar and Rubber Remover as directed. For smaller areas use Sealant Remover.

Cutback Asphalt and Roofing Tar – Use Paint, Tar Rubber Remover as directed.

Blood, Candy, Ketchup, Mustard, Food Stains – Apply liquid detergent full strength and allow it to penetrate for 20-30 minutes. Scrub and rinse with hot water. Removal is easier if you treat the stains immediately.

Caulking and Chewing Gum – Chill with ice then scrape off as much possible. Make a poultice (paste) of talcum powder and denatured alcohol. Scrub area with poultice and stiff brush then rinse with hot water and strong detergent. If the caulking is acrylic latex use Oil, Paint and Sealer Remover as directed.

Clay Soil – Scrape off dry material then scrub with detergent and rinse with hot water.

Leaf, Wood Rot and Tobacco – Apply household bleach and scrub with stiff bristled brush and rinse.

Mortar – Let harden than carefully remove hardened spots with a trowel, putty knife or chisel. Then clean with Efflorescence Cleaner.

Oil and Grease – Mop up excess with rags or paper towels. Cover area with cat litter and allow to stay 24 hours. Change litter when it begins to look saturated. Remove litter and treat with Dirt and Grease Cleaner.

Paint, fresh – Sop up all paint possible without wiping. If the paint is water based latex, soak and then scrub the area with hot water, scouring powder and a stiff brush until no more improvement is seen. Let dry and treat as for dried paint.

Paint, dried – Treat with Oil, Paint and Sealer Remover as directed. A commercial paint remover may be used. Apply a liberal coat and allow to sit for 20-30 minutes. Gently scrub area to loosen paint. Do not rub loosened paint into paver surface or allow to spread. Blot up loosened paint and remover.

Rust – Treat with Rust Remover as directed.

Tire Marks – Scrub black area with water, detergent and scouring powder. Rinse with water. If tire marks remain after several attempts, treat area with Oil, Paint and Sealer Remover.

You can remove most dirt and grime from your pavement by washing it off with the garden hose or a combination water spray and a stiff bristle broom. If stains are present remove before cleaning.

You can remove efflorescence, ground in dirt and some mortar smears effectively with Efflorescence Cleaner, available from KOETTER PAVE. Be sure to follow the directions carefully and use the recommended personal protection equipment, such as eye protection and plastic or rubber gloves.

You should never seal your pavements until at least 60 days after installation. It is better to wait for a year. The time interval between installation allows the pavement to mellow and for any efflorescence to rise to the surface and be removed with Efflorescence Remover. Prior to sealing any pavement, remove stains, thoroughly clean than let pavement and joint sand fully dry. Re-Sweep joints with sand if necessary.

Solvent based and water based sealers protect against oil and dirt and makes routine cleaning easier. This product enhances the paver color and gives the surface a wet look but does not make the pavement slippery.

Prepare the pavement and apply Protective Sealant for paving stones as directed.