Concrete patios add value to your property and provide you with extra outdoor entertainment space, so it is important that you keep yours in tip top condition. Even though concrete is a very durable and hardwearing material, it makes sense to maintain your concrete patio properly in order to protect your investment and ensure that your patio area continues to be a safe and attractive place for you and your family to spend time in. With that said, here are a few easy tips on how to do just that.
CLEANING YOUR CONCRETE PATIO
You will need to clean your concrete patio properly at least twice a year, using just water, a mild detergent (check with your concrete patio expert on what kinds of cleaning agents can be used if you have decorative concrete) and a stiff brush. The surface should also be swept on a regular basis to remove garden litter or debris from overhanging trees and shrubs, and if you use your concrete patio as an outdoor eating area, then food and drinks spillage or even oil from barbeques should be cleaned off as soon as possible to prevent stains. If your concrete patio is used for parking vehicles or anything else that could leak fluids onto the surface, then do keep an eye out for those, and also make sure that you remove any rust marks left by metal garden furniture, for example.
SEALING JOINTS
In cases where there are access covers or other objects that have joints in the patio surface, it is very important that you check to make sure those are properly sealed. If they are not, dirt could collect in the joints or weeds could force their way through, spoiling the appearance of the concrete patio. Even worse, water could make its way under the surface of the concrete, which will certainly cause problems down the road.
REPAIRING CRACKS
Although concrete is indeed very hardwearing, depending on external factors such as settlement of the ground underneath, for example, small cracks could appear from time to time. So make sure that at least once or twice a year, you check your concrete patio over for signs of cracks or crevices. If one does appear, then don’t leave it too long before repairs are carried out. You don’t want water getting underneath the concrete surface and causing difficulties with the substrate. At the same time, carrying out repairs immediately will ensure that the structural integrity of the concrete is not affected.
SEALING THE SURFACE
Every once in a while, remember to check the sealant on the surface of your concrete patio to see if it needs resealing. Sealants not only repel water, they also provide resistance to scratches, make your patio surface dustproof and maintain the concrete’s resistance to UV rays.