Lisa Breakspear, head of sales at Mapei UltraCare shares the steps that need to be taken to revive your patios in time for summer
WHATEVER hard paving material you have installed externally, there will be a need to undertake a deep clean in the spring. There will be organic contamination of one sort or another. Blackspot and algae can be a particular problem in our wet climate, especially in areas that are shaded. There will also likely be staining from mud, leaves and rust marks. Cleaning these finishes can sometimes be difficult if areas have been neglected, but adopting a good maintenance regime will make a world of difference to the tile aesthetic and performance features, especially slip resistance.
Natural stone and porous surfaces, concrete and porcelain installations will all benefit from a deep clean. To tackle organic build-up, you’ll need to use an alkaline cleaner.
On patios that have grout installed, the cleaner will also remove any contamination from the joint too and we recommend using a long-handled brush and a hose pipe. This method will be effective for even the heaviest levels of contamination, without the need to use a pressure washer which can often weaken or blow out the grout joints. The procedure is fast and straight forward:
First, wet the surface with water and apply the diluted solution. Work over the pavers and the grout joint, using the long-handled brush to agitate the solution and ensure complete coverage. Leave the cleaning solution in contact for a minimum of five minutes, in which time the organic contamination will start to break down. A longer contact time may be required if the contamination is heavy – leaving for longer periods won’t cause any damage. Use the brush to work over the surface again and then rinse with clean water.
Mapei’s UltraCare HD Cleaner for example, is fully biodegradable and is highly effective at breaking down grease and oil stains that may still be lingering from the last BBQ of the previous summer. It’s also safe to use around plants and metal and great at removing sticky tree sap and the staining the sap causes during the spring and summer months.
Always avoid using Sodium Hypochlorite. It’s not safe to use where plants and metals are present and isn’t effective at breaking down grease and oil. It can also cause “yellowing” when used on light coloured surfaces.
For stone, terracotta and porous surfaces, look to reapply a sealer/impregnator once all stains and contamination has been removed. Suited options include a natural-effect water-based impregnator that provides stain-resistant protection for all types of natural and engineered stone finishes.
Going forward, surfaces can be kept clean by washing as required. For example, UltraCare Multicleaner. This solution is safe to use on surfaces that have received a new coat of impregnating sealer and the dilution can be adjusted depending on contamination build-up, from 1:200 for a no-rinse clean to 1:30 for a deeper clean, followed by a rinse. Ongoing spot cleaning throughout the season will keep surfaces looking and performing at their best. For rust removal, we have options recommended for porcelain slabs and for natural stone as well as a solution for greasy porcelain in BBQ areas and for natural stone and terracotta.
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