Fitting And Looking After Concrete Pavers
Property developers, architects and landscapers make use of paving for boosting the overall appearance of residential and commercial property worldwide. Modern-day paving offers a practical method for creating a stylish living or working environment.
Quality concrete paving is durable and requires little maintenance if correctly installed. This is why property developers often elect to install paved roads rather then tarred roads in business parks and residential developments. The industrial sector has also figured out this trend as concrete paving, particularly designed and manufactured with this particular segment of the market in mind, can readily handle heavy traffic which includes trucks and cranes. As a result of the low maintenance required, the total expense of paving is much more affordable than tar over time.
Product Selection
According to Bosun Brick, a leading manufacturer of pre-cast concrete pavers and kerbs, the selection of the proper product for your personal application is essential for the long term durability of the paved area.
Pavers are generally categorised as follows:
. 40mm height – pedestrian traffic; domestic applications.
. 50mm-55mm height – driveways, patios, pathways; domestic applications
. 60mm height – light to medium vehicle traffic; commercial and residential applications
. 70mm-80mm height – heavy vehicle traffic; commercial and industrial applications
. 100mm height – very heavy industrial applications, such as ports and airports.
Deciding on a paver too “light” for your personal application will result in failure of the paving, initially by cracking of the paving blocks, and then subsiding within the paved area.
The manufacture of concrete paving blocks is actually a highly specialised process. Concrete pavers have to be dimensionally accurate and meet the required compressive strengths and abrasion resistance standards. Product should ideally be sourced from a SABS accredited manufacturer. (SABS 1058 sets out the standards and tolerances for concrete paving blocks.)
Installation
An experienced contractor will ensure that:
. the sub-grade, which will support the loads transmitted by the paving, is well drained and compacted;
. the base course is manufactured out of the correct materials and also well compacted;
. the bedding sand used is a well graded, washed river sand that is slightly moist when the pavers are laid on it;
. the correct approach to grouting is used for your personal application.
Maintenance
The golden rule to keep in mind with regards to maintaining paving is that prevention is preferable to cure. Concrete is porous and may absorb various substances. It is therefore best to attempt to avoid spilling oil, grease, cement powder, concrete, plaster, clay, paint or harsh chemicals like acid onto the paving. Don’t use high pressure cleaning apparatus because this will damage the pavers and the grouting.
Consumers should sweep and hose the paved area down regularly to keep it free from debris and prevent the build up of dust and grime. It’s also a good idea to fill the areas between the pavers with plaster sand once every year. This can make sure that the paving remains rigid and does not shift.
During installation and other construction processes, paved areas should be covered to guard the paving against damage and possible cement/concrete staining or paint spillage.
Stains
There are numerous strategies for cleaning concrete pavers, influenced by the kind of stain:
. Oil, grease and clay:
When the stain appears sweep away dry excess, remove with soap, water and also a brush, then rinse.
. Cement powder:
Brush or blow off dry cement powder. Do not use water to get rid of cement because this can lead to the concrete hardening and bonding with the concrete pavers
. Concrete, plaster and paint marks:
Speak to a paving professional to assist with the cleaning of the paving. Although it is not recommended, consumers can use a diluted acid-based cleaning product, made available from hardware stores. It is also vitally important that you follow the chemical manufacturer’s instructions, specifically regarding the dilution. After using the acid-based dilution, wash it off thoroughly with water as quickly as possible so as to prevent damage to the pavers
While pavers might be relatively simple to keep up, much like anything, proper care will ensure the longevity of the product.
For more information about pavers visit the website http://www.bosun.co.za
Processing your request, Please wait....
