A popular choice for homeowners seeking to transform the spaces surrounding their homes, such as walkways, driveways and patios, pavers are a fantastically durable and attractive option.
If you’re wanting to update the paved areas around your home, or wish to add a patio or an attractive driveway to increase the aesthetic appeal and value of your home, you can’t go far wrong with something created using pavers. That said, how well you maintain them once they’ve been installed (and of course, providing they’ve been professionally installed in the first instance), can go a long way to preserving them for many more years to come. Neglect your pavers and they could need replacing far sooner.
Here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of pavers, and how preserving them can prolong their lifespan:
Pavers and their durability
Extremely durable and hardwearing, pavers are able to withstand heavy loads, meaning that they’re the ideal choice of material when installing a driveway or other type of area in which vehicles or footfall will be intense.
Highly resistant to chipping and cracking – problems other paving materials such as asphalt or concrete are plagued with – pavers can also handle extreme weather conditions, whether it be freezing temperatures or harsh sunlight, with no risk to their aesthetic appeal or structural integrity.
How long do pavers typically last?
How long pavers last once installed is largely dependent on how high a quality the materials are, how they were installed, and how well they are maintained. However, when all of this is carried out properly, pavers can easily last for a number of decades, sometimes as long as forty years or more, making them an exceptionally cost-effective choice, even though your initial investment may be a little higher than if you were to use other, less durable materials.
What factors determine the longevity of pavers?
As touched upon above, several factors can play a role in determining the lifespan of pavers, such as the following:
- Installation quality
If someone with little to no experience tries to install pavers around a property, they may well end up being poorly laid, inadequately compacted and incorrectly sealed; any and all which can contribute to a shorter lifespan and reduced durability.
- Material quality
While pavers made from concrete and brick are generally considered to be pretty durable and long-lasting, nothing compares to those made from natural stone, such as basalt or granite, which will usually last far longer when correctly installed.
- Maintenance quality
Maintenance may be non-existent, or inadequate, either of which can impact how long pavers last once installed. Routine maintenance can include such things as cleaning on a regular basis, sealing every few years or so, and promptly replacing any pavers that have become damaged.
How to maintain your pavers?
While maintaining your pavers is simple enough, that doesn’t mean that it should be neglected for any great length of time. Sweeping from time to time (or when needed, such as following a storm), rinsing with water (for a deeper clean, gentle pressure washing can be used), sealing with a recommended sealant to protect from staining, discoloration and fading, and growth of weeds, and replacing damaged pavers as soon as they are spotted, can all help give your pavers a decades-long guarantee.
For paved areas around your home that are built to last, always seek professional help from a local company with plenty of experience, and never attempt to lay pavers yourself unless you really know what you’re doing.