Winter Care for your Pavers, Exposed Aggregate and Concrete

With days getting shorter and the temperatures dropping, New England’s winter weather is quickly approaching.  If you have invested in a professional hardscape installation by Triad, you’ll want follow these tips to ensure your project looks beautiful in the springtime after the tough winter months.

5 Tips for Hardscape Winter Care

1. Snow Plowing – Paver Driveway / Exposed Aggregate / Concrete Driveway
   Aggressive plowing using a metal blade can cause noticeable damage your pavers or decorative concrete driveway.  Using a rubber or vinyl-edged blade for snow removal goes a long way toward preservation of your driveway.
2. Ice Melting
   Rock salt and concrete are not a good combination when it comes to preserving the lifespan of your concrete hardscape as salt will degrade concrete.  Instead of rock salt, use sodium-free ice melt products (such as Magensium Chloride). When used properly, non-sodium ice melt products will not danage concrete brick pavers or surrounding landscapes. Ice melt products tend to be expensive when compared to rock salt, but in the end it is well worth the cost.
3. Shoveling Snow and Snow Blowers 
   When Shoveling snow off sidewalks, we recommend using a plastic shovel. Metal shovels have a tendency to scratch the surface pavers and decorative concrete. These damages can be visually unappealing and costly to fix. For clearing a driveway, we recommend using a snow blower which has plastic or vinyl shoes to protect the pavers.
4. Parking Your Vehicle
   If you park your vehicle in the same spot everyday in the wintertime be aware that the compacted snow in your wheel wells contains high levels of salt.  Remove any excess snow that falls from your wheel wells onto your driveway, as it will help extend the lifespan of your concrete.
5. Drainage
   Be sure to keep your drainage covers clear and open so that your water will continue to drain properly.  Backed-up drains can cause water to sit on the surface of your pavers or decorative concrete.  When this standing water freezes and thaws repeatedly, it can cause issues with the surface of your patio, walkway or driveway.

For more information about caring for your Triad hardscape installation, please call our Haverhill, MA office at (978)373-4223 or contact us online.