How to Winterproof Your Brick Patio

We get it—when the temperature drops, being outside isn’t fun anymore, and the thought of doing any exterior work is negligible. However, taking care of your home’s exterior is just as important as taking care of its interior.

Although brick is durable, it still needs occasional maintenance, and luckily, the required maintenance is easy!

Before winter really sets in, here’s what you need to do:

Inspect It

When you’re performing a self-inspection, ask yourself these questions:

1. Are there any noticeable cracks or chips in the individual pavers?

2. When you walk on your patio, do any of the bricks wiggle or move around?

3. Are there dips or raised bricks?

4. Are any of the bricks visually crumbling?

5. Throughout the year, have you noticed water pooling on your patio after heavy rainfall?

These are all issues that something might be wrong, but require a professional inspection to determine the most effective solution.

If you really don’t want to go outside, schedule a professional inspection with PMS Brick Pavers—we’ll bear the cold for you!

Sweep Debris

You should sweep (or use a leaf blower on) your patio regularly, especially after a severe storm and during the fall. There are multiple reasons for this, but the primary reason is to avoid potential stains. Have you ever noticed leaf-shaped stains on concrete or brick in the fall after it’s rained? Yep, that’s what can happen.

Get Rid of Tough Stains & Build Up

If your pavers DO get stained, do not pressure wash your pavers. Pressure washers are fast (and sometimes fun) to use, but paver patios have polymeric sand in the joints, and the pressure washer blasts it right out. If there’s no sand in the joints, the pavers can freely move around and shift over time.

For tough stains, we recommend gently scrubbing the affected areas with a light detergent and a soft-bristle brush, then rinsing.

Reseal (if Needed)

Brick, thankfully, doesn’t need to be sealed often, if at all. Bricks have been around for centuries, with many structures still standing today—brick sealant hasn’t. Additionally, sealing could harm your bricks by trapping moisture.

We do not recommend sealing cracked bricks—you’re just going to trap moisture. We also don’t recommend just going out and buying a brick sealant because there are many different types available on the market.

If you’ve noticed excessive algae growth in the joints, you may need to have your patio sealed or resealed. Keep in mind that resealing a paver patio is labor-intensive because it requires cleaning the surface, using a pressure washer to remove damaged sand, rejointing (adding more sand to the joints), and applying 1 to 2 coats of sealant.

Clean & Store Furniture

We know that your patio is more than just the brick pavers—if you have outdoor furniture, make sure it’s cleaned or stored (unless you plan to use it in the winter). Any cushions should be stored inside or covered to prevent moisture damage and mold growth.

Other Tips

Snow and ice are foundational to winter, and many homeowners don’t realize that commonplace chores, like shoveling snow, can actually cause damage to the bricks.

For safe snow and ice removal:

• Never use sodium chloride (rock salt), as it can cause pavers to crumble.

• Use calcium chloride-based ice melts or sand. While sand won’t melt ice, it will improve traction and help prevent slips and falls.

• Always use a plastic shovel, not a metal one, which can damage pavers.

• Repair damaged bricks sooner rather than later. The freeze-thaw cycle can cause cracks to widen and pavers to shift excessively.

Get Help From PMS Brick Pavers

‘Tis the season to take care of your brick pavers, and our expert team at PMS is ready to help.

We offer comprehensive paver repair and restoration services, including cleaning, rejointing, and sealing. If you’ve noticed cracks, discoloration, algae growth, shifting, or uneven areas, give us a call today to schedule an inspection—we’re the guys you can trust to get the job done right!

Schedule your inspection today, or visit our website for more paver care tips.