Paving care: joints, stains and drainage

Make a simple inspection routine

Sweep leaves, soil and debris from the surface and joints before they accumulate. Bosun notes that many paving weeds start from seeds caught in joint material, so regular sweeping can help prevent establishment. Check drains, edges and low spots after heavy rain rather than waiting for a visible failure.

Photograph a new dip, open joint or widening edge with a date and a reference object. A small record helps distinguish one isolated unit from movement across a larger area. If water repeatedly flows toward the house or pools on the surface, request a site assessment rather than treating it as a cleaning issue.

Protect the joints and the product

Joint sand can settle or wash out. Ask the installer or product supplier which jointing material belongs in your pavement and how it should be topped up. Avoid blasting a sand-set surface directly with a high-pressure jet: Bosun warns that this can remove joint material and damage the installation.

Cleaning advice depends on the exact paver. Begin with a broom and water, and test any specialist cleaner in a discreet spot. Bosun advises against acid and harsh chemicals for its paving; natural stone, clay and other products need their own current manufacturer instructions.

Know when maintenance becomes repair

A few cracked units may be replaceable, but a recurring dip, rocking cluster or spreading edge calls for inspection below the pavers. Ask what caused movement and whether the base, drainage or edge restraint needs work before agreeing to a relay.

Retain a few spare units from a new installation if possible. Later replacement batches may differ in shade. Discuss a deliberate blend or border when a matching repair is visually important.