Really a fantastic "how-to" video - one of the very best. Excellent mix of tips, tricks, tools, brands, ideas, recommendations and some humour. AND NOT TOO LONG!!! Thanks!!!
@@_Mikekkk Really!! So you don’t care for the polymeric sand?? I’m surprised because it looks great!! Have you found something better?? 🤷♀️🇺🇸⭐️. Thank you
Holy cow - the before and after shots are truly amazing. I just power washed my paver patio (giant mess as you said!!!) and am getting ready to apply the polymeric sand. Thankfully I didn't have much moss or the need to clean the pavers beyond what my little pressure washer could do. Thanks so much for the video!
I love the way the moss looks on stone. Realize it's slippery so wouldn't want my patio completely covered, but here and there gives it a cottage look.
Nice!! and Yes, you sounded like this is a short, easy job but just "repairing" 30 or so uneven, cracked pavers took awhile....used Level 1 rocks and Level 2 sands from home depot...will need to do more thorough cleaning like you have.
Thanks for the kind words. In making videos I use bullet points to make sure I cover what’s important and have a loosely written script in my head before setting up the camera. The extensive preparation is what makes the overall process easier. Still takes me a week to bring it all together though. 😂
Great video! Part of the drainage issues are contributed to by the use of crushed stone and the fines it contains. HPB is the preferred material nowadays due to its excellent drainage properties.
You can do the same in a fraction of the time. Use WetandForget in a pump sprayer and make applications in Mid-May with no rain for two days and again after a month.
Yes, that that’s an option. I’ve used Wet and Forget under different circumstances. Smells bad (Ammonia) for quite a while and takes a loooong time (many months) to restore a surface.
@@BruceAlanR WetandForget mainly kills the living things on the surfaces you spray it on. It doesn't work like bleach, but unlike bleach, WetandForget will kill moss. The 'cleaning' effect you get is from dead algae/mildew, etc. all disappearing from the surface. But plain ol dirt will still be there.
My Nephew just power washed the bricks on my patio. Not an easy job, now The next step is to buy the right sand. So is vinegar the best thing to use to prevent the moss from growing back? We had a LOT of moss build up. Also have a tree growing in the center that everyone but me wants to keep. 😞 Liked that you were right to the point about this. Doing it at your house, and not trying to sell us a hard way to be doing it, I know it's hard and messy, but mose people showing us this makes think it would be better to hire someone. It's just getting dirty and taking the time. Then when done you can be proud that YOU did it yourself! Thank you from Western, N.Y.
Thanks for the kind feedback. I've found the best way to prevent moss and algae from coming back is to apply a cleaner (I use 30 Second Cleaner) once a year and rinse with the garden hose instead of a pressure washer as to not disturb the sand.
Ha! I didn’t notice the squirrel until you pointed it out. What makes it really funny is that I must have reversed the footage because it transitioned better, which is why the squirrel looks rabid…. Or is at least walking backwards. 😂
You had me at SHOPVAC 🤗 I had to scrape and vacuum all the groves on my new driveway, because we had a storm the day after it, and our new front lawn was finished. And we hadn’t put polymeric sand on it yet, so all the grass seeds from the newly layed front lawn had neatly nestled themselves on to the driveway. My neighbours thought i had gone quite Delulu 😅😂
My buddy said he hasn’t sealed any of his concrete paver installations although he would if a client requested it or the paver manufacturer recommended it… $$$. As it applies to our patio and pavers, applying a sealant seemed more of a personal preference than a necessity. There are obvious benefits to sealing porous, concrete pavers (less staining from oil, grease, and dirt; less frequent maintenance because it’s harder for algae, mildew, and moss to grow); however, I’ve found that if I use a good quality polymeric sand and wash the patio every 2-3 years with 30 second cleaner rinsed with a garden hose (no pressure washer to avoid carving out the joints), our pavers look nice. They’re now ~20 years old, have never been sealed, and signs of wear are minimal. Would a sealer prolong the life of the sand? Probably, but it doesn’t seem worth the time and expense for me. Not to mention sealers require reapplication every 3-5 years and can peel if not applied correctly. Peeling would present an additional headache since it would require removing the old sealant with some chemical in order to prevent a blotchy finish.
That’s a great question! The short answer is “Yes!” The long answer as it applies to our patio and pavers is that sealing seemed more of a personal preference than a necessity. There are obvious benefits to sealing porous, concrete pavers (less staining from oil, grease, and dirt; less frequent maintenance because it’s harder for algae, mildew, and moss to grow); however, I’ve found that if I use a good quality polymeric sand and wash the patio every 2-3 years with 30 second cleaner rinsed with a garden hose (no pressure washer to avoid carving out the joints), our patio looks great! Our ~20 year old pavers have never been sealed and signs of wear are minimal. Would a sealer prolong the life of the sand? Probably, but it doesn’t seem worth the time and expense for me. If the patio was a new installation, I’d seek the opinion of the paver manufacturer versus the sealant manufacturers pushing products. And while many sealers are environmentally friendly and provide additional weed and algae protection, they still require reapplication every 3-5 years. There’s also the possibility of over applying, which can lead to dulling and premature pealing. In that case I’d have to figure out how to remove the remaining sealant or else the finish would be uneven. So ultimately, I’m not signing up for that headache. 😃
Try BIO washing powder on the Moss first, worked for me. Turns it brown and it dies over a couple of days and is then a lot easier to blast off with a pressure hose.
@@BruceAlanR No, just ordinary Bio washing powder. I was surprised it worked, but given it was a cheap trial I gave it a go and it worked. The moss turned orange in a couple of days and a quick blast of the power hose it was gone. Lasted 2 years before the moss started to come back.
I used bio washing powder on my asphalt drive. It worked really well. I left it on for 5 days and it killed all the moss. I used my jet wash which blasted it off easily.
That’s a great idea! Perhaps I’ll do a short as a follow up once the maple and oak trees are done dropping spring debris and I’ve mulched the herb garden.
Thanks for the tips, my only worry is the bleach part. Not so great in general and not at all for your plants. Moss doesn't like acidity so you can also use cleaner vinegar to deep clean.
I should have also mentioned that if your concrete pavers are sealed, vinegar will eat away at the sealant and make it look dull. Vinegar can also pit concrete over time... like acid rain. 😃
Problem with pressure washer is removes existing polymeric sand so you need to add more and it never stays or looks like when it first did. I was considering 30 second cleaner but afraid it’ll bleach pavers, I have similar pavers as yours and this is greta to see.
Yes, don’t pressure wash unless you plan on sanding between pavers after. If you just want to clean the pavers and aren’t battling moss, you can apply 30 second cleaner, let it sit for 15 minutes, and rinse with a garden hose. That’s probably what I’ll do this coming spring to brighten up the pavers.
Ha! I actually did the same thing after completing the patio so I wouldn’t ruin my work boots. Rubber boots are great for power washing and applying liquid lawn fertilizers. They rinse right off as if nothing happened. 😃
I believe it took me about 8-10 hours across three days since the pavers had to dry before I could add sand to the joints and it rained on day two so I couldn’t do anything. Would have been faster had I used the pressure washer instead of the putty knife. Of course I always say if I want something to take longer than it should I’ll make a video of it. 🤣
To lift out pavers I use two thin pry bars - one on each side. Dasco makes an inexpensive 3 bar set for removing trim and moldings that work. If you’re going to remove more than a couple pavers, it’s helpful to place each paver next to where it came out in the orientation it came out to avoid a headache later. 😁
Люди травмовані и треба час, щоб загоїти рани. Безпеки немає і кожної хвилини може прилетіти ракета. Але боротьба триває. Дякую, що розвиваєш україномовний ютуб і що любиш Україну!
Thanks for checking out the video. I’d be weary of using salt. It’s pretty hard on concrete pavers and may pit them over time. And while it may kill moss and weeds, salt will also kill your grass should you rinse it into the lawn. Many synthetic fertilizers have a high sodium content and when I’ve over applied them (spreader wasn’t calibrated properly) they’ve burned areas of the lawn. So I guess when you say “everything is gone,” you mean everything. 😃
Good luck! It’s a big project but once it’s done you’ll just need to maintain it once a year. For annual maintenance I hit it with 30 seconds cleaner and rinse with a garden hose (don’t use a pressure washer to preserve the joints).
I think you’re asking how to clean up any sand that doesn’t go into the cracks while sanding. If so, what I do is use my gas powered blower on idle before wetting the sand. Anything sand remaining on the pavers after blowing lightly gets watered with the joints. Once everything is dry and a few days later I sweep or blow any remaining sand off the surface of the pavers.
After using the cleaner, how long is it necessary to wait before putting down the sand? We’re expecting rain tonight and we were thinking it would help push in the sand more.
Before putting down the sand, the joints just need to be dry so that the sand can easily settle to the bottom. You could try using a blower to speed up the drying process; however, depending on how much rain you’re expecting it may not be a good idea to apply the sand before a storm. A heavy rain could wash out the joints or possibly separate the polymers from the sand. It’s important that the joints setup properly.
Sodium Hyperchlorite spray mix. Spray, leave for 25 mins, kills moss and cleans. Then remove with putty or power wash.. Spray again pre winter to kill early regrowth.
Ha! I don’t know why I didn’t notice that when working with the footage. I reversed it to make it transition cleaner and ended up with a backwards walking squirrel. 🤣
I did my patio 2 years ago, I pressure washed it for the first time yesterday to get all the moss and weeds out from the cracks. Every time I pressure wash the patio, do I need to readd polymeric sand? Or did you just reapply this time because it had been neglected for some time? Cheers.
The intention of the video was to demonstrate how I got rid of weeds and moss in an effort to restore our patio to its original condition (I had neglected it for over a decade). After restoration, all that’s left is annual maintenance if it needs it. For maintenance I spray weeds with Roundup (of which I can count them on one hand), and then a week later (once the weeds are dead to the root), I apply 30 Seconds Cleaner, leave it for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse with the garden hose (the rinse nozzle of a pressure washer is fine too, but the key is to avoid blowing the sand out the joints or you’ll be sanding again). Hope that helps!
How important was using outdoor cleaner? Did it really help with the coloring of stones? Is it necessary to prevent weeds/moss when you’re already filling the gaps with sand?
I’m sure you can find other chemical as well as bio-friendly cleaners (indoor or outdoor) that will not only clean the stones, but also kill weeds and moss. Some folks mix equal parts water and white vinegar (the vinegar will also likely kill plant roots that didn’t get pulled). You would think the sand would prevent weeds; however, Mother Nature finds a way. If you don’t kill weed roots or seeds that are beneath the sand they will eventually sprout.
Ahh I went ahead and skipped the outdoor cleaner and went straight to laying down the sand :/ Would it still be effective to add the outdoor cleaner after the sand? Assume not since it won’t get directly into the roots. But better than nothing?
Great suggestion. If this was a new installation I’d consider it, but the pavers are ~20 years old. They’ve never been sealed, show no signs of wear, there’s minimal staining, and cleaned with 30 Second cleaner and rinsed with the hose every few years is enough. Would a sealer prolong the life of the sand? Yes, but adding “seal pavers every 3-5 years” to my never ending to do list isn’t a priority for me. I already seal our 3 mahogany porches every three years, which is a headache. 🤣
Not to worry! There’s still plenty of moss to go around… it’s just not on the patio anymore. My nextdoor neighbor’s entire yard is moss as are sections of our lawn. Right now I’m looking out a third floor window down at the patio and see moss growing on tree branches that are two stories up. The birds won’t have to move it very far. Although, if I may bird-nerd for a moment (I wanted to be an ornithologist as a kid), not all birds incorporate moss into their nests. 😃
I'm not going to do this, but it was so entertaining, I watched to the end! I like your sense of humour! Just one thing: why don't you pronounce the 'h' in herb?
Glad you enjoyed the video. My family makes fun of me because I mispronounce words all the time. In the case of herb, the h is usually silent in American English, but not for British English speakers. 😁
wait, you flushed the industrial bleach into the soil? isn't that harmful? not saying I have a better solution, but it jsut caught my eye. I asking because I am planning also to clean my front yard and I keep wondering what kind of product I can use to avoid any chemicals or soil damage to the surroundings.
When rinsed, the product is not full strength. They claim it is safe for the lawn when rinsed well, but I hear you. I tried to rinse towards the driveway as much as possible.
Ugh! Sorry to hear that. The moss hasn’t come back to our patio and the weeds I can count on one hand. I’ve hit the weeds with Roundup and I use 30 seconds cleaner once a year now and rinse with a garden hose as to avoid removing the sand.
Good eye! I must have reversed the footage since it flowed better that way. Unfortunately I didn’t notice the squirrel when I did it. A few folks have pointed it out in the comments. One person thought it was a rat. 😃
@@BruceAlanR hahaaa... I do tend to notice little critters. Probably instinctive from watching / photographing wildlife. Great job on your patio area. 👊👍👋
Great video. Very thorough. And I thought the putty knife was my brilliant idea! Would you spray Roundup or other weed killer before the sanding or not necessary?
My thought is Roundup would be a good idea if you have well established weeds, or weeds with deep roots (ie, dandelions, black swallow wart). I don’t like to use Roundup/weedkiller, so I’d likely spot treat only and do it a few weeks before getting out the putty knife so the weeds could really absorb it. 😃
Yes. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label and you should be OK. We don’t have a well, so I was less concerned about drainage. Either way, I was still careful to avoid rinsing the bleach into the lawn.
I tried to push the rinse water away from the grass and towards the driveway, but 30 Second Cleaner claims it doesn't harm grass when rinsed thoroughly. It didn't harm our grass or herb garden.
For the back patio it took about 16 hours, but most of that was removing the moss by hand with a putty knife, making paver repairs, and sanding. That doesn’t include the 24 hours I waited for drying prior to sanding. The washing and rinsing part only took a few hours.
Great technique but I keep looking out of my window each morning and feel disappointed that it hasn’t been done? And where is all that equipment? I can’t see it anywhere? Oh, is it me you’re looking at ??
Ha! and yes, a putty knife... it was time consuming. I actually considered doing one series of pavers each evening while grilling, but then realized it would have taken me about 150 chicken legs, 100 hamburgers, 20 grilled pizzas, and 50 ears of grilled corn to finish ... so basically all summer. 😃 The pressure washer could have removed the moss, but I didn't like the idea of using so much water and pushing the moss into the lawn.
I have considered it. The thought of having to do it every few years and the potential for over application and pealing isn’t…. Well, appealing. 😁 I’ve found that if I clean the pavers with 30 seconds cleaner once a year or every other year and rinse with a garden hose (no pressure washer or I’ll need to sand again), it stays looking nice.
I have considered it. The thought of having to do it every few years and the potential for over application and pealing isn’t…. Well, appealing. 😁 I’ve found that if I clean the pavers with 30 seconds cleaner once a year or every other year and rinse with a garden hose (no pressure washer or I’ll need to sand again), it stays looking nice.
I don’t see why the process wouldn’t work on cement slab although I’d test in an inconspicuous spot first to be sure the pressure washer doesn’t worm hole it. If the pressure washer with a Turbo Nozzle was too much, I’d use a broom or soft scraper to remove chunks of moss, then apply 30 cleaner (to brighten it up and kill moss) or even dish soap (won’t brighten much, but will kill moss if it sits), scrub with a deck brush, and rinse well with the hose or a pressure washer rinsing nozzle. I’ve also found that spreading wood ash on moss will change the PH and kill the moss, but it’s a slow, messy process. Then you’d want to wash with dish soap, let it sit, and rinse thoroughly.
@@only1kingofsing No idea, sorry. I have experience killing it on the side of a tree and in between pavers. Probably wouldn't hurt the grass too much? I'd test it before doing anything large-scale.
@@only1kingofsing The issue with using baking soda on grass is the sodium content. Similar to applying too much synthetic fertilizer to your lawn (vs. Milorganite or an organic fertilizer like "Lawn Food"), which also contains sodium, you can experience "lawn burn." Over the years I've had limited success trying to tackle lawn moss with iron based products (Moss Out, Scotts Moss Ex), so I don't use them anymore. The best way I've found to deal with lawn moss is to increase sunlight, or at a minimum improve drainage, and address soil pH. You can improve drainage by aerating (reduces soil compaction), and detaching the lawn (this reduces moisture-holding debris on the top of the lawn), both of which can be done late summer/early fall (September 1 in the Northeast) or very early spring once the snow is done, but before soil temps get to growing temps. I usually aerate, dethatch, and overseed heavily in early September to give the turf a chance to overrun the moss. I've done it in Spring too, but results have varied based on the random snow storm that can pop up in April. I also recommend a grass seed with deep roots (I like Pearl's Premium grass seed), which will absorb more groundwater making the soil less inhabitable for moss. Improving soil pH is a slower process. It's not as easy as dropping lime to raise pH unfortunately, but I recommend doing a soil test in early spring (before you put down any fertilizer). A soil test will help you understand your lawn's pH and indicate what nutrients the lawn is lacking. That way, you can pick a fertilizer (and for overseedng the proper top dressing -- ie, peat moss, organic compost, etc.) that will give you the correct nutrients without creating the ideal environment for moss due to moisture retention. One thing that has worked for me on small patches of moss is a light layer of wood ash (from the fireplace). It is a quick way to adjust pH; however, don't just go out and dump a bunch of ash on the lawn because too much can drastically change soil pH the other direction, which isn't good either. Hope that helps!
@@BruceAlanR Thanks Bruce i guess there`s no easy way so will invest in an aerator and do what you advise it sounds more sensible than the last attempt which was spraying it with washing-up liquid that someone advised on here but had no affect at all (i new it wouldn't be that easy 😄)
Good eye! Someone else had pointed it out to me and I hadn’t noticed it. It’s actually a grey squirrel although we do have rats around here too. What makes it really funny is that I reversed the footage, which is why the squirrel looks like it’s walking backwards. 😂
White vinegar is OK for short term use unless your pavers are sealed. If left on too long it will dull the sealant and can eventually pit the concrete.
Good eye! I reversed the footage to make the shot flow better but unfortunately I didn’t notice the squirrel when I did it… so it’s walking backwards. Ha! A few folks have pointed it out. 😃
You get an upvote just for having a summary at the start of the video. Nice.
Thanks for the feedback. I tend to summarize videos if they’re really long.
@@BruceAlanRappreciate it also.
Really a fantastic "how-to" video - one of the very best. Excellent mix of tips, tricks, tools, brands, ideas, recommendations and some humour. AND NOT TOO LONG!!! Thanks!!!
Thanks for the kind words! Glad the video was helpful.
Absolutely, these days, people will spread their videos over a standard length of 20 minutes without reason
Great video, appreciate the non-tool person perspective ("except I didn't have a compactor") and humor. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it! 😃
Wow!! That was a lot of work!!! But it looks GORGEOUS!! Great job!!
Thanks so much! 😁
LOTS of work, but that polymeric sand will not last long. Weeds will grow again, right through that crappy sand… I did that few years ago.
@@_Mikekkk Really!! So you don’t care for the polymeric sand?? I’m surprised because it looks great!! Have you found something better?? 🤷♀️🇺🇸⭐️. Thank you
Holy cow - the before and after shots are truly amazing. I just power washed my paver patio (giant mess as you said!!!) and am getting ready to apply the polymeric sand. Thankfully I didn't have much moss or the need to clean the pavers beyond what my little pressure washer could do. Thanks so much for the video!
Glad it was helpful! 😃👍
Plenty of hard work but an excellent result. I only have a walkway to do, but am procrastinating. Your video has inspired me.
The results are worth it! 😃
Well done Bruce, u did a great job 👏 👍 🙌
Thank you! Cheers! 😃👍
So thoughtful of you to share your work. It looks amazing. So very very great. 🫒
Thank you for the kind words! 😃👍
what a satisfying experience, the efforts are worth it!
Indeed! 😃
Amazing job! This can also be a video about “How to make good how-to-videos!”
Ha! Thank you for the kind words! 😊
Wow! That is a HUGE job! You are awesome!!!!❤
It was a lot of work, but I'm happy with the results! 😊 Thanks for the kind words.
Excellent video -- confirmed I did this right, and your extra comments/ideas were very helpful. Thank you!
Glad it helped! 😃👍
I love the way the moss looks on stone. Realize it's slippery so wouldn't want my patio completely covered, but here and there gives it a cottage look.
I feel the same way!
I haven't made up my mind yet ;)
@@justsayin5609 I get it! That's why it took me years to finally do it. Ha!
I actually plant moss between stones to give an old English look. Landscape contractor 1981 to present
I hear you! Thanks for sharing your experience.
I do the moss scraping with a 4 foot handled weed puller. no bending or squatting.
Brilliant! Thanks for sharing that.
Nice!! and Yes, you sounded like this is a short, easy job but just "repairing" 30 or so uneven, cracked pavers took awhile....used Level 1 rocks and Level 2 sands from home depot...will need to do more thorough cleaning like you have.
Thanks for the additional info. Good luck!
Thanks
Thank you so much for the ‘Super Thanks’ James! I’m glad the video was helpful!
Don’t know how you stayed so clean. I look as if I’ve been ‘pebble dashed’ doing the same…the missus has to jet wash me down…good job mate.👍
Ha! I was pretty dirt by the time I was done… and wet too!
this is one terrific video. Thank you
Thanks for the kind words. 😃👍
I need to learn how to sound like this when narrating my own videos :)
Thanks for the kind words. In making videos I use bullet points to make sure I cover what’s important and have a loosely written script in my head before setting up the camera. The extensive preparation is what makes the overall process easier. Still takes me a week to bring it all together though. 😂
Excellent video, super helpful!
😁👍
Great video! Part of the drainage issues are contributed to by the use of crushed stone and the fines it contains. HPB is the preferred material nowadays due to its excellent drainage properties.
That’s great info! Thanks for sharing that.
You did a great job and remained cheerful. I need to do our back patio which has moss on it. Great tutorial!
Thanks so much! 😊 Glad the video was helpful.
5:06 - first time I've ever seen a squirrel running backwards!
Good eye! Yes, a few folks have pointed it out. I must have reversed the footage to make it flow better. 🤣
Very thorough video thank you
Very welcome!
Another great tip as well flat-head screwdriver or a end of a hammer
Good tip! Thanks for sharing!
You can do the same in a fraction of the time. Use WetandForget in a pump sprayer and make applications in Mid-May with no rain for two days and again after a month.
Yes, that that’s an option. I’ve used Wet and Forget under different circumstances. Smells bad (Ammonia) for quite a while and takes a loooong time (many months) to restore a surface.
@@BruceAlanR WetandForget mainly kills the living things on the surfaces you spray it on. It doesn't work like bleach, but unlike bleach, WetandForget will kill moss. The 'cleaning' effect you get is from dead algae/mildew, etc. all disappearing from the surface. But plain ol dirt will still be there.
My Nephew just power washed the bricks on my patio. Not an easy job, now The next step is to buy the right sand. So is vinegar the best thing to use to prevent the moss from growing back? We had a LOT of moss build up. Also have a tree growing in the center that everyone but me wants to keep. 😞 Liked that you were right to the point about this. Doing it at your house, and not trying to sell us a hard way to be doing it, I know it's hard and messy, but mose people showing us this makes think it would be better to hire someone. It's just getting dirty and taking the time. Then when done you can be proud that YOU did it yourself! Thank you from Western, N.Y.
Thanks for the kind feedback. I've found the best way to prevent moss and algae from coming back is to apply a cleaner (I use 30 Second Cleaner) once a year and rinse with the garden hose instead of a pressure washer as to not disturb the sand.
I seal mine with Diamond Clear 350. The joints lot polymeric sand lasts years longer.
Great info! Thanks! I'll have to check out Diamond Clear 350.
Did you notice the squirrel / rat in the background at around 5:12 ? Maybe not a fan of the restored patio. Great video….very helpful.
Ha! I didn’t notice the squirrel until you pointed it out. What makes it really funny is that I must have reversed the footage because it transitioned better, which is why the squirrel looks rabid…. Or is at least walking backwards. 😂
@@BruceAlanR Yes, the backwards squirrel was especially funny.
Very helpful, thank you 👍🏻👍🏻
You're very welcome! 👍
very helpful, thank you.
You're welcome! 😁
Moonwalking squirrel at 5:05 🐿😂
Yes! I reversed the footage so it flowed better. Unfortunately I didn’t notice the squirrel until folks started pointing it out. Ha! 🤣
Rarely spotted in the wild! You got yourself a real unicorn there, Bruce!
You had me at SHOPVAC 🤗
I had to scrape and vacuum all the groves on my new driveway, because we had a storm the day after it, and our new front lawn was finished. And we hadn’t put polymeric sand on it yet, so all the grass seeds from the newly layed front lawn had neatly nestled themselves on to the driveway.
My neighbours thought i had gone quite Delulu 😅😂
🤣 I totally get it!
Does your friend have a recommendation for sealant? Our neighborhood seals the papers after sand is spread. Great video. Much appreciated.
My buddy said he hasn’t sealed any of his concrete paver installations although he would if a client requested it or the paver manufacturer recommended it… $$$. As it applies to our patio and pavers, applying a sealant seemed more of a personal preference than a necessity. There are obvious benefits to sealing porous, concrete pavers (less staining from oil, grease, and dirt; less frequent maintenance because it’s harder for algae, mildew, and moss to grow); however, I’ve found that if I use a good quality polymeric sand and wash the patio every 2-3 years with 30 second cleaner rinsed with a garden hose (no pressure washer to avoid carving out the joints), our pavers look nice. They’re now ~20 years old, have never been sealed, and signs of wear are minimal. Would a sealer prolong the life of the sand? Probably, but it doesn’t seem worth the time and expense for me. Not to mention sealers require reapplication every 3-5 years and can peel if not applied correctly. Peeling would present an additional headache since it would require removing the old sealant with some chemical in order to prevent a blotchy finish.
Great job! Are you for hire??? Remarkable presentation. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for the kind words. 😃
Great video. How about applying a Sealer after all this hard work?
Will it help to keep it in shape longer?
That’s a great question! The short answer is “Yes!” The long answer as it applies to our patio and pavers is that sealing seemed more of a personal preference than a necessity. There are obvious benefits to sealing porous, concrete pavers (less staining from oil, grease, and dirt; less frequent maintenance because it’s harder for algae, mildew, and moss to grow); however, I’ve found that if I use a good quality polymeric sand and wash the patio every 2-3 years with 30 second cleaner rinsed with a garden hose (no pressure washer to avoid carving out the joints), our patio looks great! Our ~20 year old pavers have never been sealed and signs of wear are minimal. Would a sealer prolong the life of the sand? Probably, but it doesn’t seem worth the time and expense for me. If the patio was a new installation, I’d seek the opinion of the paver manufacturer versus the sealant manufacturers pushing products. And while many sealers are environmentally friendly and provide additional weed and algae protection, they still require reapplication every 3-5 years. There’s also the possibility of over applying, which can lead to dulling and premature pealing. In that case I’d have to figure out how to remove the remaining sealant or else the finish would be uneven. So ultimately, I’m not signing up for that headache. 😃
An amazing job 💯. Thanks 👍
Very welcome! 😁
Great vid. Should get lots more likes :).
Ha! Thanks for the feedback.
Try BIO washing powder on the Moss first, worked for me. Turns it brown and it dies over a couple of days and is then a lot easier to blast off with a pressure hose.
Good advice! Are you referring to. BioAdvanced Moss and Algae killer/cleaner?
@@BruceAlanR No, just ordinary Bio washing powder. I was surprised it worked, but given it was a cheap trial I gave it a go and it worked. The moss turned orange in a couple of days and a quick blast of the power hose it was gone. Lasted 2 years before the moss started to come back.
I used bio washing powder on my asphalt drive. It worked really well. I left it on for 5 days and it killed all the moss. I used my jet wash which blasted it off easily.
Any pictures of what your patio looks like currently please?
That’s a great idea! Perhaps I’ll do a short as a follow up once the maple and oak trees are done dropping spring debris and I’ve mulched the herb garden.
@@BruceAlanR that would be amazing. Thank you so much.
Just posted... you can see the patio as it is now (9 months later) at the end of this short. Enjoy! th-cam.com/users/shortsFuIB25CRtrA
@@BruceAlanR Legend, thanks Bruce. Wow, it looks as good as new. Appreciate this.
😃👍
Good job 👏
Thanks 😅
Thanks for the tips, my only worry is the bleach part. Not so great in general and not at all for your plants. Moss doesn't like acidity so you can also use cleaner vinegar to deep clean.
Yes, vinegar will kill moss.
I should have also mentioned that if your concrete pavers are sealed, vinegar will eat away at the sealant and make it look dull. Vinegar can also pit concrete over time... like acid rain. 😃
Problem with pressure washer is removes existing polymeric sand so you need to add more and it never stays or looks like when it first did. I was considering 30 second cleaner but afraid it’ll bleach pavers, I have similar pavers as yours and this is greta to see.
Yes, don’t pressure wash unless you plan on sanding between pavers after. If you just want to clean the pavers and aren’t battling moss, you can apply 30 second cleaner, let it sit for 15 minutes, and rinse with a garden hose. That’s probably what I’ll do this coming spring to brighten up the pavers.
Can I do the same with tiles outside where the grout is small pebbles now? Clean out the pebbles and replace with the sand?
I don’t see why not.
Use wet and forget. And remember if you want moss it will not grow and if you don't want moss it will grow.
Wet and Forget is fine, but it’s a much slow process.
Excellent
Thanks! 😃
wow thats really good
Thank you! 😃👍
I did the same, but bought a pair of rubber boots after soaking a pair of shoes....:):)
Ha! I actually did the same thing after completing the patio so I wouldn’t ruin my work boots. Rubber boots are great for power washing and applying liquid lawn fertilizers. They rinse right off as if nothing happened. 😃
Very helpful, thank you
Very welcome! 👍
🎉great job.
Thank you! Cheers!
Great job sir. How long did it take.
I believe it took me about 8-10 hours across three days since the pavers had to dry before I could add sand to the joints and it rained on day two so I couldn’t do anything. Would have been faster had I used the pressure washer instead of the putty knife. Of course I always say if I want something to take longer than it should I’ll make a video of it. 🤣
What do you think about using joint-it or a similar material instead of what you used?
I’m not familiar with the product, but if it creates strong joints, please let me know.
Super helpful thank you!
Very welcome! 😃
Good video
Thank you!
Fix a wire brush to the end of a pole to clean out the gaps. Wear wellies so no need to try and dry out your shoes.
Good tips! Thanks for sharing! I actually bought a pair of wellies shortly after making the video. 🤣
What tools did you use to lift the pavers?
To lift out pavers I use two thin pry bars - one on each side. Dasco makes an inexpensive 3 bar set for removing trim and moldings that work. If you’re going to remove more than a couple pavers, it’s helpful to place each paver next to where it came out in the orientation it came out to avoid a headache later. 😁
Люди травмовані и треба час, щоб загоїти рани. Безпеки немає і кожної хвилини може прилетіти ракета. Але боротьба триває. Дякую, що розвиваєш україномовний ютуб і що любиш Україну!
My pleasure. All the best to you!
Great video
I take salt and put it everywhere make it wet and wait a month, everything is gone
Thanks for checking out the video. I’d be weary of using salt. It’s pretty hard on concrete pavers and may pit them over time. And while it may kill moss and weeds, salt will also kill your grass should you rinse it into the lawn. Many synthetic fertilizers have a high sodium content and when I’ve over applied them (spreader wasn’t calibrated properly) they’ve burned areas of the lawn. So I guess when you say “everything is gone,” you mean everything. 😃
Very useful
😃👍
Nice job!
Thank you! Cheers!
Nice job
Thanks so much!
That was great! Now the work begins....
Good luck! It’s a big project but once it’s done you’ll just need to maintain it once a year. For annual maintenance I hit it with 30 seconds cleaner and rinse with a garden hose (don’t use a pressure washer to preserve the joints).
How do you clean the material up that stays on the actual tile it self since there no way every last drop of sand goes in the crack.
I think you’re asking how to clean up any sand that doesn’t go into the cracks while sanding. If so, what I do is use my gas powered blower on idle before wetting the sand. Anything sand remaining on the pavers after blowing lightly gets watered with the joints. Once everything is dry and a few days later I sweep or blow any remaining sand off the surface of the pavers.
great job!
Thank you!
After using the cleaner, how long is it necessary to wait before putting down the sand? We’re expecting rain tonight and we were thinking it would help push in the sand more.
Before putting down the sand, the joints just need to be dry so that the sand can easily settle to the bottom. You could try using a blower to speed up the drying process; however, depending on how much rain you’re expecting it may not be a good idea to apply the sand before a storm. A heavy rain could wash out the joints or possibly separate the polymers from the sand. It’s important that the joints setup properly.
Sodium Hyperchlorite spray mix. Spray, leave for 25 mins, kills moss and cleans. Then remove with putty or power wash.. Spray again pre winter to kill early regrowth.
Thanks for sharing that info. Sodium Hypochlorite, which is commonly referred to as bleach, is the active ingredient in 30 Seconds Outdoor Cleaner.
Thank you 😊
You're welcome 😊
@5:05 I had to do a double take to see the backwards running squirrel
Ha! I don’t know why I didn’t notice that when working with the footage. I reversed it to make it transition cleaner and ended up with a backwards walking squirrel. 🤣
I did my patio 2 years ago, I pressure washed it for the first time yesterday to get all the moss and weeds out from the cracks. Every time I pressure wash the patio, do I need to readd polymeric sand? Or did you just reapply this time because it had been neglected for some time? Cheers.
The intention of the video was to demonstrate how I got rid of weeds and moss in an effort to restore our patio to its original condition (I had neglected it for over a decade). After restoration, all that’s left is annual maintenance if it needs it. For maintenance I spray weeds with Roundup (of which I can count them on one hand), and then a week later (once the weeds are dead to the root), I apply 30 Seconds Cleaner, leave it for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse with the garden hose (the rinse nozzle of a pressure washer is fine too, but the key is to avoid blowing the sand out the joints or you’ll be sanding again). Hope that helps!
How important was using outdoor cleaner? Did it really help with the coloring of stones? Is it necessary to prevent weeds/moss when you’re already filling the gaps with sand?
I’m sure you can find other chemical as well as bio-friendly cleaners (indoor or outdoor) that will not only clean the stones, but also kill weeds and moss. Some folks mix equal parts water and white vinegar (the vinegar will also likely kill plant roots that didn’t get pulled). You would think the sand would prevent weeds; however, Mother Nature finds a way. If you don’t kill weed roots or seeds that are beneath the sand they will eventually sprout.
Ahh I went ahead and skipped the outdoor cleaner and went straight to laying down the sand :/
Would it still be effective to add the outdoor cleaner after the sand? Assume not since it won’t get directly into the roots. But better than nothing?
@@erictso534 If you like how the pavers look, don’t use cleaner. If any weeds come up just use a weed killer (I.e., Roundup or vinegar and water).
Now finish the job by sealing the pavers with a good water-based sealer.
Great suggestion. If this was a new installation I’d consider it, but the pavers are ~20 years old. They’ve never been sealed, show no signs of wear, there’s minimal staining, and cleaned with 30 Second cleaner and rinsed with the hose every few years is enough. Would a sealer prolong the life of the sand? Yes, but adding “seal pavers every 3-5 years” to my never ending to do list isn’t a priority for me. I already seal our 3 mahogany porches every three years, which is a headache. 🤣
Moss is really useful to birds when nesting.
Not to worry! There’s still plenty of moss to go around… it’s just not on the patio anymore. My nextdoor neighbor’s entire yard is moss as are sections of our lawn. Right now I’m looking out a third floor window down at the patio and see moss growing on tree branches that are two stories up. The birds won’t have to move it very far. Although, if I may bird-nerd for a moment (I wanted to be an ornithologist as a kid), not all birds incorporate moss into their nests. 😃
To vibrate sand, put vibrating back pounder( I forget the name) in a plastic bag. When done, pound your back.
A massager? Brilliant! 🤣
I'm not going to do this, but it was so entertaining, I watched to the end! I like your sense of humour! Just one thing: why don't you pronounce the 'h' in herb?
Glad you enjoyed the video. My family makes fun of me because I mispronounce words all the time. In the case of herb, the h is usually silent in American English, but not for British English speakers. 😁
wait, you flushed the industrial bleach into the soil? isn't that harmful? not saying I have a better solution, but it jsut caught my eye.
I asking because I am planning also to clean my front yard and I keep wondering what kind of product I can use to avoid any chemicals or soil damage to the surroundings.
When rinsed, the product is not full strength. They claim it is safe for the lawn when rinsed well, but I hear you. I tried to rinse towards the driveway as much as possible.
I've the exact procedure several times with the correct sand and I still get weeds and moss the same season. No pavers ever again for me.
Ugh! Sorry to hear that. The moss hasn’t come back to our patio and the weeds I can count on one hand. I’ve hit the weeds with Roundup and I use 30 seconds cleaner once a year now and rinse with a garden hose as to avoid removing the sand.
Am I the only one that noticed the Squirrel running backwards? Did you see it? 5:03
Good eye! I must have reversed the footage since it flowed better that way. Unfortunately I didn’t notice the squirrel when I did it. A few folks have pointed it out in the comments. One person thought it was a rat. 😃
@@BruceAlanR hahaaa... I do tend to notice little critters. Probably instinctive from watching / photographing wildlife.
Great job on your patio area. 👊👍👋
Great video. Very thorough. And I thought the putty knife was my brilliant idea! Would you spray Roundup or other weed killer before the sanding or not necessary?
My thought is Roundup would be a good idea if you have well established weeds, or weeds with deep roots (ie, dandelions, black swallow wart). I don’t like to use Roundup/weedkiller, so I’d likely spot treat only and do it a few weeks before getting out the putty knife so the weeds could really absorb it. 😃
So you have to rinse well to protect plants from the chemical cleaner.. but what about the ground water?
Yes. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label and you should be OK. We don’t have a well, so I was less concerned about drainage. Either way, I was still careful to avoid rinsing the bleach into the lawn.
I am worried about the grass with all this bleach when you rinse it. Isn’t it going to kill the grass??
I tried to push the rinse water away from the grass and towards the driveway, but 30 Second Cleaner claims it doesn't harm grass when rinsed thoroughly. It didn't harm our grass or herb garden.
How long did this take you in total?
For the back patio it took about 16 hours, but most of that was removing the moss by hand with a putty knife, making paver repairs, and sanding. That doesn’t include the 24 hours I waited for drying prior to sanding. The washing and rinsing part only took a few hours.
Go from a lovely, mossy, hobbit-house look to a sterile, lifeless, suburban, new-construction look. 😃👍
Haha, you’re not wrong! It does make a big difference. Of course, without maintenance you can go back to the hobbit look within a few years. 😂
Nice
Thank you!
Great technique but I keep looking out of my window each morning and feel disappointed that it hasn’t been done? And where is all that equipment? I can’t see it anywhere? Oh, is it me you’re looking at ??
Ha! Took me a few years to get around to doing it and until then I was looking out the window thinking, “Yup, some day.” 😂
i had to use it straight. 1 part water didnt do nothing. it was to weak.
Wow, that’s surprising. It’s like industrial strength bleach. Definitely don’t want to get it on your skin.
I was tired just watching you. Really all those lines in the whole patio with a putty knife?
Ha! and yes, a putty knife... it was time consuming. I actually considered doing one series of pavers each evening while grilling, but then realized it would have taken me about 150 chicken legs, 100 hamburgers, 20 grilled pizzas, and 50 ears of grilled corn to finish ... so basically all summer. 😃 The pressure washer could have removed the moss, but I didn't like the idea of using so much water and pushing the moss into the lawn.
😂😂😂
I think I'll have a exposed aggregate porch put in instead of pavers. Lol
Great info. My patio in need of clean up. I’ll take before and after pics. Thanks!!
Here’s a tip for saturated shoes; wear wellies 😊
Absolutely! Not sure why I didn’t put mine on. I guess I reserve them for spraying chemicals on the lawn. 🤣
Ever consider sealing your pavers?
I have considered it. The thought of having to do it every few years and the potential for over application and pealing isn’t…. Well, appealing. 😁 I’ve found that if I clean the pavers with 30 seconds cleaner once a year or every other year and rinse with a garden hose (no pressure washer or I’ll need to sand again), it stays looking nice.
I have considered it. The thought of having to do it every few years and the potential for over application and pealing isn’t…. Well, appealing. 😁 I’ve found that if I clean the pavers with 30 seconds cleaner once a year or every other year and rinse with a garden hose (no pressure washer or I’ll need to sand again), it stays looking nice.
Awesome! I appreciate the input. In the process of cleaning now so was considering it since it’s in a mossy/low sun area
It's was much much more beautiful before/charming/natural/elegant than after!
Ha! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
No seal it and your garden wall pavers to keep mildew away
Good advice!
A wire brush works better than a putty knife
Wire brush sounds like a good option. Thanks for sharing that.
This only works with brick or segmented patios. What about solid cement? Moss, not weeds.
I don’t see why the process wouldn’t work on cement slab although I’d test in an inconspicuous spot first to be sure the pressure washer doesn’t worm hole it. If the pressure washer with a Turbo Nozzle was too much, I’d use a broom or soft scraper to remove chunks of moss, then apply 30 cleaner (to brighten it up and kill moss) or even dish soap (won’t brighten much, but will kill moss if it sits), scrub with a deck brush, and rinse well with the hose or a pressure washer rinsing nozzle.
I’ve also found that spreading wood ash on moss will change the PH and kill the moss, but it’s a slow, messy process. Then you’d want to wash with dish soap, let it sit, and rinse thoroughly.
Moss is easily killed with a solution of baking soda and water. Takes a little while, but changing the ph makes the area uninhabitable for the moss.
Absolutely! Thanks for sharing that.
Do you know if that would kill moss in lawns and not kill the grass as well cheers...
@@only1kingofsing No idea, sorry. I have experience killing it on the side of a tree and in between pavers. Probably wouldn't hurt the grass too much? I'd test it before doing anything large-scale.
@@only1kingofsing The issue with using baking soda on grass is the sodium content. Similar to applying too much synthetic fertilizer to your lawn (vs. Milorganite or an organic fertilizer like "Lawn Food"), which also contains sodium, you can experience "lawn burn." Over the years I've had limited success trying to tackle lawn moss with iron based products (Moss Out, Scotts Moss Ex), so I don't use them anymore. The best way I've found to deal with lawn moss is to increase sunlight, or at a minimum improve drainage, and address soil pH. You can improve drainage by aerating (reduces soil compaction), and detaching the lawn (this reduces moisture-holding debris on the top of the lawn), both of which can be done late summer/early fall (September 1 in the Northeast) or very early spring once the snow is done, but before soil temps get to growing temps. I usually aerate, dethatch, and overseed heavily in early September to give the turf a chance to overrun the moss. I've done it in Spring too, but results have varied based on the random snow storm that can pop up in April. I also recommend a grass seed with deep roots (I like Pearl's Premium grass seed), which will absorb more groundwater making the soil less inhabitable for moss. Improving soil pH is a slower process. It's not as easy as dropping lime to raise pH unfortunately, but I recommend doing a soil test in early spring (before you put down any fertilizer). A soil test will help you understand your lawn's pH and indicate what nutrients the lawn is lacking. That way, you can pick a fertilizer (and for overseedng the proper top dressing -- ie, peat moss, organic compost, etc.) that will give you the correct nutrients without creating the ideal environment for moss due to moisture retention. One thing that has worked for me on small patches of moss is a light layer of wood ash (from the fireplace). It is a quick way to adjust pH; however, don't just go out and dump a bunch of ash on the lawn because too much can drastically change soil pH the other direction, which isn't good either. Hope that helps!
@@BruceAlanR Thanks Bruce i guess there`s no easy way so will invest in an aerator and do what you advise it sounds more sensible than the last attempt which was spraying it with washing-up liquid that someone advised on here but had no affect at all (i new it wouldn't be that easy 😄)
Looks good,but did everyone see the rat on 507 in time video..holy sh.t😮😮😮
Good eye! Someone else had pointed it out to me and I hadn’t noticed it. It’s actually a grey squirrel although we do have rats around here too. What makes it really funny is that I reversed the footage, which is why the squirrel looks like it’s walking backwards. 😂
I stop doing this. I just spray vinegar in the spring. And the weeds would die out and fill the crack.😂
White vinegar is OK for short term use unless your pavers are sealed. If left on too long it will dull the sealant and can eventually pit the concrete.
On timestamp 5:07 at the top of your screen you squirrel (I think).
Good eye! I reversed the footage to make the shot flow better but unfortunately I didn’t notice the squirrel when I did it… so it’s walking backwards. Ha! A few folks have pointed it out. 😃
👌👏👏👏
😃👍
Why would you want to remove moss?
Thanks for the question! The moss and weeds were a slipping and tripping hazard for the grandparents.
It was a mistake not to put concrete. These bricks only gather mud and moss.
Perhaps. The patio was installed before we bought the house many many years ago.