Now that spring is coming back within a few weeks, it is time to prepare our garden to be able to enjoy it once the sun starts to shine. Once your lawn, flowers, and plants are taken care of, it is time to take of your terrace. In this blog post, we will specifically look for tips for people who have a natural stone terrace and how you can prepare it for spring. Get the barbecue ready!
Cleaning
Sweeping and mopping
A soft brush is perfect for dusting the stone without scratching the surface of the marble, granite, travertine or slate. You can also use a vacuum cleaner but then you have to be careful not to damage the tiles with the wheels.
Use a soft mop or brush with soft hair. The natural material is a good choice but it does have a shorter lifespan. Fortunately, there are other fabricated options that work similarly. You can clean small corners or other places that are not easy to reach with a wet chamois leather or dust cloth.
Cleaning products
Green soap, bleach and cleaning vinegar are all suitable for removing basic dirt such as algae and moss from the tiles. Dissolve in hot water, pour over the tiles, let it soak in, scrub the terrace or the driveway with a soft broom and rinse with the garden hose. If you really want to work professionally, you can also choose to use specific products, such as a green attitude removal or moss removal.
Equipment
A garden hose is essential to clean the tiles with a cleaning product and water. If you also have the budget for this, you can also purchase a high-pressure cleaner. When using one, it is important to first start with low pressure and then gradually increase it if this appears to be necessary. A danger when cleaning a terrace with a high-pressure cleaner is that you remove the top layer from the tiles. Because of this, the natural stones will become dirtier afterward. That is why it is always a good idea to start with low pressure and increase it if necessary.
Prevention
Now that we have talked about how you can clean your terrace with natural stones, let us also take a look at how you can keep your terrace in good condition in a preventive manner.
Nowadays, many durable stone sealants on the market will protect your patio from most types of damage, including stains, weather, and other natural wear and tear due to prolonged use. There are two types of stone sealants available under different brand names. The first category is sealants and the second impregnating agents.
Sealants
As the name suggests, a sealant will provide a coating layer on the top of the surface of the tiles, instead of penetrating the stone. When you use a sealant, water or waste will be repelled instead of being absorbed into the stone. Waterproof sealants can block 100 percent of rainfall and keep your natural stones in perfect condition.
Impregnating agent
You can also use impregnating agents on your terrace and keep your stones beautiful for longer. The impregnation of your terrace makes your terrace less maintenance sensitive. Impregnation reinforces the natural stones and ensures less damage resulting from exposure to sun, water, cold and heat. Terraces that are not impregnated create a breeding ground for all kinds of different micro-organisms such as algae and fungi.
