If you want a walkway, path, or other landscaped surface around your home made out of pavers, then you have quite a few options available to you. Paving stones come in both natural and manufactured varieties. While natural stones are unique and durable, they are also somewhat expensive and typically more costly than manufactured varieties. If you are looking for a paver option that fits into your budget, then consider looking at bricks. Bricks do require some maintenance, so keep reading to find out about some maintenance tips:

Clean Away Stains 

There are several methods you can use to clean brick pavers that include pressure washing, scrubbing with brushes, and applying a bleach solution. While sandblasting can do wonders to clear away dirt and debris, this is too harsh for the brick and can lead to a weak surface that is susceptible to water and other weather damage. If you notice stains, then resist the use of a sandblaster and use the acid method instead. Acid is specifically helpful when it comes to stains from rust or calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate stains are the white and milky ones that commonly appear when you have hard water. Rust stains are apparent as the reddish brown variety.

While some brick cleaners contain muriatic acid, avoid these products or you may notice some bleaching of the brick. Instead, find an acidic cleaner with a buffering agent. This ingredient stops the acid from bleaching the brick. Apply the acid cleaner carefully and rinse thoroughly when you are finished. You may need to apply the acid several times or you can let it sit for a few hours if stains are deep and troublesome.

Add A Sealer

Brick, like other types of paver materials, is quite porous. This means that it can absorb substances. This is the reason that stains form in the first place. If you want to prevent stains and keep your bricks looking nice for an extended period of time, then make sure to apply a sealer. If you have ever looked at concrete or other types of masonry sealers, then you likely understand that there are two types of products, surface and penetrating varieties. 

Both surface and penetrating sealers work well to protect brick. However, the products often look quite different. The penetrating sealers leave the brick looking natural while the surface one creates a gloss appearance. 

Both types of sealers can be applied with either a sprayer or a roller. Keep in mind that penetrating sealers are thinner, so they are easier to use with sprayers. Even though it is thinner, it will still last several years, just like the penetrating types. 

Check out a website like http://www.tmlandscapedesign.com for more information and assistance.