AN16 - if you want to kill off that moss, small grass shoots etc and any growth such as algae, lichen or any organic problem, here's the answer for you. Nip down to any farmers supply depot such as Countrywide or SCATS and get yourself a 20 litre jack of hypochlorite - it's very cheap and should cost you no more than about 12 quid. It's the chemical dairy farmers use to regularly steralise their milking equipment and milk holding tanks. Knock it down 1 to 1 with water and brush it over your block paving. Wear wellies though to avoid splashes on your clothing as it's essentially a chlorine based bleaching agent. I promise you it will kill anything organic stone dead - be careful with any plants you want to keep as it will kill them as well. Another thing is don't walk off your driveway straight onto your lawn - I did and had footprints of dead grass for weeks. Once you've done that (or before if you want to know) I'll tell you how to seal the paving and joints with a Xylene based acrylic sealant to stop the bloody organic stuff taking hold again.
Thanks Red Robin and OS for that, much appreciated. Our drive is made of coloured blocks (sand coloured) with a couple of grey diamonds built into it. Will bleach/chlorine take the colour out ? Given it cost me £4k some 8 years ago I'd rather it stayed the same colour
The whirlaway uses natural water,through high pressure jets.I don't use anything other than this,however traffic film remover could be sprayed over if if required.
The various coloured pavior blocks are not affected at all by the hypochlorate. The block colour is solid through and is actually enhanced as the hypochlorate removes any surface organic growth and associated staining I've got 120 square metres of pavior driveway that cost me 7 grand about 6 years ago. I've kept it weed and algae free for that time and it looks as good as the day it was laid - in fact better as I've sealed the blocks since with Xylene based acrylic sealant topped up every other year. Let me know if you want any further details.
its about £20 litre and more recommended for slab finish concrete imprint as opposed to individual blocks ...but check with whom you buy it .. manufacturer that is
Thanks all again. Historically, once I've cleared the moss, I then brush Bostik Cementone cleaner on the drive (diluted) which is acid based, and when it's dry I use Thompson Patio and Driveway sealer and usually do 2 coats of that given it's £20 odd a can. However not all of the ingrained marks come out of the paving blocks with the cleaner and the sealer doesn't last all that long with cars on and off it several times a day. We had loose chippings before, and whilst dusty in dry weather they were cheap and cheerful, and I often wonder whether it was worth the money for the block paving drive, with the amount of upkeep it takes.
For moss I use moss killer, BQ, weeds £ shop weed killer, grass in cracks dig it out with screw driver or old coat hanger if narrow, if hardly any gap boiling water! slowly poured sometimes works!
The reason that acid based cleaners aren't that efficient on a paviors is that they are designed mainly to clean cement stains and the like. The real problem is organic growth and that is very difficult (a right bastard) to kill off - it comes back as soon as you think you've got rid of it. The Xylene sealant I use is from Smartseal - check out their website - and cost about £110 or so for a 25 litre drum plus carriage. Speak to them on the phone - they're extremely helpful and will tell you waht you need re coverage etc.
QUALITY XYLENE ACRYLIC, imprinted concrete is usually low to high gloss, a slab with no drainage except off edges, whereas blocks are rough surfaced to a greater degree and have limited drainage usually placed tight on a sand medium..
You sound like someone who reads and talks about it rather than uses it. I've used these products for the past 6 years and I can tell you they are brilliant at surface cleaning and preservation.
Drainage is never an issue if it’s laid correctly. You lay it to drain away. If not you will end up with pooling. As to be careful who you buy the concrete from is a stupid comment to make. Seeing as the pattern imprinter will be purchasing the concrete so will know the correct cement (blend and content) for the time of year and correct percentage fines. So any failings would be the person laying the concrete not the concrete supplier.
can see no problem with that Drainage is never an issue if it’s laid correctly as already stated off the edges, did see one in Birmingham where they sloped into the middle where there was a cute little drain You lay it to drain away obviously off at least one edge, and not the one outside your exit door If not you will end up with pooling that makes sense, although if deep enough could use as a paddling pool for the kids after the rain had stopped. who said anything about buying concrete?? what is stupid, and worrying is that the person from whom you may be ordering from doesn't read things right... imagine ordering 1 cubic metre of concrete and 10 turn up .....
Well not everything, I am still working on 3 things 1) the meaning of life 2) if you have a shower or bath and have a good scrub down with shower gel/soap then dry off with a freshly laundered towel why do they call it a dirty towel? 3) egg or chicken?
1, to enjoy it 2, because it’s wet and when just left mould and then bugs grow 3, me personally believe egg, simply because I believe in mutation and evolution so the egg was cocoons to various things until 5he chicken was formed. Hope that helps you.
