Paving stones in winterrequires regular removal of snow and ice.Removing snow from cobblestonesit is worth doing regularly, because left snow is easily lumpy and freezes over. If we decide tode-icing paving stones , it is worth knowing how to do it in order not to damage the pavement. Sprinkling s alt or breaking ice is not recommended here. See how to take care of paved surfaces so thatpaving stones after winterlook as effective as in the previous season!
In winter, it is recommended to regularly clear snow from cobblestones. Photo Polbruk
Concrete paving stonesis a durable and easy-to-maintain material, but even in winter it is not fully resistant to external factors. Following the manufacturer's recommendations will not only help to protect the concrete pavement from damage and aesthetic flaws, but also guarantee safety and comfort in winter while navigating the paths around the house. So let's see what experts advise onpaving stone care in winter
Paving stone clearing
Intensive snowfall, in addition to joy in children, in adults causes a (quite right) need to ensure safe access from the entrance door to the street and from the garage to the entrance gate.Removing snow from paving stonesmust however take into account the specificity of the surface. Paving stones have their own requirements in this respect.
First of allpaving stone clearingit is worth doing regularly and not postponing it.Fresh, fluffy snow is easy to remove. Very often, a birch broom prepared at the entrance is enough for all the tools. Snow left for a long time, on the other hand, can easily crumble and freeze. Each march of the household through fresh powder churns the snow until an icy crust forms.
- Remember, there are no tools that can be used to safely hammer ice out of cobblestones without the risk of damaging it - explains Grzegorz Nowacki from Buszrem. Therefore, it is best to preventice from the paving stonesas a result of freezing of the snow left on it.
If we have a petrol or electric snow blower, the problem solves itself. Mechanical snow blowers support human work without the risk of disturbing the ground. Most of us, however, use simple tools and the strength of our own hands duringclearing snow from paving stones . However, they must be used in a way that will not change the aesthetics of paths, driveways, sidewalks and, especially sensitive to mechanical damage, terrace tiles.
- When removing snow from concrete surfaces, you should remember thatpaving stones are not used in contact with metal toolsTheir use may lead to scratches and splinters. Therefore, it is better to replace all metal equipment with plastic ones that do not cause damage - advises Karol Umiński, the chief technologist of the Polbruk brand. slush formation. It is also worth considering the issue of laying automatically controlled special mats or heating cables under the surface. The use of the thermal method will remove the obligation to remove snow from us, and the ankle, as well as us, will guarantee safety, even when the whole area is covered with a thick layer of snow - explains Karol Umiński.
Such systems should be installed especially near the entrance stairs to prevent slipping.
Snow on the cobblestones lumps and freezes. Photo Bush
De-icing paving stones
It is not a coincidence that snow shovels are usually not made of metal or have a hard rubber edge. You should definitely not use sharp tools such as pickaxes, hammers or even metal shovels forcrushing ice on cobblestones. If, unfortunately, the trampled snow has turned into ice, instead of chipping it off, it is better to use other, proven and safe methods.
And the traditional and proven method issprinkling the paving stones with sandIt is absolutely safe and does not harm the surface in any way. Additionally, it is still the cheapest solution. Microgress is also used more and more often. It differs from sand in a sharper structure, which ensures better grip for walking (and cars). Importantly, from paving stones after winter, it can be swept, stored and used in the next season.
The use of s alt on paving stonesis a controversial topic. First of all, rock s alt, i.e. sodium chloride, destroys the environment, and in this particular case, our home garden, shrubs and plants. Its action has a disastrous effect not only on footwear, but also on our pets, causing irritation of the paws and skin diseases. In addition, s alt lowers the freezing point of water only to -5 ° C and is not effective in colder weather. It can finally react with cement in concrete elements of road infrastructure.
Admittedly, high-quality paving stones, that is, meeting the requirements of the highest class of weather resistance specified in the standard - class D, are resistant to freezing and defrosting in the presence of de-icing agents. But even it is not served by the regular and intensive use of sodium chloride for this purpose. Under the influence of this component, in the long run,cobblestones after wintermay become discolored, and the whole arrangement may lose its attractiveness.Therefore, manufacturers of paving stones recommend the use of s alt only in the amount necessary for this, and in the first days of winter and in the first winter period after laying the paving stones, they advise against it completely.
- Forde-icing paving stonesother ingredients are great, such as magnesium chloride, which is safe for both the cube and the environment. This agent can be easily purchased in most chemical stores - explains Karol Umiński, an expert of the Polbruk brand.
Apart from magnesium chloride, it is safede-icing agent for paving stones , chloride is also considered calcium. Although much more expensive than traditional road s alt, it is several times more efficient, and its effect is maintained at temperatures down to -30 ° C.
