Thank you for your choice of Outdoor Traditions in your Landscape project. We have created this information sheet, to help you with the care and expectations of your interlocking surface.
Interlocking pavers are very similar to the properties of a concrete surface. The pavers are concrete, hence the similarities. Your interlocking surface has a few differences from concrete.
Movement or failure in your interlocking surface
The main difference is cracking, interlocking surfaces will not crack. A crack in concrete is caused by a failure in the base of the concrete surface. This failure is a movement of the base material creating a void under the surface concrete. This void then becomes a weak point, and when a force or weight of any kind hits the surface or area of the void, you get a crack. Interlock pavers are subject to the same failures but when the pavers move they already have cracks in them at the joints between the pavers. So these pavers fail at the joints as opposed to the concrete blocks themselves.
Repair of this kind of failure is simple and relatively inexpensive. The pavers are simply lifted out of the area, the base is leveled off and the pavers replaced with new jointing material (polymeric sands)
This type of repair and failure apply to; tire ruts, downspout sinkage, etc…
Polymeric Sands
Polymeric sands have been used for the joints in your interlock surface. These sands have polymers in them that turn them to a concrete like substance. This makes the joint very resistant to weeds and ants, 2 of the biggest complaints of interlocking surfaces. This material goes hard like concrete so the ants can’t dig homes and the weeds can’t establish a root system. These polymeric sand are self healing, what that means is, if there is movement in the pavers and a crack opens from said movement, when the polymers get wet again they will soften and fill the crack created.
Cleaning and care of your Surface
Your interlocking surface is cared for in all the same ways as a concrete surface, except one major difference.
Power-washing
You can power-wash your interlocking surface but you must make sure of a few things before you do.
- the surface must have been dry for at least 72hours ahead of any power-washing. Because the polymers will soften the sands, you need to be sure they are set before any type of high pressure spraying.
- please do not concentrate the pressure of the spray on a joint. The joints when set can take a great deal of pressure but will still come out of the joints with a direct blast to the sand.
Pavers with Florescence
Sometimes a paver with develop a white powdery substance on it, this is called florescence. These can be cleaned with florescence cleaners. If your surface has been sealed, the sealer will have to be removed before the florescence can be cleaned.
Stains or Oils on pavers
If your surface gets a stain or oil on it, 2 things can be done to fix this issue
- try a cleaner or degreaser to remove stain.
- remove the stained paver and replace with a new one.
Sealing your interlocking Surface
Outdoor Traditions does not recommend sealing of pavers. We say this because when the sealed paver with a glossy finish on it gets wet or snow on them, they become really slippery and with snow on them they act like ice. There are sealers out there with grit in them to prevent such conditions. So if you truly want them sealed please make sure you use one of these sealers.
Download Our Interlock Projects PDF Info Card
Questions or concerns
If you have any questions or concerns that we have not answered here please call, email, or any method of contact you choose and we will be happy to help.
Thank you again for choosing Outdoor Traditions and we look forward to serving you again in the future with your next project.
Outdoor Traditions Limited