Those of you who followed our recommendations last year should now be looking at a patio, path, or drive, that is still looking clean and tidy.

If like ours, there is a light layer of algae as a result of the damp climatic conditions, don’t worry. If you have applied a patio sealer after cleaning, the algae should go after a bit of dry weather. If you didn’t, then read on.

Natural Stone, concrete slabs and blocks hold moisture if left untreated, providing a perfect growing surface for moss and algae. A patio sealer will seal the surface after cleaning and, will not only deny moss and algae sustenance, but also enhance their appearance.

A patio sealer also helps the surface to stay clean longer. When the surface does get dirty, cleaning is made easy by the presence of a patio sealer because the dirt can’t penetrate the surface.

Our patio sealers come in 2 forms; acrylic, and silicone based.

• AquaRepel is a silicone based patio sealer that has good penetration and, following application, is virtually invisible to the naked eye. As a water repellent, it is very effective at preventing algae and moss growth.
• DO-IT-ALL is an economic acrylic based sealant that can be used to enhance appearance by intensifying the natural colours of the stone, and provides good resistance to moisture penetration and subsequent algae and moss growth. As the acrylic seals the pores in the stone, subsequent cleaning is made easy. In addition, added fungicide will discourage algae / moss growth during prolonged damp periods. Acrylic patio sealers also bind the sand in any joints, making it less likely to come out during water jetting.

Before a patio sealer can be applied, it is important that the surface is thoroughly cleaned. Two types of cleaner are available in the marketplace:

• Slow Acting - Allow several weeks to pass in order for the algae and moss to die off, and wash off with subsequent rain.

• Fast Acting - Requirs athorough cleaning with water after a short reaction time. Usually this is done with either a hose and a stiff broom or, better still, using a high pressure water jet. Care should be taken when jetting to ensure that the sand in the joints isn’t washed out. If this happens, it is a good idea to replace this prior to sealing.

Our personal preference is to seal the surface with DO-IT-ALL as it is economic, easy and safe to apply. It also has the additional advantage of binding the sand in the joints, if you are sealing block pavers.

Whichever patio sealer you choose, sealing the patio, driveway or path will ensure that next year your task of bringing the garden up to scratch will be a whole lot easier.