Concrete paving is durable, aesthetic, and practical – but only if you give it regular care.
Poorly maintained paving quickly loses color, starts to grow moss, stains form, and it can even get damaged. Fortunately, a few simple steps are all it takes, which you can manage yourself. In this article, you will find practical advice, tips, and procedures on how to keep concrete paving in perfect condition for many years.
Why does paving get dirty and what threatens it
Concrete is a material with an open porous structure, so it easily absorbs water, oils, dust, and organic impurities.
Additionally, paving is affected by:
🌧️ Weather – rain, snow, frost, UV radiation
🌿 Biological factors – moss, weeds, lichens, algae
🚗 Mechanical stress – cars, falling heavy objects
🧪 Chemical impacts – de-icing salts, oils, acid rain
⚠️ Problem: The combination of moisture, salt, and mechanical stress can reduce the lifespan of the paving by half.
Basic and regular maintenance
Clean paving is not only more beautiful but also safer. Regular care significantly prolongs its lifespan.
💡 Practical tip: Sweep the paving once a month with a hard broom, even more often during the fallen leaf season.
👉 Recommendation:
Remove weeds immediately as they appear – ideally with a joint scraper.
After removing weeds, always refill the silica sand into the joints.
With greater losses of sand, you reduce the stability of the paving and allow water to penetrate the bedding layer.
Cleaning – regular maintenance vs. heavy contamination
Not all impurities require the same approach:
Regular maintenance
👉 Mix a soap solution with warm water, apply, scrub with a brush, and rinse with clean water.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid harsh chemicals – they can damage the color and surface of the paving.
High-pressure cleaning (pressure washer)
Use a pressure of max. 100–120 bars.
Hold the nozzle at least 30 cm above the surface.
After cleaning, always replenish the sand in the joints, as pressurized water may wash it out.
📌 DIY mistake: Too high pressure + perpendicular cleaning = disruption of the bedding layer and sinking of the paving.
How to remove stubborn stains
💡 Practical tip: Act quickly – the longer a stain remains, the harder it is to remove.
Oil and grease → cover with sand, then use a degreaser.
Wine, coffee, fruit → rinse with cold water + solution of water with glycerin.
Rust → special concrete cleaners.
Lime bloom → gentle brushing + rinsing with water.
Moss, algae, and weeds
⚠️ Problem: Wet places without proper drainage = ideal conditions for moss and algae.
👉 Recommendation:
Maintain the paving slope min. 2% for water drainage.
Use impregnation to reduce surface absorbency.
Mechanically remove moss and then apply special growth-inhibiting agents.
Protective coatings and impregnation
Impregnation is like an invisible shield:
Protects against water and dirt absorption.
Preserves color.
Makes cleaning easier.
👉 Recommendation:
On driveways, apply once a year.
On less stressed areas, it is sufficient every 2–3 years.
Maintenance according to seasons
🌸 Spring → remove de-icing residue, refill sand in the joints.
☀️ Summer → deal with stains immediately, possibly carry out impregnation.
🍂 Autumn → remove leaves and organic impurities.
❄️ Winter → avoid de-icing salts, use gravel or sand instead.
