Winter has finally arrived in southeast Michigan. This time of year means that we spend a lot of time removing snow and dealing with snow around our homes and businesses. If you have recently installed a paver hard surface at your property and aren’t sure how to care for it, here are some suggestions from a Lake Orion brick paver for safely and efficiently removing snow from your paver surface.
Don’t Wait
This is probably the most important thing you can remember when snow falls on your new paver surface. Snow and ice can cause bricks to heave and move. This is especially true if snow is not removed promptly and is allowed to melt and refreeze on top of your new paver surface. If you want your paver patio or driveway to last a long time, and be relatively maintenance free, don’t wait to remove snow and ice. The sooner that you can get it moved and your pavers cleared, the better.
Snow Blower vs. Shovel
When we have deep snow and there is a lot of snow to move, a snow blower is a great tool to have. It moves a lot of snow, relatively quickly, with not much work. However, snow blowers aren’t great for pavers. The augers that scoop up the snow can scratch and damage your pavers. Snow blowers can also catch bricks and dislodge them. If you have a large paver driveway that you need to clear, a snow blower may be the best time-saving solution, but you will want to use extra precaution to make sure that you don’t dislodge any pavers or scratch the paver surface with the augers. If you really want to treat your paver surface right, your best bet is to stick with a good, old fashioned snow shovel. Avoid shovels with metal edges, and stick with a good plastic shovel. This is the best way to ensure that you won’t scratch your new pavers, or accidentally pull one up. If the snow is light enough, you can even use a push broom to safely remove the snow from your driveway or patio.
Deicer?
Deicers are great for getting rid of snow and ice, without much work at all. However, deicers aren’t a great choice for your new paver surface. Actually, deicers aren’t a great choice around your home anyway. Deicers can eat away at the sealant that was applied to your pavers to protect them and keep the sand and grout in place. If not removed promptly, deicers can also start to eat away at the surface of the pavers, causing them to weaken, and this leads to cracks and chipping. If you use a deicer on your patio and you have pets or children that like to play outdoors, deicers can be unsafe for them as well. If you must use a deicer to remove ice and snow, perhaps below a downspout, make sure that you sweep them up as soon as possible, to limit the potential damage.
Hire a Lake Orion Brick Paver Contractor
A new paver surface may demand that you change your snow removal habits. If you have a new surface and want more information on how to maintain it through the winter, or if you want to have maintenance done on an existing surface, contact a Lake Orion brick paver from PMS Diversified Construction. Call us today  at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS.