How to Prepare Your Interlocking Stone for Winter

Winter has made its presence known, and that means getting ready for cold, snowy months ahead. Putting away the outdoor furniture and readying gardens is on everyone’s winter prep to-do list, but what about the beautiful interlocking stone you had installed this summer? Whether it’s new or old, here are some tips on how to perform winter maintenance on your interlocking pavers.

Winter is Hard on Your Stone

A lot of damage can be done by snow and ice. Interlocking stones cope with freezing temperatures as well as the odd warm day. This continuous cycle of thawing and freezing can really impact the strength and appearance of your stones. Older stones are obviously more susceptible to cracking, too. The sand that was laid underneath your stones goes through the same thaw and freeze cycle, which can cause the sand and stones to settle unevenly.

What You Can Do

Before the snow falls, it’s a good idea to contact a professional like Seal Tech to apply a solvent or water-based interlock sealant, which will give your stones an added layer of protection against the elements. We’ve been the number one choice for sealing and cleaning exterior stone in the GTA for over 15 years.

In addition to having your interlocking pavers sealed, there are a few simple and important things you can do yourself to protect your interlocking stones. Winter maintenance for interlocking pavers is as simple as changing how you care for your property during winter.

1. Choose ice melting products carefully – be very cautious of the ice melt products that you use on the stones. There are concrete and brick specific products on the market. Make sure whatever product you use is non-corrosive. Potassium chloride or sodium chloride are also recommended, but avoiding magnesium products is a must.
2. Select the right shovel for the job – a metal-edged shovel can scratch, crack or chip your stonework. Use a plastic shovel instead or one with a rubber or plastic edge on it.
3. Equip your snow blower – if you plan on using a snow plow or blower this winter, make sure it has plastic or rubber blades on it.
4. Avoid snow build up if you can – keep an outdoor broom around. If last night’s snowfall was just a dusting, give it a quick sweep off your interlocking stone.
5. Check your stone throughout winter – along with your winter maintenance, survey your interlocking pavers on a regular basis. Do a weekly walk around your property to look for any damaged spots or potential future problems. Make note of any issues that you should address in spring.

Exterior stone work requires  time, work and money. That’s why you need to protect your property and investment  the best you can. If you take care of your interlocking stone now with good winter maintenance you’ll be able to spend your spring and summer enjoying your property, instead of fixing winter damage. Contact Seal Tech for a FREE estimate on your interlocking  stone winter maintenance needs.