Help! smelly sandstone. - Dog urine on indian sandstone.

[pbibs]

Hi. My parents have spent a lot of money on having a small rear garden paved with Indian Sandstone. This was around 6 months ago and as far as I can tell a good job has been done. The people were recommended by trusted friends within the building industry and it looks very nice. However, now the warm weather is here the smell of dog urine from their two little dogs is overwhelming. They have bought a pressure washer (not used yet) and spent £170 on 10 litres of sealant from Benchmark.

I want to try to remedy this for them but am reading conflicting advice. Such as do not use a pressure washer as it will drive the problem deeper into the stone.

I just need a plan of attack.

I would of thought that I need to stop the dog peeing in the area full stop for a short while until the area is sealed but im not sure.

Please help as I feel sorry that they have spent several thousands of pounds but are unable to use the area this summer.

Regards

Paul.

[pbibs]

A little more info....

They currently use a bleach solution periodically to remove algae (as advised elsewhere on here) and that keeps the paving looking good but doesn't seem to help much with the urine smell.

1. Should we even consider sealing. The sealant they have
purchased is "Pavetuf" invisible sealant.

2. Is there a safe disinfectant with perfume which they
use to mask the smell which would not harm the stone.

3. Is there a way of getting rid of the smell and then
applying a sealer so that is easier to wash the urine into
the drain in future. I think we could get a refund on
the sealer they have bought if another one would help
situation better.


There seem to be so many "opinions" when searching the web regarding this problem but not much informed / experienced opinion.

Many thanks

Paul.

[rab1]

Rogers your man for this.

[pbibs]

Rogers your man for this.

Thanks Rab. I will check back over the next few days to hopefully get his advice.

[Tony McC]

As someone with no time for dogs, my solution would be to elimnate the cause of the smell....the dogs.

However, assuming your folks are far too sentimental tgo take the logical solution, then the next best option is to create a dedicated pissing-spot for the dogs, which would *not* be on solid, sealed paving, but a patch of gravel with a pissing post, all of which can be periodically doused wiuth a disinfectant such as Jeyes Fluid or Zoflora.

By having solid, sealed paving, there is nowhere for the urine to go, so it flows over the surface, evaporates, and leaves behind its natural acrid stench. Unless it washed daily, which again isn't ideal for paving, then it's bound to smell.

[PavingSuperstore]

I would have thought a bucket of water near to the dog's favourite spot would ensure the urine is always kept diluted and not allowed to bake on in the sun. Also, has the paving been deep-cleaned? Would recommend doing this before sealing, but sealing won't stop the problem, just make it easier to clean. Over time, if the dog can be encouraged to go elsewhere, then the smell will gradually subside. Maybe put some obstacles in the way to try and break the cycle (I have five dogs so know a fair bit about their habits!). As a general observation and no pun intended, dogs seem to like bark in the garden, so maybe mulch some of the beds to see if the lure of this helps.

[pbibs]

I would have thought a bucket of water near to the dog's favourite spot would ensure the urine is always kept diluted and not allowed to bake on in the sun. Also, has the paving been deep-cleaned? Would recommend doing this before sealing, but sealing won't stop the problem, just make it easier to clean. Over time, if the dog can be encouraged to go elsewhere, then the smell will gradually subside. Maybe put some obstacles in the way to try and break the cycle (I have five dogs so know a fair bit about their habits!). As a general observation and no pun intended, dogs seem to like bark in the garden, so maybe mulch some of the beds to see if the lure of this helps.

Thanks.

I have suggested to my parents that they are allowed to pee on the front garden soil as they always go there when at the front of the house but are discouraged by my parents.

I think this would be a small price to pay for a better smelling garden for them to use at the rear of the house.

Do you think that the kennel cleaners/deodorisers would be ok to wash the paving with. There are many reviews on amazon saying how good they are at cleaning and deodorising patios but they don't mention the paving types.

[PavingSuperstore]

Very difficult to say for certain. The best I can suggest is to try it on an inconspicuous area first. You could phone up the manufacturers of the deodorising products and see if they can send a small sample before you purchase too much of it. Perhaps explain to your parents that if the dog uses an area of soil, then the bacteria in the soil will help break down the urine whereas on the paving there's nothing that will do this job, so washing the area down each time or at least once a day will help.

[pbibs]

Very difficult to say for certain. The best I can suggest is to try it on an inconspicuous area first. You could phone up the manufacturers of the deodorising products and see if they can send a small sample before you purchase too much of it. Perhaps explain to your parents that if the dog uses an area of soil, then the bacteria in the soil will help break down the urine whereas on the paving there's nothing that will do this job, so washing the area down each time or at least once a day will help.

Thanks a lot buddy.

[pbibs]

As someone with no time for dogs, my solution would be to elimnate the cause of the smell....the dogs.

However, assuming your folks are far too sentimental tgo take the logical solution, then the next best option is to create a dedicated pissing-spot for the dogs, which would *not* be on solid, sealed paving, but a patch of gravel with a pissing post, all of which can be periodically doused wiuth a disinfectant such as Jeyes Fluid or Zoflora.

By having solid, sealed paving, there is nowhere for the urine to go, so it flows over the surface, evaporates, and leaves behind its natural acrid stench. Unless it washed daily, which again isn't ideal for paving, then it's bound to smell.

So my folks are sentimental and illogical and you hate dogs.

You have some serious issues fella.

I came on here for advice, not to be spoken to like a frontbottom.

[seanandruby]

Like The boss i also can't stand dogs. Why would you spend good money on a patio and not include an area for the dogs to piss on let alone shite. I've seen people buy luxury carpet and make people take their shoes off yet let a dog scrape it's arse along it. I think The Boss gave his opinion and then answered your post correctly. Word of caution don't mix it with the boss, if you do be prepared for a few choice words :;): :laugh:
Think i guessed what a " frontbottom is and you are ooo suggesting he spoke to you like tnuc.

[lutonlagerlout]

paul if you re-read tony's advice its good

I used to have a small dog with the same issues and I solved it by taking him for a walk twice a day at the same time

better to sort out the cause rather than the effect

LLL

[higgness]

A post to pee on is a great idea

[RAPressureWashing]

There's not really an easy answer to this one, I feel over time if the dogs use the same area the stone could start to stain, urine being acidic, and maybe after a while even get through a sealer if you go this route. Without knowing how big the area of paving is, the only answer seems to be, flush the urine away straight after the dog's have done their business with water then using a weak hypo mix something like 6:1 with some liquid soap say one a week-fortnight ? Re the smell? hot weather & urine not the best combination really, I wouldn't go the Jeyes Fluid approach as for me that stuff stinks anyway, few drops of Zoflora in the flushing water might help? don't think there is anything in Zoflora that would mark the paving just don't use it to strong really.

[pbibs]

Like The boss i also can't stand dogs. Why would you spend good money on a patio and not include an area for the dogs to piss on let alone shite. I've seen people buy luxury carpet and make people take their shoes off yet let a dog scrape it's arse along it. I think The Boss gave his opinion and then answered your post correctly. Word of caution don't mix it with the boss, if you do be prepared for a few choice words :;): :laugh:
Think i guessed what a " frontbottom is and you are ooo suggesting he spoke to you like tnuc.

Thanks for your helpful comments guys and gals.

I will sort it out for them.

I really didn't mean for this to turn into a thread for some to post their hatred for dogs.

Some strange feckers on the internet.