Bloom on pavers
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alan ditchfield
- Posts: 203
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
- Location: Preston / Lancashire
Is this around the edges or all over ? if it is only round the edges it is probably efflourescence from the concrete under the soldier course and will fade fairly quickly, if it is all over it may be cement stains which will need to be cleaned off or it may be scuffs from the vibrating plate that will also fade fairly quickly. Alan D.
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84-1093879891
It's most likely to be efflorescence. It is unavoidable to a large degree, although some manufacturers work harder to reduce the problem than do others.
It is not detrimental to your paving, other than looking a bit crap. The good news is that it will disappear - it usually goes within 2-3 months, but in some cases, it can persist for 12 months or more. Sadly, there is nothing the contractor can do to get rid of it permanently, and the manufacturers will not entertain any claims against them in these cases: they use small print in their catalogues to explain why it's not their fault, Guv!
There are 'efflorescence removers' available from Garden Centres, DIY Sheds, and some of the less clued-up Builders' Merchants, but they are a bit of a con really - they do get rid of the surface staining, mainly by washing it away, but they do bugger all to address the cause, and the 'bloom' will be back in a couple of weeks, although there is a chance it may not be as noticeable.
It's best to let your contractors finish their work, and then give the paving a couple of months to wash off and expel the eff. At this time of year, I would not consider doing anything with the paving until Spring of next year. If you give the finished work a couple of months, that takes us into late October, which is not really the best time to be doing any sealing or remedial work. Have a look at it again in late April or May of next year and you'll probably find it's disappeared completely, or is restricted to just a handful of blocks.
Your contractor really ought to have explained all this to you. Have a word with them when they return on Monday.
It is not detrimental to your paving, other than looking a bit crap. The good news is that it will disappear - it usually goes within 2-3 months, but in some cases, it can persist for 12 months or more. Sadly, there is nothing the contractor can do to get rid of it permanently, and the manufacturers will not entertain any claims against them in these cases: they use small print in their catalogues to explain why it's not their fault, Guv!
There are 'efflorescence removers' available from Garden Centres, DIY Sheds, and some of the less clued-up Builders' Merchants, but they are a bit of a con really - they do get rid of the surface staining, mainly by washing it away, but they do bugger all to address the cause, and the 'bloom' will be back in a couple of weeks, although there is a chance it may not be as noticeable.
It's best to let your contractors finish their work, and then give the paving a couple of months to wash off and expel the eff. At this time of year, I would not consider doing anything with the paving until Spring of next year. If you give the finished work a couple of months, that takes us into late October, which is not really the best time to be doing any sealing or remedial work. Have a look at it again in late April or May of next year and you'll probably find it's disappeared completely, or is restricted to just a handful of blocks.
Your contractor really ought to have explained all this to you. Have a word with them when they return on Monday.