Why You Should not Acid Wash Bluestone Pavers?

Bluestone tiles make a great addition to your contemporary-style or vintage-inspired home. The material comes with colour and texture variations, it gives your space a touch of elegance, and the material is extremely versatile. Bluestone delivers a great performance on the functional level. In addition to being a functional natural stone, bluestone is known for its aesthetic appeal. Contractors have been using and recommending bluestone tiles for the past few centuries. You must have seen the Old Melbourne Gaol and Prince Bridge in Melbourne, Australia. Well, these famous landmarks are made of bluestone.

What makes bluestone an ideal choice for residential and commercial paving applications is its low maintenance requirements. Sometimes, a blower and broom are all that it takes for the homeowner to clean the bluestone-paved area. You could sweep the dirt and debris away easily with a vacuum. While regular cleaning will suffice for bluestone pavers, you may have to use additional cleaners and stone-special detergents to remove the stubborn stains from the pavers. Bluestone tiles are cleaned with a PH neutral cleaner. You must avoid any acid or bleach-based cleaner completely as it may lead to damages and unwanted marks on the pavers.

Basic Tips for Cleaning Bluestone

If you have been planning to use chemical compounds to remove stains and debris from bluestone pavers, make sure you avoid harmful acids. Never expose bluestone tiles to acids as it may leave permanent spots on the pavers. Besides, acid washing is one of the common reasons for stone discoloration. Here, we have listed some other important tips you must consider when washing bluestone pavers.

A pressure washer can be used to clean the paver surface, especially if you have installed the tiles on a large terrain. For driveways and patio, a pressure washer can help remove the solid and wet debris easily. You don’t have to carry the heavy buckets of water or scrub the pavers tightly. The pressure washer or a garden hose can do the cleaning job efficiently. Scrubbing is not necessary as long as you wash the patio regularly. If your bluestone pavers get stained from the rotting leaves and mud, then it is important to scrub the surface with a high-quality PH cleaner to remove the marks.

Fortunately, bluestone is one of the toughest and powerful materials. It can handle pressure from scrubbing and deep cleaning efficiently. But, it does not react well to the acid cleaners.

Deep Cleaning the Bluestone Pavers

If you have laid bluestone tiles in your exteriors where they are exposed to the changing weather and environmental elements, then the bluestone tiles may require cleaning every few days. If you have not cleaned the area for a while, the surface may demand intensive cleaning. For deep cleaning, you must use the detergents and cleaning solutions that are made for bluestone tiles.

It is important to choose a cleaner that works on all types of natural stones and offers deep cleaning. The type of cleaning product you need will also depend on the stain you are trying to clean. The good news is stone-special cleaning formula can wipe the marks of rust, oil, tire, timber, and grout stains effectively. You don’t need to rub the stained paver. Just apply the recommended amount of cleaning solution to the paver and you are good to go.

Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using the cleaning formula. The solution must be diluted just the way the manufacturer has instructed. Do not leave it on the surface for an extended period. As mentioned earlier, acid can harm the surface of the pavers. Do not use excess acid solutions on any natural stone.

They might cause discoloration and premature wear and tear. Many homeowners use Hydrochloric acid on natural stones to remove the hard stains and grime easily. While that may remove the marks of hideous stains, HCI makes your natural stones vulnerable to rust. The iron and ferrous present in the bluestone tiles are highly likely to react to the strong detergents.

Sealing the Bluestone Pavers

Like other natural stones and paving materials, bluestone tiles require sealing. Any natural cleaning detergent can be used to remove the top layer of the debris and grime efficiently as long as the surface is sealed. You must seal the bluestone tiles after installation and every few years. Clean your bluestone tiles with a garden hose and stone-special cleaning detergent to keep your patio looking as clean and fresh as new. Never skip sealing as it not only protects your stones from stains, but it slows down the bluestone aging.

The sealant forms a protective layer over the bluestone tiles that keep the pavers from damages due to the changing weather and extreme temperatures. Sealing isn’t a tedious or challenging task. All you need to do is buy a high-quality sealant for bluestone tiles from the local hardware store and spray the sealant across the newly paved surface. The sealant can also be applied with a roller. Whatever material you use, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Alternatively, you can outsource the project to professional contractors.