A new patio, driveway or paved area can look great when it is first laid but the effects of weather, algae growth and general use can leave it looking less than its best a few years down the line. Here, Andrew Cummins, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Thompson’s, explores the best products available to ensure your customers are provided with a long-lasting professional finish.
Our weather is unpredictable, as we all know, so it is important to protect patios, paving and driveways from its effects, including water ingress. In fact, water ingress can cause several issues and can even make patios and paved areas look like they were not laid correctly in the first place. This is because as water seeps into the substrate it can soften it and over time the surface can become uneven. Therefore, treating and protecting the surface is important, not only for maintaining the like-new appearance for longer but also for extending the life of the paving materials.
To achieve this, consumers and trade professionals should use a specially formulated patio and block paving seal, designed to enhance and protect paved areas. Thompson’s Patio & Block Paving Seal is a solvent-based acrylic resin solution, which protects surfaces from weathering, resists moss and algae growth, prevents dirt staining and makes the area easier to clean. It can also be used to protect a wide range of materials including block paving, flagstones, sandstone, limestone and granite.
Thompson’s Patio & Block Paving Seal is touch dry in approximately one hour and can be recoated after four hours. The surface can also be walked on four hours after the topcoat has dried and can accept heavy traffic after just 24 hours.
What’s more, for customers that require safety protection, you can mix Thompson’s Patio & Block Paving Anti Slip Additive into the block paving seal before it is applied to ensure excellent slip resistance.
Sealing patios is not just for newly laid surfaces. Older patios and paving that are still in generally good condition can be renovated using a combination of a specially formulated cleaner and a paving seal.
A high-quality cleaner, such as Thompson’s Advanced Patio & Block Paving Cleaner, can be used to remove ingrained dirt, mould and algae. There are also cleaners for removing oil, grease and fuel staining from paving or driveways: Thompson’s Oil & Drive Cleaner.
Another product that is useful to have in stock for your customer’s renovation projects is a cleaner for brick and garden walls. Products such as Thompson’s Advanced Brick & Mortar Cleaner effectively removes mortar stains, limescale and efflorescence to restore the appearance of walls. It can be used at different concentrations depending on the degree of stain removal required. For example, for light staining the cleaner can be diluted in 10 parts water, and for heavier staining it can be used in equal parts water and cleaner.
Cleaning and protecting hard landscaping materials from the effects of weather and staining is essential for a longlasting finish. Choosing high quality products from a trusted manufacturer will help tradespeople and consumers ensure a professional finish on every job, whether on new build or renovation work.
To find out more about Thompson’s and its wide range of cleaning and waterproofing products visit:
www.thompsonsweatherproofing.co.uk
