You can use brick pavers for driveways, walkways and patios. Brick pavers are a beautiful addition around any home, but they're not as attractive when mold and algae cover the surface. Mold and algae thrive in damp and shaded areas, and mold can grow on virtually any surface, including brick. Attack mold and algae in their earliest stages by disinfecting the pavers with chlorine bleach. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Clean off the brick pavers with a garden hose on its strongest setting. Wash as much mold and algae from the pavers as you can. Be careful not to remove the filler material between the pavers.
2. Scrape off any remaining mold with a plastic spatula.
3. Prepare a solution containing 1 cup of chlorine bleach for each gallon of water.
4. Test the solution on a small portion of a paver. Look to see if the solution changes the color of the brick. If the brick changes color, prepare a solution of 1 cup of dish detergent for each gallon of water.
5. Rinse the pavers with a hose to get them thoroughly wet again.
6. Spray the solution onto the pavers. A spray bottle works for small areas. Use your hose with a spray attachment to spray the pavers if you have widespread mold and algae.
7. Scrub the solution into the pavers with a soft-bristled brush. Don't use a wire brush. Scrub with force to make sure you remove the mold's roots. Make sure to scrub in between the cracks, as well, but no so hard that you remove the filler material.
8. Rinse off the pavers, and allow the area to dry thoroughly. Expose the area to as much sunlight as possible. Cut back (or prune) any tree limbs or shrubs that are shading the area.
9. Use a power washer or fungicide if the mold and algae remain. Be careful when using a power washer, because it can dislodge the pavers even more than a hose.
Tags: pavers with, mold algae, changes color, chlorine bleach, each gallon, each gallon water, filler material
