Hardscape Maintenance Tips for Chester County Properties

Well-installed hardscape is low maintenance — not no maintenance. Here's what's required to keep Chester County patios, walls, and walkways performing well for decades.

Concrete Paver Maintenance

Joint Sand Replacement (Every 3-5 Years)

The polymeric sand filling the joints between pavers stabilizes each unit and prevents weed germination. Over time, joint sand erodes from rain, pressure washing, and normal weathering.

Signs joint sand needs replacement:

• Weeds growing between pavers (sand level has dropped below the surface)
• Pavers rocking underfoot (sand level insufficient to stabilize units)
• Visible joints that appear empty or hollow

Process: sweep or blow out loose sand, apply new polymeric sand, compact with plate compactor, activate with water per manufacturer instructions.

Sealing (Optional, Every 3-5 Years)

Paver sealing enhances color, repels stains, and stabilizes joint sand. Not required, but recommended for patios in high-visibility areas or where staining is a concern (under outdoor kitchens, near fire features).

Note: never seal pavers before the first joint sand replacement — the sealer will lock in any issues with the initial sand installation.

Weed Control

Weeds growing between pavers indicate depleted joint sand. The solution is joint sand replacement, not herbicide — herbicide alone won't solve the root cause.

For isolated weeds: pull by hand or apply a targeted herbicide (avoid glyphosate, which can stain light-colored pavers). Follow with joint sand top-up.

Winter Maintenance

Do not use rock salt (sodium chloride) on pavers or natural stone. Salt causes surface spalling in concrete pavers and can stain certain stone surfaces.

Use: calcium chloride or magnesium chloride ice melt products, which are safer for paving surfaces. Sand for traction.

Avoid metal snow shovels with sharp edges on paver surfaces — use rubber-edged shovels or plastic shovels.

Natural Bluestone Maintenance

Sealing (Every 2-4 Years)

Natural bluestone is porous and benefits from sealing to:

• Prevent water infiltration that can cause freeze-thaw spalling
• Resist staining from organic debris and outdoor cooking
• Enhance the natural color

Use a penetrating stone sealer (not a topcoat/film-forming sealer, which can peel).

Cleaning

Annual cleaning with a stone-safe cleaner (pH neutral, not acid-based). Avoid pressure washing with high pressure — it can erode the surface of natural cleft bluestone.

Moss and Algae (Shaded Areas)

Bluestone in shaded areas can develop moss or algae growth. Clean with a stone-safe algaecide, then apply a moss-inhibiting sealer.

Retaining Wall Maintenance

Annual Inspection

Walk your retaining walls annually and look for:

• Bowing or tilting in any section
• Efflorescence (white mineral deposits) indicating water moving through the wall
• Displaced cap units
• Erosion at the base of the wall
• Drainage outlet blockage

Address any findings promptly — retaining wall problems compound quickly.

Drainage Outlet Clearance

Verify that drain tile outlets at retaining wall bases are flowing freely. Clear any debris that has accumulated at the outlet.

When to Call a Professional

• Any section of a retaining wall that is bowing or leaning
• Paver settlement deeper than 1 inch in any area
• Multiple pavers cracking in a defined area (indicates base failure)
• Persistent water pooling on hardscape surfaces despite existing drainage

Contact JHL Landscape Design for hardscape repair and maintenance

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Also read:

• Hardscape Design & Installation
• Complete Hardscape Design Guide
• Why Do Pavers Shift and Sink?
• Bluestone vs Pavers — Which Is Better?

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JHL Landscape Design | PA HIC #PA035784 | ICPI Certified | Licensed & Insured West Chester: 701 S Franklin St, Suite 101, West Chester, PA 19382 Newtown Square: 12 Smedley Ln, Suite 101, Newtown Square, PA 19073 HBA Member | BBB A+ Rating