Cleaning restoring slabs

I

IrishGunner

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Out the back we have pavement and slabs that need restoration. We are looking at getting extension so don't want to landscape garden yet. Just looking for something short term to brighten it up.

Previous owner painted it and now grass, moss etc appearing and gaps. Even hosing it and paint comes up.

So got some paving sand to brush into the gaps.

What's the best steps to start the process. Is it wash them down and wait to dry. Empty sand over slabs and brush into the gaps. Wait a few days before painting with a roller.

No diy'er so googling YT but so many videos.

Also what's best paint to use on slabs and concrete

Cheers
 
I'd be interested on the right type of paint also. I have a similar project in mind.
 
Did you just get regular paving sand or the jointing/ setting type? Regular paving sand can be just brushed into the joints, but will wash away over time and if you already have weeds, won't take them ling to break through again.

If you have the jointing sand, instructions are usually printed on the bag, but clean out as much of the debris from between the gaps using a specialist pointed brush or a trowel. Once clean and fully dry, you can brush the sand into the joints or pour slowly into the joints. Tapping slabs with a rubber mallet can encourage the sand to settle and fill gaps below. Once you have removed as much of the excess as you can (brush at a diagonal to joints), soak the area before brushing again to remove any excess sand. The setting sand will colour the paving if not fully cleared off, so the quality of the result will largely depend on how little excess you manage to leave behind.
 
Leo said:
Did you just get regular paving sand or the jointing/ setting type? Regular paving sand can be just brushed into the joints, but will wash away over time and if you already have weeds, won't take them ling to break through again.

If you have the jointing sand, instructions are usually printed on the bag, but clean out as much of the debris from between the gaps using a specialist pointed brush or a trowel. Once clean and fully dry, you can brush the sand into the joints or pour slowly into the joints. Tapping slabs with a rubber mallet can encourage the sand to settle and fill gaps below. Once you have removed as much of the excess as you can (brush at a diagonal to joints), soak the area before brushing again to remove any excess sand. The setting sand will colour the paving if not fully cleared off, so the quality of the result will largely depend on how little excess you manage to leave behind.
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Think its the regular paving sane. Going to Power wash to get all the flaky paint off and then try and get the moss and grass etc out with trowel

Was looking at paints in hardware stores so limited colours but ok with that

Now just wait for the good weather to come back and start on it
 
I have painted slabs on my patio, I only get a year out of them, they have to be repainted every spring, I hope to power wash this week and repaint. It's not a major job and I use ordinary masonry paint but even if you seal them afterwards it doesn't last I find. Mine though get very dirty over winter and the power washing invariably removes some paint so definitely need redoing. If yours were more in the open and not so subject to falling leaves etc they might not get as dirty.

I would love if someone would invent a paint for footpaths that would actually cover them and work but I fear it would be the same story as the slabs and they would need redoing regularly.
 
To do a quick job and clean the slabs, use bleach mixed with water at 5;1 ratio. That's 5 water 1 bleach and it will clean them for you. When you decide to landscape get good advice from people who know what they're talking about, it'll save you in the long run.
 
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