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With your interlocking concrete pavement, there will be times when there is a stain that will appear whether from an organic material naturally landing on the pavement, an stain left behind from a vehicle or cooking, or something made of metal left behind on a patio that leaves a rust stain. Regardless of what it is, there is most likely a way in which you can remove that stain with minimal to no adverse effects to the pavers. Rust is one of those stains that is more than likely able to be removed from the pavers with the proper cleaner.
How to Remove Rust Stains from Pavers
No stain is an ideal stain to see on your newly built paver project. Though rust stains are a stubborn stain to try and remove, there are rust removing products on the market that will work to dissolve the stain and wash it away. It is ideal to have extra pavers set aside and stored for such an occasion that you would not be able to clean the pavers. Unfortunately from time-to-time, paver manufacturers discontinue products or even color blends making it impossible to purchase more for unforeseen circumstances. Most stains can be removed with some ease and you would not even know there was a stain there before.
These products can typically be used on concrete pavers that are wet cast and dry cast and natural stones to remove rust stains. That being said, it is always important to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines when using any cleaning product. Testing the product on a small area of the stain prior to committing to the entire area will help to see how the paver reacts to the cleaner and if there are any adverse effects once the cleaning is completed. Once you have tested it, you can move on with the steps as outlined below or preferably referring to the manufacturer’s instructions.
For the cleaning process, you will require a pair of chemical resistant gloves and some goggles along with a hard bristle brush in order to scrub the surface.
- Apply the rust remover to the stain and let it soak for 2 to 3 minutes as it reacts to the stain.
- Scrub the surface with a hard bristle brush.
- Rinse the area thoroughly with water and repeat the steps until you are satisfied with the result. You do not want this product to dry on the surface of the pavers.
- Depending on the results, you may want to apply an efflorescence or paver prep wash to the project for a more uniform look throughout the entire surface. This wash will also prepare the surface for sealing.
Prior to sealing, you will need to remove all stains followed by an efflorescence or paver preparation wash in order to prepare for the sealing. Failure to clean the stains prior to sealing will leave those stains under your sealer for the duration of its lifetime or until you strip the area in order to clean the stain and re-seal. The final efflorescence or paver preparation wash will create a uniform look for the entire surface if there were stains that needed to be cleaned off of the pavers and also prepare the pavers to be sealed.
Remove Fertilizer Stains on Concrete
Depending on the manufacturer of the rust remover, you may be able to apply this to fertilizer granules on the surface of concrete in order to remove those stains from your project. Creating expectations for the client and other companies that work on the grounds surrounding the paver project that product left on the surface or around the pavers may cause staining on the pavers that may not be able to be removed is important in the post-construction process.