Helpful information

The best pavement option - based on life of the job and customization options - is pavers. Unlike asphalt or concrete, pavers don’t crack. Pavers are also resistant to de-icing salts. Available in many different shapes and designs, pavers offer unlimited design options. Pavers are a smart investment to promote the long term quality, value and curb appeal of your property.

In a word, no! Imagine, for example, an unsightly stain on a paver. The number one advantage of pavers is the ability to easily replace the stained paver. Even in the unlikely situation that your pavers crack or sink, you can easily repair or replace them leaving your surface good as new.

Pavers cost a bit more than concrete and asphalt, but you get more life out of the job. Mighty Pavers provides a 10-year warranty (the highest in the industry) on all paver jobs, which is unavailable on concrete or asphalt jobs. In return for the extra cost, you get added peace of mind.

There is a chance that after a few weeks or months, a white haze may appear on the surface of your pavers. This is known as efflorescence. Efflorescence may appear randomly or in certain areas and are generally more pronounced on dark colored pavers. The white haze may give the impression that the color of the pavers is fading. When wet, the white disappears and enhances the color of the pavers. When dry, the white haze reappears.

Efflorescence is completely natural and disappears with time. There’s no reason to worry that your pavers are damaged or defective. The concrete pavers are experiencing a completely natural process. Efflorescence is a condition in all cement based products, as well as in many other paving products. Fortunately, the condition usually corrects itself with time and exposure to the elements.

The Chemistry of Efflorescence

All concrete products contain cement, which produces lime or water soluble calcium oxide. Lime can also be in the bedding sand, aggregate base materials, or soil. Although concrete pavers are solid, strong, and very dense, they contain millions of microscopic capillaries that run from the interior to the surface. Moisture from rain, sprinkler systems, underground sources, poor site drainage, or dew enters these microscopic capillaries. Calcium oxide inside the paver emerges from the pores within a magnified area of a concrete paver. Water carries the calcium to the surface.

Most producers of pavers put chemical additives in the concrete to reduce the likelihood of efflorescence. In most cases, the process is effective. Completely eliminating the chance of efflorescence, however, isn’t possible because it’s a natural byproduct of hardened concrete. Efflorescence will stop when calcium hydroxide is no longer available to move to the surface. There are however cleaners available that can remove efflorescence and enhance the natural beauty of your concrete paver project.

Asphalt and emulsified asphalt. We recommend Alliance Rubber, Paint and Tar Remover. Follow the directions on the bottle and reapply if necessary. Also, you can chill the asphalt with ice (if it’s warm outside) and scrape away any excess with a hard plastic scraper. Apply Alliance XP Oil and Grease remover and follow the directions on the bottle.

Cutback asphalt and roofing tar. Use Alliance Rubber, Paint and Tar Remover and follow the directions on the bottle.

Blood, candy, ketchup, mustard and grease drippings from food. Use liquid dish soap. Let the soap penetrate the pavers for 20-30 minutes. Scrub and rinse with hot water. You may also use Oxyclean. Mix 4 scoops of Oxyclean into to a gallon of hot water. Let it soak for 15 minutes. Scrub with a nylon bristle brush then rinse.

Caulking. Scrape off any excess and scrub with a poultice of denatured alcohol. Rinse with hot water and detergent.

Acrylic latex caulk. Follow the guidelines for the removal of dried paint. Use Alliance Rubber, Paint and Tar Remover or Alliance Eco Soy Stripper.

Chewing gum. Scrape off any excess and scrub with a poultice of denatured alcohol. Rinse with hot water and detergent.

Clay Soil. Scrape off dry material. Scrub and rinse with hot water and Alliance Shampoo.

Creosote. Apply a poultice with paint thinner and talc. Scrub and allow to dry. Scrape off and scrub with scouring powder and rinse with water.

Efflorescence. Use Alliance Efflorescence Remover. Dilute the product according to the instructions on the container. Apply and rinse with water.

Leaf, wood rot, mulch or tobacco stains. Mix 4 scoops of Oxyclean into a gallon of hot water. Apply to surface and let soak for 15 minutes. Scrub with a nylon bristle brush and rinse with water. You may also use Pool Shock. Wet the entire surface and then mix 1/2 pound of pool shock with 4 gallons of water. Apply, scrub, and rinse off.

Mold and mildew. Use Oxyclean or pool shock. Follow same directions as above.

Mortar. Mortar is extremely difficult to remove. If mortar is fresh and not hardened, try Alliance Efflorescence Remover. Scrub, rinse with water and reapply if necessary. Note: it may be necessary to replace the paver.

Oil or grease that has penetrated. Soak up any excess with a rag and apply Alliance XP Oil & Grease Remover. Leave on for 6-8 hours until it dries to a powder and sweep away. The same cleaning method also works on antifreeze, brake fluid, hydraulic oil and citronella wax.

Paint. Mop up fresh paint immediately with rags or paper towels by blotting. Avoid wiping as this will spread the stain. Soak and then scrub the area with hot water, scouring powder and a stiff brush until no longer improved. Let the remaining paint dry and remove as described below.

Dried paint. Scrape any excess oil based paint, varnish or water based latex paint off the surface. Use Alliance Rubber, Paint and Tar Remover or Alliance Eco Soy Stripper and follow the directions on the container or use a commercial paint remover and let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Loosen the paint with gentle scrubbing. Avoid rubbing the loosened paint into the surface of the paver. Instead, blot up the loosened paint and thinner. Repeat as necessary. Note: latex paints once dried are more difficult to remove.

Soot from smoke. Use a solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP) diluted to the directions on the container. Scrub and rinse with water.

Tire skid marks. Use Alliance Rubber, Paint and Tar Remover or scrub the black area with water, detergent and scouring powder. In the case of small stained areas, it may be easier to remove and replace marred pavers.

Rust. First, define the rust stain. Is it from sprinklers, patio furniture, fertilizer, etc.? Apply Alliance Rust Remover and scrub with a stiff bristle brush. Multiple applications may be necessary. Follow the directions accordingly. Test a small area of pavers first. Note: Rust Remover will damage a sealer.

A lot of times clients want to seal their patio or driveway to avoid stains. Sealants work very well in protecting your pavers from stains but you have to act fast! If you end up with a stain on your patio from last night’s party or notice your car leaking oil on your driveway, it’s critical to address the stain within 24 hours. In other words, sealants buy you time to address the stain but will not work miracles on stains that have been setting for more than a day or so.

Yes. In most cases you will be able to clean the pavers without replacing them. We’re glad to provide you with a list of mason suppliers who carry oil stain removers, organic stain removers and other options to keep your pavers looking clean and beautiful.

Natural stone patios are absolutely beautiful and by far the biggest competitor for pavers. The only disadvantage of natural stone is the joints. Pavers have very small joints filled in with sand, whereas natural stones have wider joints filled in with cement. Cement is known to absorb moisture and in the winter, the joints expand and crack. Therefore, every 5 years or so the cement joints may need some re-pointing.

Yes. We only use paver manufacturers that offer a lifetime warranty against fading, cracking and damage caused by de-icing salts.

Unlike pavers, natural stone walkways and steps have cement joints, which are susceptible to damage from de-icing salts. We recommend using sand instead of de-icing salts to avoid damage to joints.

Radiant heat systems can be used in small or large areas depending on your needs and budget. Mighty Pavers proudly installs radiant heat in walkways, expansive driveways and everything in between.

Heated driveways, walkways and steps are likely more affordable than you think. Pricing depends on many variables including but not limited to - materials used, size of the job and intricacy of the design. Call us today for a free estimate.

Yes, we offer a 10-Year warranty for pavers installations, which is the best in the industry. Our warranty comes standard with the job and at no additional cost to the client.

Mighty Pavers opened its doors in 2001. Today, we are proud to have built our business primarily on referrals from past clients and repeat business.

In our modern world, happy and unhappy clients alike can share their experiences on review sites like Yelp and Angie’s List. Mighty Pavers is proud to say that as of January 2016, we have never had a complaint or poor review on the Consumer Affairs, Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List or any other review site. We encourage you to explore our positive reviews across the web.

We know there are many home improvement options available. Why choose Mighty Pavers? Because we are a solid, reputable company founded upon professionalism, excellent customer service, personal attention, expertise and the highest quality craftsmanship.

Mighty Pavers offers a complete peace of mind promise. We offer a no change order guarantee to ensure you never incur surprise costs - including the best warranty in the business (10 years). We take pride in our work and you will, too. We pledge that when you hire Mighty Pavers, you are not just another client - and it shows.