A long fun filled summer on the lake is finally coming to an end, and outside living spaces will slowly but surely be forgotten about until next year. Now we know that there are tons of things to be taken care of when it comes to getting your property ready from winter. From cleaning the gutters, giving the lawn one last mow, or performing a fall cleanup on all of your landscaping beds, there are a bunch of chores that are going to start calling your name!

One of the most overlooked areas for pre winter maintenance is your patio! Let’s go through a simple cleaning plan to keep your patio looking good for years to come!

First things first, you will want to remove any furniture on the patio, and determine if anything needs repaired or replaced before we start with the cleaning process. Usually hardscape repairs include removing entire sections of the actual patio in order to fix what is needed. These jobs can be messy and will need to be completed before you start winterizing your patio.

Assuming your patio is in great shape and no repairs are needed, you will want to grab the broom or blower and sweep or blow off any dirt or debris that has been accumulating on your patio. Don’t forget those hard to get corners and underneath any lips or stairs. It usually helps to start near the house, and work all the debris toward the lawn or at least away from the house.

Next we will want to get out the pressure washer and spray off any of the buildup that is on the surface of your patio. Finding the right distance can be a little tricky. You still want to clean the patio but you don’t want to remove any gator dust or things of that nature. Placing the tip of your pressure washing wand approximately 6” to 1’ away is usually the sweet spot. When pressure washing, you will blow dirt and debris up to 6’ in the air, so don’t forget to keep spraying off any raised surfaces or walls as you work your way across the patio.

Then we will want to wait until the patio is completely dry, and apply a nice stain and seal, or just a seal for newer patios that still have all of their color. There are many different brands and colors for stain and sealers. Most people will hire a professional to complete this step, but doing it yourself is easier than you think!

After the stain and sealer is applied, you will want to stay off of your patio for at least 24 to 48 hours. After a couple days have passed your patio will be looking as good as new! Now for the remainder of fall and winter, your will want to prevent any sort of debris building like leaves or falling sticks and nuts.

Just a few simple steps each year will keep your patio looking amazing, and maintain the value of your home instead of steadily decreasing every year due to outdated and difficult to look at hardscapes!

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