Patios are a great way to increase the living space of your home without having to do a ton of work. In fact, many commercial patios are simply poured concrete slabs with some ambient light. But how durable are they?
Can patio slabs change color over time due to exposure and weathering? In this blog post we will go over if patio slabs change color and what to do to keep your patio slabs looking new!
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Answering the Question: Do Patio Slabs Change Color?
Every builder knows that patio slabs do change color or fade with time. In many instances, it is entirely normal, depending on the type of material used. There are many factors when it comes to why patio slabs change color.
Reasons Why Patio Slabs Change Color
Have you ever wondered why your patio slabs are changing color or fading as time goes by? Well, we will give a clear answer to that right here.
Wetness Over Time
The main reason why patio slabs change color is due to wetness. When water comes into contact with the material, it starts something called hydrolytic reaction which changes the structure of the material over time.
Exposure to Sunlight
One of the most common reasons for patio slab fading is exposure to direct sunlight. When exposed to the sun, any pigmented material, including textiles and paint, as well as the dyes in stones, will fade. As the years pass, you may notice some slight discoloration of the surface of your slab. That is normal.
The answer for that is the fact that the dyes do not permeate into the accumulation. With time, the original hue of the composite becomes more evident as the slab’s other constituents fade away.
Exposure to Harsh Winds and Pollution
When air pollution and air substances merge with the colors in patio slabs, this can result in color changes. Over time, this slowly dissolves the outer covering of the slabs, causing them to diminish in appearance. This kind of sealant is oil-based and produces the appearance of wet slabs, which helps the stones to have a deeper coloring by allowing them to absorb more moisture.
Exposure to Chemicals
If you have attempted to clear spots from your patio slabs, this may be the cause of their fading. Some of the stains are removed using harsh chemicals such as bleach and acid. Even though the dyes cannot be retrieved, the patio can be safeguarded from future harm by coating them with sealant.
How Do I Get Patio Slabs Back To Their Original Color?
Solution: Have a Scheduled Time to Clean Your Patio Slabs
First and foremost, check to see that your patio slabs are clean. For example, grass, fungus, and grease must be removed. Using a power washer, you may swiftly and effectively eliminate the dirt from your home.
Scrub the patio with a prim brush to get rid of any mold or algae that formed. Fungicide is recommended for areas with heavy coverage. Use a stiff brush and a generous amount of undiluted sustainable fungicide to clean.
This will eventually make the patio slabs back to their original color. But if not, you can choose to reapply a masonry stain shade that is the same as its color. Many service providers have solutions for this problem.
How Can I Change the Color of My Patio Slabs?
Masonry Stain
Masonry stain is more often known as a natural color for patio slabs, but if you choose a different shade, it can help to change the color of your patio slabs.
Acid Stain
Acid Stain is probably the cheapest way to change the color of your patio slabs, plus it looks great. Acid Stain helps change the color by creating a chemical reaction to your slabs.
What are some ways to Preserve the Color of Your Patio?
You can coat your patio at least once a year as it assists in avoiding fading and discoloration from happening on your deck or patio.
It is possible to have a patio slab of exceptional service come to your home and reapply a wet sealer to an older patio that has experienced a great deal of fading and discoloration over the years.
It is okay to wash the patio using a gentle, sustainable detergent that contains no bleaches or acids that can create a reaction.
Conclusion
Patio Slabs play a massive role in our house’s complete look. It can either make your house look clean, extravagant, or fresh. While it is inevitable for them to fade and create a discoloration over time, you should be able to resolve that through this article. Now to end, we hope that we answered your question: Do Patio Slabs Change Color?
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