Concrete slabs are often used for paving sidewalks and decorating private living areas (e.g., house yards, garden paths). Despite the practicality of the material, its resistance to external factors, pavers fade away. It is a natural process that is difficult to prevent but can be slowed down with proper and timely maintenance. Let's find out the main factors affecting fading bricks’ color and discuss effective ways of caring for such a coating and its original shades retaining.

The process of pavers’ losing color

Have you noticed that your pavers lost color? This problem is extremely widespread. Hence, to date, the preconditions for the birth of a separate industry of services aimed at the original color styling restore. Today, both individuals and legal entities are highly interested in this service (coverings’ care in businesses and homes).

Changing the shade of building material is already a common problem. In particular, it applies to paving slabs, facade cladding, and other concrete structures. According to the nature of the origin, there is a primary fading (in the process of concrete mass’ hardening) and a secondary (loss of color with the material use and external factors’ impact).

Experts report that the process of color fading in concrete paving stones is extremely simple and is mainly caused by the nuances of manufacturing steps. Modern manufacturers actively apply additional dry pigments in concrete, sand, and water, which are further used to create bricks. This pigment is similar in consistency to ordinary flour. That is why the new brick has a bright, rich color, and after a while, dims (fine pigment added during the materials mixing, gradually washes out from its surface). It has been observed that the first changes in color saturation can be noticed after the concrete surface’s first year of operation.

Factors influencing the pavers fade away

Note that the paver color change is an irreversible process. You have the power to slow it down or temporarily suspend it by providing the coating with quality and competent care. What exactly are the factors that cause activewear and tear and the resulting loss of color saturation? These are:

• constant contact with people's shoes (especially in high-traffic areas, pavers simply abrasion and dulling);

• frequent and intensive washing of the coating with streams of water under high pressure (this process exposes stone and aggregate present in the concrete brick, which deprives it of bright color)

• accidental or intentional exposure to aggressive chemicals;

• permanent sunlight exposure;

• exposure to wind and frequent changes in air temperature.

How to care for pavers to save their appearance?

As you have already realized, the process of fading of the paving material is inevitable. Nevertheless, you can use a few tips to freshen up the paving look. So how to recolor pavers in the most efficient way? Specialists suggest using water-based or oil-based stains. Then, periodically coat the masonry with them to refresh its appearance and make the color more saturated.

Sealing is one more solution, proven to be quite effective and workable. It can be colorless, or have a rich dark color. Give preference to the best shade, depending on your wishes for the final tone of the coating. Colorless sealant will not significantly change the current color of your tile, but it will provide reliable protection from a number of destructive external factors, which is also important. Dark sealant, in addition to its protective properties, will give your coating an updated, more saturated color. The compositions of water dispersions of acrylates are also well-proven. Their periodic application helps to delay the appearance of discoloration slightly.

How to restore faded pavers for a long time? All of the suggested methods work, but only temporarily. To maintain an attractive color, you will need to repeat them quite regularly. To avoid wasting time and effort on maintaining the desired color, experts advise giving preference to the traditional clay paving bricks. Such material does not change its color throughout the life cycle and looks extremely presentable even after many exploitation years.

When choosing concrete products for paving roads and sidewalks, preference should be given to solutions with minimal water permeability and porosity. In addition, manufacturers must be careful to protect future pavers from access to moisture, especially during curing and subsequent exposure.

In order to prevent pavers from fading away, the risk factors should be taken into account, and care tactics should be selected accordingly. The sealing method has proven to be the most effective solution to the problem of original shade fading. Use it periodically, and your coatings will always be attractive.