As the weather starts to get warmer, the ice begins to melt, the rain starts to fall and the calendar flips to April, spring begins to emerge. Spring, and all the sunshine and bloom that accompany it, will soon be in the air in Kansas City.
For the outdoorsy type of person, this is long overdue as they’ve been waiting for spring so they can comfortably lounge outside on their patio with friends and family. But before you can do that, you should do some basic patio prep. Winter may have done a number on your patio, and before using it in the spring, you should make sure it’s ready.
Clean your patio
All these directions are for people with stone or concrete patios, not wooden decks or wooden patios. The first order of business in getting your patio ready for spring is to clean it. You should begin by sweeping away any loose debris like twigs, leaves, dirt or sticks.
What you do next can depend on the condition of your patio. If there is substantial growth of algae and mildew on or between the stones, using a power washer to clean it would be your best bet. If it doesn’t look too bad or you don’t want to deal with the hassle of a pressure washer, you can create a cleaning solution that consists of ½ cup baking soda to one gallon of water and 1/8 cup of liquid dish detergent. Spray that mixture on the surface of the patio, let it sit for 30 minutes, then scrub it with a stiff-bristled brush and rinse it away when you’re done.
Inspect your patio
Having cleaned your patio, the next step is to inspect it. You should look very closely at the individual stones to see if there are any cracks or chips. It’s possible that the ice could have damaged your patio’s stones over the winter as well, so look for any widened cracks that could have grown due to the freeze/thaw cycle ice goes through. Should you find any breaks, be sure to patch them up before your patio has to be able to handle the increased foot traffic of spring.
Seal your patio
After completing the above two steps, you should consider one of the most important steps in patio prep in Kansas City: applying sealant. A sealant is a nice way to prolong the life of your patio, and can be applied every three to five years. If you seal your patio this year, it will make next year’s cleaning process much less of a hassle.
Break out your patio furniture
Hopefully you brought your patio furniture inside before the frigid temperatures of winter struck. Whether it’s in the basement, garage or a storage unit, you can now take out your spring patio furniture. Even though it was indoors, you should still check your patio furniture for any cracks, rust or grime, and take the appropriate maintenance steps if you find any of these issues.
Call the patio pros at MSE Hardscape Design and Installation
If you find damage that you aren’t equipped to deal with during your patio inspection, give MSE Hardscape Design and Installation a call. We’ll make sure your patio is strong, safe and beautiful, because there’s nothing better than relaxing on your patio in the spring in Kansas City!