New paving stones and...

The beauty of newly laid paving stones gives great visual satisfaction to their owner. Unfortunately, that attractiveness of new paving stones vanishes over time in favor of problems with durability and aesthetics. But should it be like this?

 

...Efflorescence,...

After paving stones are laid out, sooner or later natural chemical processes will start, occurring inside, as well as on the surface of our paving stones. The most common chemical reaction is the occurrence of white efflorescence on the surface, the so-called lime salts.

 

They are a very characteristic phenomenon of the majority of porous materials, especially those materials that are exposed to changeable hygrothermal conditions. If porous material contains water-soluble compounds, it is very likely that we will have to deal with formation of efflorescence. The mechanism for formation of efflorescence is strictly connected with transport of salts solved in water (porous fluid) onto the surface of porous material, where water evaporates and crystallization of salts occurs. Such mechanism, unfortunately, occurs very often in paving stones.

...Sun, Rain, Frost,...

Another phenomenon typical of paving stones is their vulnerability to damage arising from the process of regular freezing and defrosting of the surface soaked in water, especially when such a process includes application of de-icing salts.
Strong sunlight exposes paving stones to detrimental UV radiation. After some time, it causes paving stones lose color, leaving them faded and dull.
Rain slowly, yet efficiently, washes out both the material of paving stones, as well as sand from gaps between individual stones. It leads to noticeable loss of visual features of paving stones, as well as lowers their mechanical resistance.

...Dirt?

Unfortunately, we damage our own paving stones as the users. For instance, with car tires, spilled fluids, or strong chemical agents, such as detergents. Apart from that, we get "support" from biological contamination from the outside, just like bird droppings that may strongly affect the surface of paving stones.

What's next?

Most problems related to paving stones may be successfully avoided. A perfect solution is to use the professional protection product like HEKOL® ExtraBruk. The impregnation, designed and created by HEKO, used for paving stones, has been based on verified and well-recognized production technologies of specialist impregnation used for preservation and protection of architecture and works of art.

HEKOL® ExtraBruk is a colorless agent, fully based on synthetics (without water), and, what is very important, it is a single-layered agent.

HEKOL ExtraBruk perfectly secures paving stones on their surface, creating a protective coating against harmful weather conditions, as well as against mechanical damage, abrasion, dirt, and stains. Additionally, together with the protective coating, there is also a desirable visual effect of the so-called "wet stone". The natural color of paving stones becomes highlighted, more vivid, the surface gains on gloss, stones look like new. This comprehensive preparation also provides protection for additional elements such as: edges, throughs, pedestals, etc. It makes the sand filling gaps between paving stones bound and secured just like the stones.

Application of the product by HEKO allows full closure of micro-channels that are responsible for formation of numerous efflorescence on the surface of paving stones. Formation of efflorescence is a natural phenomenon and it very often vanishes after some time. However, that happens only in the case of places with high traffic - e.g. parking lots near commercial facilities. Near houses or workshops, where the traffic is small, efflorescence seems to be a frequent problem. That is why, in such places, HEKOL® ExtraBruk is irreplaceable.

HEKOL ExtraBruk soaks into impregnated material very well. It penetrates all the micro-channels in order to guarantee excellent hydrophobic properties. As a result, impregnated paving stones are waterproof, so that they are protected against great damage caused by regular processes of freezing and defrosting in winter.

The impregnation also forms a barrier for water. Water will remain on the surface in form of easily noticeable drops. That is why one may no longer be afraid of soaked paving stones or sand washed out from the gaps.

The hydrophobic properties of the preparation guarantee that keeping paving stones clean is very easy, since possible contamination in form of oil stains, car liquids, or even paint may be removed with ease, without leaving any marks.

Thanks to its unique chemical composition, it is also fully resistant to harmful UV radiation.

HEKOL ExtraBruk applied on paving stones will increase its grip and that means safety on rainy days or in winter. Such grip, however, does not prevent dirt from sticking to the surface, it performs quite contrarily. We all know that tires of our cars undergo constant abrasion. Due to the fact that they are made of rubber and carbon black, tires greatly affect our paving stones. The properties of the preparation HEKOL® ExtraBruk allow full protection of our concrete paving stones against such factors like rubber and carbon black. Impregnated surface may be cleaned easily even when there are tire marks. All you need to do is to clean it with a stiff brush in order to remove black residue. The situation is similar in case of any other contamination of paving stones. Thanks to the protective coating created on the impregnated surface, keeping it clean is very easy. Usually, it can be done by simply washing paving stones down with water or by using a pressure washer.

It is the one of a kind product that is based on the unique, original formula created by HEKO.