How to prepare your patio for wetter weather

As summer comes to an end, it’s worth giving your patio a little attention before the wetter weather arrives. More rain, fallen leaves, colder temperatures and shorter days can all take their toll on paving, making dirt and organic growth more noticeable.

A bit of preventative maintenance now can help keep your patio in good condition over winter and make things easier when spring comes around.

The right approach will depend on the type of paving you have. Different materials have different care requirements, so always check that any specialist cleaners, treatments or sealants are suitable for your paving. What works well for natural stone paving, for example, might not be suitable for porcelain paving, and vice versa.

That said, there are a few useful jobs that every patio can benefit from before autumn sets in. Here are five of our favourites, why they matter and how to tackle them.

1. Give your patio a thorough clean

A good clean is the best place to start. Over summer, it’s surprising how much dirt, dust and general garden debris can build up on a patio, especially underneath furniture, plant pots and anything else that hasn’t moved for a while.

So, start by clearing as much as you can off the patio and giving the whole area a good sweep. Pay particular attention to those hidden spots underneath pots and furniture, where leaves, soil and other organic matter tend to collect.

It’s worth clearing all of this away before the wetter weather arrives if you can. Once leaves and other debris get wet, they can sit against the paving for longer, potentially leaving stains behind and creating the damp conditions that moss and algae thrive in.

You don’t necessarily need anything heavy-duty to get most kinds of paving clean, either. For general dirt and grime, warm soapy water, a mild detergent and a stiff-bristled brush will go a long way. Give any stubborn areas a bit more attention, then rinse everything down with clean water.

If that isn’t quite enough, you can move on to a specialist paving cleaner. Just make sure you choose one that’s suitable for the material you’re working with and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you can, pick a dry day to do the main clean before autumn leaf fall gets into full swing. After that, it’s just a case of keeping on top of things as and when!

2. Check that water can drain away properly

Drainage probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you’re getting your patio ready for autumn, but once the heavier rain starts, you’ll soon notice if something isn’t quite right.

Start with the obvious places. Check any drains, gullies or drainage channels around the patio and clear out leaves, soil and anything else that could get in the way. It doesn’t take much debris to slow things down, especially once leaves start collecting later in the season.

It’s also worth seeing what happens when it actually rains. Your patio should have a slight fall that helps direct water towards a suitable drainage point, so take a look during or just after a decent downpour and see where the water goes.

A bit of surface water while it’s raining isn’t necessarily anything to worry about. What you’re looking for is water that keeps collecting in the same spot or hangs around long after the rest of the patio has drained. If that happens regularly, there’s usually a reason for it. You might just have a blocked drain or channel that needs clearing, or there could be an issue with how water is draining from that particular area.

Once you’ve checked everything is flowing as it should, keep an eye on it as autumn progresses. Leaves have a habit of finding their way into drains and channels, so clearing them out every so often can save you from dealing with bigger puddles later on.

3. Inspect the paving and pointing

Once the patio is clean, you’ll have a much better view of the paving and joints, so use the opportunity to check for any obvious problems. Walk across the patio and look for slabs that rock or move underfoot, cracks that have opened up in the paving, and pointing that is loose, crumbling or missing altogether.

Pay particular attention to the joints. Small surface cracks aren’t always a cause for concern, but if the pointing has broken away and left an open joint, it gives water, dirt and debris somewhere to collect. Weeds can also start to pop up in these gaps, which is another good reason to repair failed pointing rather than leaving it until next year. 

Cracked paving needs a little more consideration. A small chip on the edge of a slab is very different from a crack running through the stone. If a slab is badly cracked, has become unstable or is starting to break apart, replacing it is usually the better option than trying to disguise the damage with a temporary repair.

If a slab rocks when you step on it, don’t automatically reach for the pointing. The joint material isn’t there to hold a loose slab in place, and filling around it is unlikely to fix whatever is causing the movement. The slab may need to be lifted so the bedding underneath can be checked and the underlying problem put right.

You don’t need to repair every small mark you find. The main thing is to pick up on loose paving, failed joints and more significant damage while the conditions are still relatively workable, rather than discovering them once the worst of the weather has kicked in.

4. Think about what you’re leaving on the patio

September can be surprisingly mild, so there’s no need to pack away your garden furniture while you’re still getting use out of it. But once temperatures start to drop and those afternoons outside become few and far between, it’s probably time to put it away for winter.

Storing furniture somewhere dry and sheltered helps protect it from months of rain, frost and cold weather, keeping it in better condition for next year. It’s better for your patio too. Furniture left in the same spot can trap moisture underneath, while leaves and dirt collect in areas you might not notice, creating ideal conditions for algae and staining.

When you’re ready to call time on the outdoor season, give your furniture a clean, let it dry and store it somewhere sheltered if you can. If larger pieces need to stay outside, move them every so often to sweep underneath and let the paving dry.

5. Keep on top of fallen leaves and garden debris

Autumn inevitably means more leaves, twigs and general garden debris finding their way onto the patio. There’s no need to rush out with a broom every time something lands, but it is worth clearing things away once you start to notice them building up.

The main problem comes when leaves, grass clippings and other garden debris get wet and sit on the paving for too long. As they start to break down, they can leave behind stubborn stains that aren’t always easy to remove, particularly from lighter-coloured paving. Even a few marks can really stand out and spoil the look of an otherwise beautiful patio.

Wet debris can also become surprisingly slippery underfoot, which is the last thing you want when you’re carrying the bins out or walking across the patio on a dark winter evening.

Getting your patio ready for autumn and winter

You don’t need to keep the patio spotless all winter. A quick sweep every so often to clear leaves, sticks, grass and anything else that’s accumulated should help prevent staining and make that first proper clean in spring a lot easier.

And remember, these are general tips. We’ve been working with paving for over 30 years, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that different materials need looking after in different ways. Indian sandstone paving, Yorkstone and porcelain paving all have their own characteristics, so what’s right for one patio won’t necessarily be right for another.

If you’re unsure about a cleaner, sealant or how best to tackle a particular problem, just ask us. Give our team a call on 01282 860571 or email salesoffice@stonepaving.co.uk  and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction!