Maintaining your Investment
Keeping your hardscape/softscape protected for the longterm.
At Mindful Construction, we take pride in our work and believe it's important to guide our clients in maintaining their yards. Proper care ensures the longevity of our products, helping them stay in like-new condition for as long as possible. Some manufacturers may have specific guidelines per their specific products so please refer to your manufacturer’s recommendations directly in addition to our helpful guide.
Turf:
In general, you should brush, blow off, or rake your artificial turf to remove any fallen leaves, branches, and other organic debris at least once a month. Depending on your surroundings and the time of year, you may need to do this more frequently. Using a power broom, push broom, rake, or leaf blower will do. Some manufacturers will recommend purchasing their specific tools but we have found that your general tools you probably already have will work just fine. Just be sure to use a dedicated broom, not used in a garage or where oil may be, to avoid transferring that to your turf. About once a quarter, be sure to brush your turf with a push broom, against the grain, to help stabilize the fibers and also remove dirt and debris that may have gotten in there.
Avoid using any chemicals to clean your turf. Water alone, or with a mild soap or vinegar, can clean off any spills. Make sure to clean up any messes as soon as you can, as the longer they sit the more likely they can stain.
Regularly picking up solid pet waste is highly recommended. We recommend rinsing your turf weekly to help keep it smelling odor free. There are products that can help with any odors - refer to your manufacturer.
Keep in mind, during very hot summer days, your turf may become hotter than usual. Unlike real grass, it lacks moisture content and can heat up significantly. Please be cautious with children playing on it.
Additionally, tree sap and chewing gum can sometimes get stuck in artificial turf. Fortunately, they are relatively easy to remove. You can use dry ice or aerosol refrigerants to freeze the sap or gum, allowing it to be easily scraped off the grass.
Pavers:
Pavers are very sturdy construction but in order to maintain their appearance longterm, it is recommended to take extra care.
Clean and reseal your pavers every three to five years. This will protect their surface and keep them looking brand new. Avoid doing it more than once in 3 years as too much sealant can create a surface on the pavers that can change color overtime.
Once a year, after the winter season has passed, clean your pavers with a coarse bristle broom and a paver cleaner.
If weeds show themselves, they can move your pavers apart over time. Be sure to remove them as soon as they surface to avoid this movement. Applying a manufacturer approved weed preventative regularly should be part of your maintenance regime.
In general, pressure washing is okay, however be extra careful as you don’t want to expose any of the aggregate underneath the paver’s surface.
After installation, wait at least 30 days to seal the pavers. During this time, it’s possible that the pavers may show some efflorescence. Efflorescence is a white haze that may appear on the surface of the pavers - more pronounced on darker colors. This is a natural process that occurs on all cement based products which is typically corrected over time and exposure to the natural elements. There are cleaners available that can remove the efflorescence but make sure it’s approved for your pavers prior to applying.
Cleaning your pavers may change or enhance the color. We recommend testing any cleaner in a less prominent place first to ensure you like the results - and follow the directions on the label!
Oil spills can happen and your first thought may be to rub it away - DON’T! Any oil spills should be soaked up right away with a granular oil absorbent. If you don’t have it available, baking soda or kitty litter will work.
Polymeric sand is used to fill in the space between pavers. Depending how close or far away your pavers are from each other you may have more or less sand. Keeping the sand topped off will prevent the layer below the pavers from lessening which can cause the pavers to shift.
Plants & Trees/Softscape
The biggest success for your plants is staying on top of the water! Regularly check that your watering timers are set correctly. Always check this prior to leaving on vacation, upon your return, and after any power outages.
Regularly inspect your drip system. Does one of your plants look unhealthy or droopy? Make sure its drip line is working properly. Are there puddles in some places? One of the lines may be disconnected.
Adjust your watering time and frequency seasonally. As the weather warms up, your plants need more water. As it cools down, they need less.
Address invasive weeds as soon as you can. Staying on top of this will ensure your chosen plants and trees will thrive - without any competition.
Refer to your local county guidelines for more tips. Alameda County’s reference can be found at their website at https://www.acwd.org/376/Outdoor-Water-Saving-Tips
Concrete Curing Process FYI
There are several factors that influence the concrete curing process including outside temperature, humidity, depth of concrete, and size of the concrete. With that said, every client’s concrete curing time will be different.
In general, once the forms are removed (in about 1-4 days after pour), the concrete is safe to walk on. In about 1-2 weeks, vehicles are safe to drive on the concrete.
To be fully cured, concrete can take anywhere from 4 weeks to several months and in rare cases may take up to a year or 2.
Consult your MCI representative for an estimated curing time for your project.
