Over 60% of new homes include a patio. It’s easy to see why: a patio is an excellent place for your family to relax when the weather is nice. Whether hosting a cookout or just enjoying the sun, it helps to have a patio.

Patios present a few potential problems; nobody wants to relax on a dirty patio, and a damaged patio floor can be expensive to repair or replace.

If your home has a patio, you need to know how to maintain a patio floor. You can avoid headaches like grout stains and broken patio tiles. Read on to learn three ways to protect your patio floor.

1. Seal Your Tiles

The first step toward perfect patio floor protection is to seal your patio tiles. Sealant is key to protecting your outdoor tiles; it creates a protective shield around your patio, keeping harmful material out.

Dirt, water, and even chemicals can seep into your patio and cause long-lasting damage. A proper sealant protects your patio floor. Sealants can also prevent harm from ultraviolet radiation.

Your patio’s material is an important consideration when choosing a sealant—not all sealants are effective for all materials.

Sealants provide aesthetic benefits, too; for instance, wet look tile sealer can give your patio an elegant shine even in dry conditions.

2. Provide Cover

The easiest way to protect a patio floor is to keep it covered. Even after applying sealant, you should minimize your patio’s exposure to the elements; overhead cover, like pergolas and awnings, can help.

This kind of cover helps protect your furniture, too—you don’t want your patio chairs to get soaked if there’s an unexpected storm!

Speaking of patio furniture, you need to consider how it affects your sealant. Moving furniture across your patio can scratch away sealant, leaving your patio vulnerable to the elements.

Floor coverings are a great way to avoid this; spruce up your patio with a rug to add some visual flair and an extra layer of protection!

3. Keep It Clean

Last but not least, maintenance is crucial for patio protection. If you want to protect your patio, you need to clean and inspect it regularly so that problems don’t have a chance to develop or worsen.

Sweeping is the first step to cleaning your tiles. Use a soft broom to avoid scratching your sealant.

Once you’ve swept the area clean, gently scrub the patio down with warm water. Avoid harsh cleaning chemicals—those can damage your sealant as well. Try the Saniglaze cleaning method as well. The difficulties in maintaining stained and unsanitary tile and grout surfaces are removed by this kind of cleaning procedure. This multi-step procedure not only brings back the attractiveness of tile and grout surfaces.

Protect Your Patio Floor

Your patio floor should be a safe, inviting place for your family and guests. Grimy or broken floor tiles are unappealing and dangerous, but you won’t have to worry about them now that you know how to protect patio tiles.

Why not continue your home repair streak once you’ve fixed up your patio? Visit our home improvement blog for advice on do-it-yourself projects big and small that can help you maintain and upgrade your house!