As the summer heat intensifies in Northern California, homeowners often wonder how to keep their outdoor pavers cool and comfortable. At Viking Pavers, we understand the importance of creating a pleasant outdoor environment. In this article, we will share valuable tips to help you maintain cooler pavers during the scorching summer months.
Choose Light-Colored Pavers
When selecting pavers for your outdoor spaces, opt for lighter-colored varieties. Light-colored pavers reflect more sunlight and heat compared to darker ones. Lighter hues, such as beige, cream, or gray, absorb less heat, helping to keep the surface temperature of your pavers lower. By choosing light-colored pavers, you create a cooler and more comfortable outdoor area for your family and guests.
Install Permeable Pavers
Consider installing permeable pavers for your outdoor surfaces. Permeable pavers are designed with a unique joint pattern that allows water to seep into the ground, reducing surface temperature. The water infiltration helps to naturally cool the pavers, mitigating the heat absorption. Additionally, permeable pavers promote better drainage, preventing water accumulation and potential heat buildup during summer rainstorms.
Provide Adequate Shade
Strategically incorporate shade elements into your outdoor space to shield the pavers from direct sunlight. Planting shade trees or installing retractable awnings, pergolas, or shade sails can create comfortable spots that protect your pavers from excessive heat. The shade elements not only keep the pavers cooler but also provide a refreshing ambiance for relaxation and outdoor activities during the summer.
Use Cool Jointing Materials
The jointing material used between the pavers can affect their surface temperature. Consider using cool jointing materials, such as polymeric sand or light-colored gravel, which reflect heat and help dissipate it. These materials can reduce heat absorption and keep the pavers cooler underfoot, even on the hottest days. Consult with Viking Pavers to determine the most suitable jointing material for your specific paver installation.
Regularly Clean and Maintain the Pavers
Proper maintenance of your pavers contributes to their overall heat management. Regularly cleaning the pavers and removing debris and dirt helps prevent heat buildup. Accrued debris can act as an insulator, trapping heat and making the pavers hotter. Additionally, scheduled maintenance, including resealing the pavers, can help protect them from UV rays and heat-related damage, prolonging their lifespan and ensuring they remain cooler.
At Viking Pavers, we believe that enjoying your outdoor spaces during the summer should not be hindered by scorching hot pavers. By implementing these tips, you can help keep your pavers cool and comfortable throughout the season. Choosing light-colored pavers, opting for permeable surfaces, incorporating shade elements, using cool jointing materials, and maintaining the pavers regularly will make a significant difference in their temperature. If you’re planning a paver installation or seeking expert advice, reach out to Viking Pavers, Northern California’s leading paver installer. Our experienced team is dedicated to creating outdoor spaces that are beautiful, functional, and enjoyable, even on the hottest summer days.
FAQs
Combine the choice of light colors with a permeable paver for added cooling benefits. Permeable pavers can lower surface temperatures through evaporative cooling. They are designed with special spacer bars that allow air, water, and water vapor into the voids, keeping the material cool when wet.
How to reduce heat from pavers? ›
Combine the choice of light colors with a permeable paver for added cooling benefits. Permeable pavers can lower surface temperatures through evaporative cooling. They are designed with special spacer bars that allow air, water, and water vapor into the voids, keeping the material cool when wet.
How to keep pool pavers cool? ›
Use Light-Coloured Materials
Opt for lighter colours like Porcea Aura White and Porcea Coast when purchasing porcelain tiles. In comparison to darker shades, lighter-coloured outdoor pavers will not absorb as much heat from the sun. Hence, they tend to stay cooler.
What pavers stay cool in the sun? ›
Travertine is also resistant to high temperatures and UV radiation, making it an excellent choice for areas with intense sunlight. Let's know a little bit more about Travertine pavers and tiles: Travertine pavers have a natural ability to resist heat and stay cool underfoot, even in hot weather.
What are the best pavers to keep cool? ›
One kind of natural stone, Travertine, stays 20-30% cooler than its other counterparts. The porous nature of Travertine allows it to hold onto moisture for longer, creating a much cooler and heat-resistant surface. If you're looking for beautiful pavers that stay cool, these heat resistant pavers are your best choice!
How to make pavers cooler? ›
Consider using cool jointing materials, such as polymeric sand or light-colored gravel, which reflect heat and help dissipate it. These materials can reduce heat absorption and keep the pavers cooler underfoot, even on the hottest days.
Why are my pavers so hot? ›
All surfaces get hotter when exposed to direct sunlight, and pavers are no exception. This occurs because they naturally absorb sunlight and thus become progressively warmer throughout the day. The only question is whether they will heat up enough to make it uncomfortable to stand on them.
How can I make my patio less hot? ›
Make sure your patio has shade. Shade trees are your best option. Since it's not easy to instantly get a large shade tree for your patio, consider other options such as an awning or pergola. Even patio umbrellas can make a big difference in the temperature on your patio.
What kind of pavers don't get hot? ›
Known as the king of pool decks, travertine pavers are the pool pavers that don't get hot.
How do I keep my concrete patio cool in the summer? ›
- Types of Fans You Can Add to Your Outdoors. Fans are a classic solution to help lower the temperature on a hot summer day. ...
- Evaporative Coolers. ...
- Mist Away the Heat With Patio Misters. ...
- Shade Your Patio or Deck. ...
- Block the Heat with Outdoor Curtains or Drapes.
All pavers get hot, there's no way around it. Some, however, can get unbearably hot. That's not the case for concrete. Sure, it will get warm to the point of slight discomfort on very sunny days, but they are one of the coolest materials you can use.
What is best to put under pavers? ›
Stone aggregate comes in a variety of sizes, but most experts recommend 3/4-inch gravel for paver bases. Crushed stone makes a solid paver base because it allows water drainage and is easy to work with. Like sand, crushed stone comes in several varieties.
What is best to put in between pavers? ›
Polymeric sand is a material used to fill paver joints, the empty spaces found between each paver, tile or natural stone. It is sometimes called jointing sand, paver sand or hardscape sand. Jointing sand is made up of fine grains, to which manufacturers add a mixture of specific additive particles.
How do you stop bricks from absorbing heat? ›
Block Sunlight: Awnings and external claddings prevent sunlight from reaching heat-absorbing bricks. Lighter-colored bricks and paints reflect sunlight and help limit heat transfer. Install Reflective Roofing Materials: Replace dark tiles or shingles with metal and reflective coatings.
How do you make concrete absorb less heat? ›
Using cementitious materi- als, such as fly ash, silica fume, or nat- ural pozzolans, to augment portland cement can reduce the temperature rise in concrete while meeting strength and durability requirements. Reducing the aggregate tempera- ture provides the greatest reduction in concrete temperature.
As the summer heat intensifies in Northern California, homeowners often wonder how to keep their outdoor pavers cool and comfortable. At Viking Pavers, we understand the importance of creating a pleasant outdoor environment. In this article, we will share valuable tips to help you maintain cooler pavers during the scorching summer months.