How to Protect Paving from Damage?

During renovation or construction work, heavy machinery and equipment are often used, putting significant pressure on the surface and potentially damaging existing paving. Ground protection mats are an effective solution to safeguard areas paved with cobblestones or stone slabs from forklift traffic, heavy machinery, and cranes. They play a key role in protecting sensitive surfaces during construction.

What Factors Contribute to Paving Surface Degradation?

Several factors can lead to damage to hard surfaces, including:

• Moisture

• Temperature fluctuations

• Soil stress, causing displacement or deformation

• Heavy loads (such as construction equipment, high pedestrian traffic, or renovation work)

• Regular wear and tear

• Poor-quality materials

• Moisture infiltration, which can cause paving to sink

Block Paving Sealant – Why It Matters

Sealing paving blocks is not a complicated process. It involves refreshing the surface and protecting it against efflorescence (white residue), fading, or stains. It's also a hydrophobic treatment that forms a protective barrier.

Step-by-Step Guide to Sealing Block Paving:

1. Remove large stones and debris.

2. Clean the surface from dust and dirt, including plant roots, before applying the sealant.

3. Use a pressure washer to effectively remove grime. Wait until the surface is completely dry — avoid sealing wet paving. At around 20°C, drying time is approximately 24 hours.

4. If the paving has white lime deposits, moss, or lichens that discolour the surface, use biocides or dedicated paving cleaners.

5. Once the paving is clean and dry, apply the sealant using a long-nap roller. Dip it in the product and apply like paint.

6. Alternatively, use a spray method with special grit sprayers for even application.

Choosing the Right Paving Sealant

To protect your paving, it’s essential to choose the right sealant. Ask yourself: What effect do I want to achieve? Popular options include water-acrylic-based sealants, silane-, silicone-, or butanol-based solutions. Polymer-based sealants also provide excellent protection. The best sealants should offer oleophobic and hydrophobic properties, limit algae or mould growth, allow the paving to breathe, and penetrate the surface deeply.

Clear Sealants

If you want to preserve the natural look of your paving, choose a clear sealant. If the paving has discoloured due to prolonged UV exposure, consider a tinted sealant instead. A coloured sealant serves two purposes: it restores a rich, natural hue and protects the paving against external elements (like water absorption, oil stains, and fading), as well as mould growth.

Wet Look Sealants

Wet-look paving sealers are stronger in effect and ideal for faded surfaces. When applied to a clean surface, they enhance colour vibrancy. They’re suitable for new paving as well (check the manufacturing date). Sealing improves the surface’s resistance to erosion, frost, and ice. It also makes snow removal easier later on. Instead of salt, consider using sand or magnesium chloride for de-icing. Opened sealants can be stored at 5–30°C for about 18 months or as per the product label.

Ground Protection Mats

How to Prevent Paving Damage – A Reliable Solution

While sealing prevents colour fading, at Power Rubber, we recommend a more robust solution for protecting paving surfaces: high-quality ground protection mats. These are ideal for renovations, temporary access roads on construction sites, landscape projects, and more.

Ground protection mats prevent damage to sensitive surfaces like paving stones and concrete, enable the smooth movement of heavy equipment, reduce mud accumulation under vehicle wheels, and help protect heritage pavements and subsoil. They’re perfect for stabilising the ground for temporary roads, paths, driveways, and parking areas. With no sharp vertical edges, they’re tyre-friendly.

How Do Ground Protection Mats Work?

Ground mats act as a barrier between heavy vehicles and the surface. Power Rubber offers a wide range of mats designed to distribute weight evenly, reducing the risk of damage to paving.

Used across transport, construction, and civil engineering sectors, they serve as temporary roads for cars, lorries, cranes, and construction vehicles. They ensure safe access for vehicles and pedestrians during building, renovation, and maintenance work. Their modular nature allows easy adaptation to changing site needs.

Ground Protection Mats – Key Features

Here are some of the standout properties of our road mats:

• Flexibility – adapts to the surface

• Weather and UV resistance

• Frost resistance

• Easy to clean

• Corrosion and rot resistance

• Damage resistance – withstands cracking and breaking

• High abrasion resistance

• Lightweight design

• High load-bearing capacity

• Sound insulation

• Anti-slip surface texture

• Simple to transport and install

Versatile Applications of Ground Mats

Ground protection mats are ideal for reinforcing and protecting surfaces such as paving, concrete, or grass. They’re suitable for both short- and long-term projects, supporting heavy vehicles and foot traffic. Special anti-slip designs improve grip and reduce the risk of lateral sliding.

Examples of typical applications include:

• Renovation projects (e.g. protecting heritage pavements)

• Construction contractors

• Gardeners and landscape designers

• Event organisers (festivals, fairs, outdoor events)

• Access routes for Renewable Energy sites (e.g. solar farms)

• Demolition works

• Landscaping and small architectural projects

Innovative Ground Protection Mats Available at Power Rubber

At Power Rubber, we supply premium-quality ground mats suitable for:

• Temporary access roads

• Parking construction

• Surface reinforcement

• Renovation and building projects

Our rubber mats are engineered to withstand even the most demanding use cases.

Benefits of Our Ground Mats:

• User-friendly – lightweight and easy to handle; quick to install and remove

• Eco-friendly – fully recyclable materials

• Versatile – ideal for temporary roads, driveways, walkways, or equipment pads

• Anti-slip design – ensures excellent grip

• Durability – handles heavy traffic and frequent use

• Weather resistance – robust under varying climate conditions

• Mechanical durability – highly resistant to abrasion, friction, bending, and cracking

• Modular system – easily extendable with special connectors

• Noise reduction – reduces disruptive noise from vehicle traffic

• Aesthetic design – enhances visual appeal, important for heritage renovation work

• Cost-effective – reusable over multiple projects

Our mats form a stable surface, resistant to warping or bending over time. Their low weight is a major advantage, and installation doesn’t require specialist equipment. Available in various sizes and thicknesses, depending on application.

We are committed to customer satisfaction!

To learn more, feel free to contact us by phone at +48 22 292 40 24 or +48 50 516 03 03, or via email at Power@PowerRubber.com, or through our contact form.