chamfered block paving moss

Removing Block Paving Moss From My Driveway

Introduction

I recently spent half a day removing block paving moss from my driveway. The paving, laid in 1993, has been cleaned more than once but moss soon grows under damp conditions.

Because the blocks have a chamfered edge there is a V shaped recess at the junction between blocks. This is a space where moss can grow, and boy does it grow. In this recess moss doesn’t get worn away by traffic (cars or feet).

Given a good wet period the moss swells in size until it sticks up above the blocks. Under those conditions it can become very slippery under foot giving me good reason to remove it. You can see it below.

You might ask why I’m only discussing moss and not regular weeds. That’s because I use weed killer during the spring and summer so I’m just left with moss in the autumn and winter.

Regular weed killers are not effective against moss. Moss killer turns it black but at some point the dead moss needs removing.

A Clean Area Of Paving

The featured image shows a mossy patch of block paving. By comparision here is an area of block paving under my car port which has always been relatively dry and has no moss:

chamfered block paving moss
Chamfered Blocks Without Moss

Removing The Block Paving Moss

The Tool I Used To Remove Block Paving Moss

At least two years ago I bought a tool to remove block paving moss and weeds. It works in the gaps between paving slabs too. The tool is a Veri-green Weed Sweeper N1C-100JS with a (230-240v) 140W motor. There are a variety of weed sweepers available under other brand names.

Here are some similar tools:

A safety lock off button prevents accidental operation of the mains switch. Press it before squeezing the switch to turn the weed sweeper ON.

chamfered block paving moss
Veri-green Weed Sweeper N1C-100JS

This Weed Sweeper comes with two types of brushes:

  1. chamfered block paving moss a steel wire brush,
  2. chamfered block paving moss a synthetic stiff-bristle brush.

I prefer the synthetic stiff-bristle brush, except that it wears down, it keeps its shape and seems very robust. The wire on wire brushes tends to bend and permanently change shape.

To change the brush: Unscrew a nut on the end of the motor shaft and lift it off. The brushes have a keyway to fit on a key on the shaft. The key arrangement stops them from slipping.

The Method I Used To Remove Block Paving Moss

I connected the Weed Sweeper via a suitable extension lead UNCOILED (although it’s only 140W.) (See my post UK 13 Amp Plug and Mains Extension Lead Safety Issues.)

The weed sweeper is designed to be held right or left handed with the rotating brush on the left and the steadying wheel on the right.

When looking at the brush end of the motor the brush is driven anti-clockwise which drags the brush forward in the channel/grove.

I think the designer expects the user to only push it forward with the rotating brush in the channel/groove to be cleared but that doesn’t give me the best result.

I like to push it forward 300mm and then drag it backwards whilst pushing it down into the groove. Dragging it backwards really digs the dirt out of the channels/groves.

My block paving has V shaped grooves formed along the block edges by the chamfers of adjacent blocks. On my herringbone pattern paving these grooves have blocks interrupting their path at regular intervals.

I can use the weed sweeper to clear along the edge of 1½ blocks. Then I have to lift it over a block before lowering it onto the next 1½ block section. (By ½ a block I mean the end of a block which is half the size of a block’s length.)

In the following diagram green highlights the horizontal grooves and blue highlights the vertical grooves. They are all 1½ blocks (300mm) long with a ½ block (100mm) gap before the next groove:

block paving moss
Herringbone paving where each groove is only 1½ blocks long.

Check out this video to see me in action:

The Duration Of The Work

Doing this cleaning work can be time consuming. Below you can see the result of 30 minutes work going continually in the same direction. The process is only efficient when done methodically. I do all the grooves in one direction then I change direction and do those at right angles in the same area.

block paving moss
Half completed driveway before sweeping the dirt away.

It took another half hour to clear this section of driveway of the block paving moss and sweep up the dirt. You will see small sections I have missed because I have a tendency to stick to the bad areas.

block paving moss
Completed section of driveway with the dirt swept up.

After cleaning, the correct process is to brush kiln dried sand into the gaps between the blocks. I find there are not many gaps. After so many years these blocks are filled more with soil than sand and it sticks in place after weeding with a weed sweeper.

Washing block paving with a jet-wash is more inclined to remove the sand from between the blocks. Then fresh sand is required or the blocks become loose, weed seeds can get deep down the gaps and the blocks can rattle when cars drive over them.

Further Advice

I’ve just described a particular method I used to remove moss and weeds from between paving blocks. If you want expert information you can read this article about Cleaning Paving from The Paving Expert.


END OF POST

Comments

8 responses to “Removing Block Paving Moss From My Driveway”

  1. frank carter avatar
    frank carter

    can i get replacement wheels for my gardenline weed sweeper? i am particularly interested in the synthetic stiff bristle type. the diameter of my wheel is approximately 7 cm, but i’m not sure there is an anti slip slot where it fits on to the shaft

    1. Helpful Colin avatar

      Hi Frank,
      I bought extra brushes soon after I bought my weed sweeper. I’d have to pay a visit to my shed to take a closer look to see how they are made regarding the hole in the middle. But I have found some on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Garden-Gear-Nylon-Brush-Steel/dp/B074DZ7BK2/
      and with a different contstruction at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/cleaner-brushes-Grizzly-Electric-Cleaner/dp/B00IZRJK74/
      and at: https://www.gardengearonline.co.uk/tools-and-equipment/accessories/set-of-spare-weed-sweeper-brushes
      If you don’t like these see what Google can offer for ‘electric weed sweeper brushes’.
      Regards, Colin.

  2. Toby avatar
    Toby

    Would a straight edged as opposed to chamfered edge brick reduce the moss build-up? Why are paving bricks chamfered?

    1. Helpful Colin avatar

      Hi Toby,
      Q. Would a straight edged as opposed to chamfered edge brick reduce the moss build-up?
      I personally say yes to this. The moss mainly builds up in the V shaped groove where two chamfered blocks are side by side. When I look at other types of paving without chamfered blocks and a very narrow gap between them I only see a little bit of moss in that small gap. When I look at my paving, laid 27 years ago, I realise chamfered blocks are to be avoided in the future. I have got some blocks with some moss clinging to their centre. This happens with concrete and stone after a long time. Then the moss needs killing because it won’t let go.
      Q. Why are paving bricks chamfered?
      The answer can be found at: http://www.pavingexpert.com/blocks03.htm Scroll down to “Chamfer: Big or small?”
      P.S. I’ve added another picture to my post showing how bad the moss has got in some places since we’ve had all this winter’s rain.

      1. Toby avatar
        Toby

        Much obliged Sir.

  3. Tom avatar
    Tom

    nt:
    Is the Veri-green Weed Sweeper N1C-100JS or other similar weed sweeper available with a vacuum attachment?

    1. Helpful Colin avatar

      Hi Tom,
      When I wrote my post and since, when I found the links to some I referred to were no longer valid and had to be changed, I never came across any so sophisticated that they had a vacuum attachment. I always thought sweeping up the debris with a brush and dustpan was the expected method of cleaning up.
      If there are any with vacuum attachments I’m sure a thorough internet search will find them.
      Regards, Colin.

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