Shellstone/Travertine pool deck - weeds and algae

[tradewinds]

What is everyone using to keep their shellstone/travertine deck free of joint weeds and joint/surface algae without damaging the deck?

My deck (majority not on concrete base) is on crushed road base and sand. Not sure grouting is a solution given this so may just need to treat and wash but not sure other what the best substance to use would be to control these two issues.

 

[kimkats]

My husband has been having GREAT luck using a vinegar solution for killing weeds: 1 gallon of white vinegar, 1 cup of salt, 1 Tablespoon of dish soap.

 

[tradewinds]

My husband has been having GREAT luck using a vinegar solution for killing weeds: 1 gallon of white vinegar, 1 cup of salt, 1 Tablespoon of dish soap.

Interesting. How long has he used that solution on this type of material?

 

[Katodude]

Weeds are easy. I just pull them or use Roundup.

For algae a light pressure wash and the some bleach.

BTW. I grouted my travertine (crushed base as well). It took care of 95% of these issues. It eventually will crack and give way and I have had to redo sections. But overall still very happy I did it.

 

[tradewinds]

So round up and bleach causes no damage? What mix ratio?

Weeds are easy. I just pull them or use Roundup.

For algae a light pressure wash and the some bleach.

BTW. I grouted my travertine (crushed base as well). It took care of 95% of these issues. It eventually will crack and give way and I have had to redo sections. But overall still very happy I did it.

 

[Katodude]

Sorry, I dont mix them.

I keep a 1 gallon pump sprayer with a Glyphosate (generic roundup) on hand. 4oz per concentrate per gallon of water. Every now and then I walk around and hit whatever weeds are around. It pretty much limited to spurge.

The algae is a different story. I keep a different 1 gallon pump sprayer that I fill with bleach (the bleach eventually destroys the sprayers). I walk around with a battery powered pressure washer to knock off the algae. Then I go around and spray it with the bleach.

The places where the algae is really bad I will go and grout. The algae needs the cracks to grow in and the grout prevents that. Even if the grout cracks a little (which it will do) the algae will not grow in it as well.

 

[tradewinds]

So, has the pavers suffer any damages from this?

 

[Katodude]

Damage from what?

The grout if anything makes them stronger. It also fills the little holes (and some not so little). Helps keep it cleaner. Roundup wont do any damage to them. The bleach goes between the cracks and gets hosed off in about an hour or so.

So, no damage.

 

[kimkats]

He has been doing the vinegar mix for about 2 yrs now with great success.

 

[Katodude]

I would not use vinegar on travertine. It’s acidic and travertine does not like that.

 

[tradewinds]

Any further products recommendations for algae? Reading jomax or oxi clean based or hydrogen peroxide based cleaners are best for shellstone/limestone?