Brick and Paving Guide

Instructions and Warnings - As referred to in West End Cement’s Terms & Conditions.

We always recommend doing research regarding the relevant SANS regulations as prescribed by SABS. We have put together a short Brick and Paving guide to assist our customers in taking care of their products after purchasing and to ensure that the customer makes the best choices prior to the installation thereof. 

Please note that there are more detailed guides to brick, block and paving installation and care available for free on the internet. Our guide is based on queries and complaints we have experienced over the years and we do not take responsibility for any damages caused by improper transport and/or installation of our products based on our/or our employee's recommendations. West End Cement Bricks (Pty) Ltd. does not undertake to supply any technical advice, and should it do so, it does not warrant the correctness thereof. 

PAVING & WALLING

Product

All products should be carefully inspected for defects or damage upon delivery and prior to being laid or fitted.

Product Information 

Within West End Cement, design and development of products is a continuing process, and product information is subject to change without notice. Accordingly, please check with West End Cement to ensure that the product information you have represents the most up-to-date product information.

Prior to Installation

It is good practice to sort products to ensure consistency of colour, texture, and dimensional tolerance.

Installation 

All products should be installed in accordance with an engineer’s specifications and with the applicable SABS standard (SANS 10400 Building Regulations, SANS 1200MJ Civil engineering: Segmented Paving). West End Cement does not undertake to supply any technical advice, and should it do so, it does not warrant the correctness thereof.

Colour & Texture

West End Cement produces paving and walling products with excellent density and durability. Products are manufactured using naturally occurring raw materials including aggregates, ash, pigments, and sand. Although every effort is taken to ensure consistency, inevitably due to the presence of these naturally extracted raw materials variations in colour, shade and texture can occur. Therefore, colours and textures illustrated in samples and marketing material are representations and should not be expected to be an exact match.

West End Cement recommends that packs are thoroughly mixed on site by drawing from a minimum of four pallets. This is of particular importance when installing single colours such as Plum, Black, Red, Tan or Grey.

We would always recommend that when purchasing products, especially in larger quantities, that they are all ordered and manufactured in one batch to reduce the chances of colour / shade or texture variation.

Please note that the colour of new products will inevitably vary compared to those which have been installed for a period of time as weathering does take place.

All colour illustrations in West End Cement’s brochures are as accurate as the printing process will allow. For a more accurate colour match please refer to actual product samples, which can be provided.

Staining

Some chemicals that are commonly used in gardens such as lawn feed containing Ferrous Sulphate can stain concrete products. Any chemicals that are spilt must be removed immediately by rinsing away with clean water. Please check the information on the instruction label of the container holding the chemical.

Moisture

Occasionally, after installation, some units may show variations in shade and have a patchy appearance. This is due to the varying amounts of moisture within the concrete and the ground. The drying out process of concrete continues on-site after installation. Given time and natural weathering, the capillaries within the surface of the concrete will gradually close and any patches will tone in with the surrounding area. This will not affect long-term performance.

Efflorescence

Efflorescence is a white crystalline deposit that occurs naturally on the surface of concrete materials. If it occurs, it may mask the colour of the product for a period of time, but tends to be washed away gradually by rain. West End Cement does not replace products with efflorescence. Packs of products which have had packaging removed should always be re-covered with appropriate packaging to prevent the occurrence of secondary efflorescence.

Surface Scratches

Minor scuffs or bruises may occur during delivery, movement onsite, and installation (for example, during any plate vibrating process). In West End Cement’s experience, these marks usually weather off through time.

To reduce the risk of surface scratches we strongly recommend the use of a vibrating plate with a rubber protective mat.

Ordering

To avoid waste, please ensure that your contractor accurately measures the area on site before ordering products. In West End Cement’s experience, dimensions taken from a project plan can vary significantly from the final layout.

Depending on the layout of the project, we recommend ordering an additional 2 - 5% of material to allow for cutting, detailing, wastage and on-site breakages.

Product Maintenance

Routine cleaning and maintenance is required to keep the overall appearance of products in pristine condition.

All concrete products can develop algae, lichen, and moss growths due to environmental conditions and may require cleaning. Areas adjacent to plant borders and trees may discolour from transfer of plant-life. West End Cement cannot accept responsibility for any of these conditions.

Laying multi-blend coloured paving blocks.

To achieve an even blend of colour when laying multi-blend paving blocks, flags and walling products, it is desirable to mix from 3 or 4 different pallets.

Queries & Complaints

All queries & complaints should be lodged by the customer in writing to West End Cement within ten (10) days of receipt of the goods. Please use sales1@westendcement.co.za.

No warranty is provided on B-grade (non-SABS) products, therefore claims will not be recognised if the invoice and delivery notes states that the product is a B-grade (non-SABS) product.

PAVING ONLY

Product Maintenance

Light coloured paving blocks emphasise tyre marks and oil spills on the driveway. Please note that these products will need more maintenance if overall appearance is to be maintained.

Initial Cleaning

When an area has just been paved, allow it to settle for a few days. After this, you may wish to lightly hose down the paving to remove any excess sand or dirt. The area should then be treated with a weed killer suppressant 2-3 times per year as required.

General Cleaning

Paving requires regular maintenance, including regular sweeping to prevent the build-up of debris. West End Cement recommends that paving is cleaned 2-3 times per year.

Do not use any cleaning products that contain any form of acid, for example chlorine, lemon juice, bleach, etc. Although the strength won't be affected, acidic chemicals could tarnish the appearance of the paving. For general cleaning of dirt and algae, vigorous brushing with a stiff yard brush with plenty of hot detergent solution (washing up liquid or non-bio washing powder), thoroughly rinsed with clean water, should suffice. Repeated treatment may be required for paved areas sited beneath trees or in permanent/near permanent shade.

A light power hose at medium pressure is generally all that is required to clean general dirt and grime. Any jointing material which is removed must be replaced. Do not use high pressure power washers as aggressive power-washing can damage the product surface. A trial area should be tested before large scale power washing takes place.

Moss, Lichen and Algae

Thick growths of moss or lichen must be removed first by scraping out the joints and then treating the area with a moss killer such as anti-moss paving cleaner. Anti-moss is designed to remove moss, lichens, and algae. It is best applied in dry weather. After being applied it will take a few days to be fully effective. Once the moss and lichens have been killed, they can easily be brushed off. Anti-moss also leaves a residue in the sand joint which will help reduce the likelihood of re-growth. The manufacturer’s instructions should always be followed when using any cleaning agent.

Weeds

Large weeds should be removed by hand and then the area treated with a weed killer (available from any good garden centre). Smaller weeds can then be treated directly with weed killer and these weeds should start to die within days. The manufacturer’s instructions should always be followed when using any weed killing agent.

WALLING ONLY

Stacking

Double stacking of any of West End Cement’s hollow block products is not recommended and will be done at the customer’s own risk.

Weight

West End Cement produces cement products with excellent density and durability. Products are manufactured using naturally occurring raw materials including aggregates, ash, pigments, and sand. Although every effort is taken to ensure consistency, inevitably due to the presence of these naturally extracted raw materials variations in colour, shade, texture, and a slight variation in weight.