An influx of water that sits for a long period of time can damage your paver surfaces by weakening the cracks or chips already present. If your pavers are already loose, they may collapse. Flooding can also lead to erosion when soil and rock are transported and deposited into the area.
When pavers are first laid, a block or brick wall is built there is often latent water present in the product. This water may be present due to the manufacturing process, product sweating from long-term packaging, water being added to the product during or after the installation or site moisture.
Initially, some water will seep into the joint sand for the first few weeks but soon silts and dust in the air will fill any voids and water will then shed off the paver surface just like any other pavement.
Decreased Drying Time: Properly sealed pavers do not allow water to absorb inside them. This significantly reduces drain time. Pavers that dry more quickly, are much less likely to support mold and algae growth or develop efflorescence.
Paver sealant is a great tool to keep paver driveways, patios, walkways, and pool decks, in mint condition, but it's not always necessary. While it's not a must-have, pavers that aren't sealed typically grow weeds in the cracks, lose color over time, and can even have shifting caused by a lack of joint sand.
Pavers and joints should be resealed every 3-5 years.
Pavers are great for patios, since they allow water to seep through and not form puddles and pools.
Its binding ability locks pavers together, allowing the joints to stay strong for the long haul. Where regular masonry sand of yesteryear allows water to seep through and wash between the layers of the underlying patio, polymeric sand stays put when it rains.
It's simple science. Water moves in between things and by adding pavers to your landscaping, you're ensuring there are cracks and joints between them, which allows water to drain through. One thing to remember though is to allow sufficient space between pavers to allow water drainage.
Can Excessive Rain Damage Your Pavers? There are a few different issues that heavy rain can cause to driveway pavers. The most common cause of damage like this occurs when water is able to build up beneath the pavers on your driveway.
Without proper drainage, paving stones are open to damage from the elements, especially water. Standing water weakens pavers, leading to chips, cracks, and even erosion. During colder weather, water that gets into these cracks and crevices can freeze, causing cracks to expand and worsen.
Sand Bedding
Before laying the pavers, a layer of bedding sand is placed over the compacted base material. This layer provides a bed into which the pavers are set.
Polymeric Sand has many benefits, however, the biggest drawback is that it can be easy to mess up, especially if you don't follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Remove the tarp as soon as the rain is done so the air can assist in the curing process since PolySweep needs to dry fully to be cured. A hard rain on polymeric sand that has not set up properly could result in sand all over the tops of the pavers.
Polymeric sand cures by drying. And in order to fully set, it needs to dry out completely.
The standard interlocking paving stone is not permeable, which means it does not drain water. While regular pavers are designed to be flexible, they are not meant to be permeable.
Limestone, flagstone and fieldstone are popular choices, but aren't recommended for high-traffic areas. Brick and concrete pavers are strong and durable. Rubber pavers are slip-resistant and a good choice for wet areas.
A Paver Patio with Poor Drainage
Sunken pavers can lead to water “pooling” on top of the patio. Pooling can also occur when the pitch isn't correct. This could lead to low areas that will always collect water.
How Much Does It Cost to Clean and Reseal Pavers per Square Foot? In total, you should expect to pay around $2 per square foot to clean and seal pavers. The price may vary between $1 and $3 per square foot, depending on the sealant and method of cleaning.
The easiest test is by letting water sit on your pavers for about 20 minutes. If the water beads up on the surface and does not leave a stain, your sealant is still working, if it sinks into the paver, however, then a fresh coat of sealer is likely required.
Never Too Late to Seal Pavers
It's always best to seal soon after a new installation. But, our proven system of repairing, cleaning and sealing will also bring back the original luster to old, dirty and fading pavers. Sealing is the final step in a comprehensive process.