Sealing often darkens the original colours of your pavers. This will vary based on paver type, but in some cases, the pavers will increase in how much they shine. Darker colours tend to have a more obvious sheen when compared with lighter ones. The primary purpose of paver sealing, however, is for protection.
It will not alter the color of the paver but will instead highlight the hue of the material and enhance the color of the pavers. Plus, the color will stay looking new because sealers provide protection against UV rays that can cause fading.
There are three ways to darken your pavers: sealing, staining, and painting, with the first being the less invasive option.
Wet-Look Sealant
To get an idea of what look you can achieve with a wet-look sealer, you can mist the brick with water, as long as there is no existing waterproofing that would repel the water. They will darken and seem moistened without a shiny sheen.
Try Concrete Stain
The simplest path to reviving tired pavers is to apply an acrylic-based semitransparent concrete stain, such as Behr Premium Semi-transparent Concrete Stain ($27/gal.; Home Depot) or Valspar Semi-transparent Concrete Stain ($28/gal.; Lowe's).
Over time, the continuous high-pressure blast of water will erode the layer of color on the pavers and expose the stone and aggregate contained in them. Oftentimes, the stone and the aggregate do not retain the color of the pigments used and will appear dull.
Instead, try to stay within the color “tone”. If the siding, brick, stucco or wood is a warm brown, look for pavers within that color family. Likewise, if your home is a cool grey, look for grey tones. However, if you have a red brick home, don't feel you need to choose a brick-colored (or brick-sized) paver.
A matt stone sealer will not change the colour or appearance of a stone floor. A polished stone sealer will add a slight sheen to the surface of most stone tiles.
Sealers, particularly solvent-based sealers, will darken concrete. If unevenly applied, it will create light areas where there is less sealer, and darker areas where there's more. If applied by sprayer, it may appear like “stripes”. Uneven roller application may leave darkened roller marks.
Film-forming concrete sealers will darken concrete and leave a glossy shine to some extent, giving the concrete a “wet look." The concrete will lighten back to its unsealed color over time, as the sealer wears off or is removed.
Using a nap roller for sealer application will take several times longer than using a paver sealer sprayer and joint stabilization is difficult to achieve. Spraying is the preferred method of applying water based paver sealers as it allows enough sealer to get into the joints.
Your pavers won't disintegrate if you don't seal them, but they'll likely fade much sooner than if you applied sealant. You'll also need to clean them more often, and the stains won't be as easy to remove.
The culprits of blotchy concrete after sealing
When you find yourself staring at discolored concrete that has already been sealed, there are usually three potential sources of blame: The sealer was applied poorly. Not enough sealer was applied. The concrete itself had varying absorption rates.
Should all concrete pavers be sealed? Yes. Concrete is porous and will absorb stains if not sealed. Sealants can also protect paver color from fading.
Stone Care Color Enhancer / Sealer darkens the natural color of honed granite, marble, travertine tile and all natural stone to provide a deeper, richer color while also adding a slight "sheen" known as the "wet look". This product also serves as a light impregnating marble & granite sealer.
Remember, impregnator sealers typically do not change the color of the stone or add shine. Also, “hard water spots” are actually etch marks. Certain stones such as marble will always react and etch when they come in contact with acid, ammonia and alcohol (even if these stones are sealed).
Typically, impregnator sealers neither change the color of natural stone nor add shine.
Mould and algae stains on pavers can first appear as white, brown or green spots but the longer they're left the more they will grow. Dirt stains will usually be dark brown or the colour of the surrounding sand, soil or ground.
Water-based sealers do not change the concrete color. These solvent- and water-based penetrating sealers are not film forming and reduce the risk of slip/fall hazards.
You have several sealer options available to choose from available from a home center or tile and stone supply center. The most common are Enhancing and Natural sealers. Enhancing sealers darken the stone and give it a 'wet' look. Natural sealers offer the same protection without changing the stone's appearance.
For areas that receive heavy foot traffic, such as walkways, driveways, or garden paths, choose dark-colored pavers with texture to hide dirt and debris. For front entryways or backyard patios, light-colored pavers, such as sand, cream, or terracotta, provide an elegant appeal while absorbing less heat from the sun.
Dark colors can make a small space appear even smaller while light colors can make a space appear larger and more open. Some other factors that you need to consider are: The Color Of Your Home: If your home is white, you may want to use gray pavers to create a contrast.