Another way to prevent the penetration of stains, is to install pavers that are pre-sealed in factory with a surface protection, such as Easy Clean. If your pavers don't have a factory applied sealer, you can also apply an after-market sealer.
Once the polymeric sand cures (about 30 days), pavers and joints should be sealed with a quality sealant to protect the pavers from stains and the joints from erosion and insect infiltration.
leaves fall, metal rusts, cars leak, and food drops, amongst many other stain makers. General cleaning every few weeks can prevent staining in the long term. Use a regular house cleaner, but remember to test the cleaner on a section of stone to see how it affects the paver.
Using sealant on your brick or stone pavers will enhance their appearance and prolong the life of the brick or stone, as well as help prevent stains, discoloration, fading, and mildew.
Choosing to seal your pavers will keep your color consistent and un-faded. Not only does choosing to seal your pavers keep the color untouched, but it can also increase the vibrancy of your colors. One largely agreed upon benefit of sealers is that they limit stains.
Acrylics. Acrylic paver sealers, either solvent- or water-based, offer the most comprehensive ultraviolet (UV) resistance. Acrylic sealants can be breathable, depending on their solid content.
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.
Blotchy and Dark Concrete: Blotchy concrete can result from over application. In order to prevent over application, apply sealers in thin, even coats. If over application does occur, use Xylene to correct the problem.
Pressure Washing: Start by having the whole area pressure washed before sealing pavers. Grime and dirt can inhibit the paver sealant from penetrating. As a result, the paver stones may start pitting, and discoloration can happen. You are also likely to seal dirt beneath the coating.
Paver sealers have a limited lifespan. Once you have sealed your pavers, on average, they can last three to five years. Factors, such as rain, traffic, and sun exposure can also have a negative impact on your pavers. Moreover, poor maintenance can also cause you to reseal the area earlier than expected.
Manufactured concrete pavers are similar to many other driveway, patio, or walkway materials in one respect. Their surface is porous and can easily absorb stains.
Whilst vinegar will not directly dissolve concrete itself, but it will degrade the cement that binds your concrete slabs or flags together. Extended exposure to vinegar will also cause any polish or sealant on your pavers to erode over time, leading to bleaching, stains and weathering.
One of the best paver sealers is the Siloxa-Tek 8500. It is a penetrating concrete sealer designed to treat a variety of applications with an emphasis on hydrophobicity and reduction of water uptake. It dries completely clear with a natural finish that will not change the look or appearance of the susbtrate.
The water stains on pavers that people refer to are from efflorescence. Efflorescence is caused when soluble salts in the pavers react with rainfall, humidity, and temperatures fluctuating. As the water evaporates, the salts come to the surface, creating a white power-like deposit on the pavers.
A dish soap, like Dawn, is a safe place to start. The surfactants in dish soaps are designed to remove oil and grease, they're gentle enough to be used without issue on your pavers. In a bowl or bucket, mix the soap with water and pour it onto the stain and agitate. Rinse and repeat if needed.
Can you power wash pavers? Power washing (also known as pressure washing) is also a very effective method by which you can remove dust deposits and various stains from your pavers. Just make sure that the water jet is not directed directly at the joints between the paving stones.
Pavers should be resealed every 3 to 4 years on average. You will know when your pavers need to be resealed because water will stop beading on the surface and the sheen will diminish. In addition, you may notice weeds starting to grow in between joints and the pavers may start to lose their color.
Pavers should be cleaned and sealed every two to three years depending on how often they are exposed to traffic, liquids, sunlight etc. Paver surfaces can also be power washed between cleanings but paver sealing is still necessary after paver cleaning has occurred.
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).
Fall or spring is a great time of the year to seal pavers. Cooler weather allows the sealer to penetrate into the pavers unhindered. Pavers will have an adequate amount of protection for when it's time to seal again. Make sure to keep leaves and other debris off the pavers while they are drying to avoid blemishes.
You pressure clean the pavers, re-sand the paver joints and then apply two coats of your favorite paver sealer and the job was complete.