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.
You're wondering what happens if you don't seal pavers. 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.
Concrete Pavers: Concrete pavers are the most common type of paver and require the most maintenance. These pavers need to be sealed for protection against weathering, fading, staining, and oil or grease spills. For best results, concrete pavers should be sealed every two to three years.
The more quickly water is absorbed, the more likely you'll need to reseal your pavers as soon as possible. With this said, it's good to get in the habit of resealing every three to five years. Beyond five years, your sealant will begin to lose all effectiveness.
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.
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.
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.
How long should I wait before sealing my new pavers? Typically 60-90 days. The main reason to wait is so that efflorescence can work its way to the surface and be cleaned off. The more the pavers get wet, the quicker this happens.
If the sealer is not cured correctly, water can cause white marks or stains on your pavers and can even be trapped beneath the layer of sealer. It is very important not to walk or drive on sealed pavers at least 24-48 hours after application. A protective sealer enhances the natural color and beauty of your pavers.
Most contractors and manufacturers recommend sealing pavers for the many benefits. Both concrete and brick pavers are porous materials that can change quality and appearance when they absorb liquids.
Enhanced aesthetic: The paver sealer enhances the curb appeal of your properties and provides perfect finish to the paved areas and at the same time stabilizes the joint sand by locking it in place. It protects the pavement against harmful UV rays and prevents fading.
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.
While a thorough cleaning, sanding, and sealing process can significantly hinder weed growth and prevent them from taking over your paver system, it is important to understand that sealing alone cannot completely eradicate weeds.
A wet cast brick paver has a more dense and smooth finished surface. Sealing these with certain types of brick sealers will make them very slippery when wet.
Should Pavers Be Dry Before The Sealing Proccess? Yes, it is important to ensure that your pavers and your pool deck are dry before applying sealer. If they are wet, the sealer will not be able to adhere properly and could eventually peel off and cause damage to the pavers.
The first day, a chemical wash is done followed by pressure cleaning with a 5,000 P.S.I pressure cleaner, getting almost anything out(stubborn penetrating stains like oil and rust may not come out). The second day, given that the surface to be sealed is completely dry, a sealer is sprayed on the pavers.
Rain can wash the sealer off if it rains right after the application. Ideally, we recommend that there is no rain for at least 24 hours after applying the sealer. However, if necessary, it's possible to use additives that can speed up the curing process. Pavers before & after cleaning and sealing.
Your concrete pavers will look better than new. 5 gal. bucket covers approximately 500 sq. ft.
For best results the sand should be dry to its full depth before sealing. It is always recommended to test the sealer of choice in a small area first. Always read product label and directions carefully before beginning to use any sealer products.
Water-based paver sealers can be dry to the touch in as little as 3-6 hours, but as with the other paving sealers covered in this guide, we recommend you allow for a more extended period of drying time to let the sealer fully harden. Wait at least 12 hours before walking on the surface and 24 before driving.
Black Diamond Coatings recommends a combination of both a sprayer and a roller. To truly be a Paver Whisperer, you must make sure the sealer is applied evenly to the surface. Using the spray technique and back rolling any puddles will result in a smoother application and a smoother finished product.
Our opinion is no! Pavers are durable and as natural and beautiful as most stones found in nature. Without being sealed they're low maintenance and and they will retain their natural colors for generations. Pavers can last more than a lifetime if maintained properly.
In some applications where the joints between the pavers are rather large (1/4″ or larger) we suggest using the polymeric sand over the joint stabilizing paver sealer because the polymeric sand tends to hold up better in larger joints.