After installation, the best time for sealing pavers is when the new pavers are dry and free of any dirt or debris. Most experts recommend waiting for at least 24 to 48 hours before sealing the new pavers after installation.
How long should you wait before sealing new pavers? So, it's very important to seal your pavers right away. Now we suggest maybe waiting 30 to 60 days, to let the rain really hit it, and wash off the construction debris, let that stone sit and breathe a little bit. But at that 60 day point, its ready to be sealed.
After you have invested in pavers, whether that be a patio, poolside deck, etc., it is important to seal your pavers in order to protect from the weathering UV rays. These rays, which are known to impact the skin negatively, also impact the surface of your pavers negatively.
Traditionally, concrete paver manufacturers have recommended waiting at least 90 days after polymeric sand installation to apply a protective sealant to a paver surface. Nowadays, a 30 day delay is sufficient to allow the evaporation of any remaining natural efflorescence contained in the pavers.
Sealing pavers before adding sand can be more difficult, as you need to be careful not to get any sealant on the sand. However, sealing after adding sand is generally more accessible and will give you a more even coverage.
If us- ing polymeric sand, you can install it after the sealer application has properly cured for 24 - 48 hours. If polymeric sand is installed prior to sealing, be sure surface is dry for 24 hours before applying sealer.
A minimum of 24 hours drying time is required prior to allowing foot traffic and 48 hours for vehicular traffic on the paver surface. Dampening: Apply a gentle fine mist to the filled joints, flooding the faces of the pavers and allowing the water to run into the joints. Do not flood the sand onto paver surfaces.
After installation, a hard rain on polymeric sand that has not fully set up could result in polymeric sand all over the top of the pavers. You want to make sure your surface is dry prior to installation and no rain is in the forecast after completing the job for the specified period of time.
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.
Curing Time
Customers must also allow at least a 24-48 hours of dry weather after sealer has been applied. 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.
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.
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.
Keep away from walks and patios for at least 24 hours. If the pavers are for your driveway, wait 48 hours before driving over them, It's also best to wait a full 30 days before you try to clean or seal your pavers. They need weeks to fully cure.
Polymeric sand is the most popular and useful filler used under brick pavers. It is a mixture of fine sand, adhesive and is most widely used in paver joints. Typically, polymeric sand lasts for up to 10 years. But if you use high-quality polymeric sand, it can last for approximately 15 years.
Weather Considerations For Polymeric Sand For PolySweep polymeric sand to set up properly, the temperature should be above 35 degrees for 24 hours before and 48 hours after installation. Plus, the surface needs to be dry at the time of installation and no rain forecasted for at least 12 hours afterwards.
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.
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.
The basic rule of thumb is every 3-5 years. For film-forming sealants, you will be able to notice when the physical barrier is showing signs of wear. For non-film-forming sealants, you will begin to see a significant color change of pavers during a rain when the sealant is wearing thin.
However, you should NEVER install polymeric sand when it is raining! Rain activates the polymers before the sand is in the joints which will ruin your hardscape by producing a haze and adhering sand grains to the surface of the pavers.
Pro Tip: It's very important that you lay no more than 1” of bedding sand. Any more will promote settling or wobbling—two things you don't want pavers to do. Once your sand is in place, you'll use a 10'–12' strike board to “screed” the sand.
The Problem With Polymeric Sands & Water Mitigation
Most polymeric sands don't drain water which meant small stones were used to fill the joints between the interlock. For driveways, this solution isn't a big issue but near a pool or patio, people prefer the smooth uniformity of polymeric sand.
If your polymeric sand didn't harden up, it's pretty much guaranteed there's a moisture issue. If the joints remain wet after the installation, they will remain soft until they dry. So getting one initial complete drying "set" is very important to the long-term performance and lifespan of the product.
Polymeric sand is usually good for about ten years, so re-sanding costs are saved when using this type of sand. However, this is a very basic estimate, and it actually depends on the conditions faced by your paver, such as weather. You should regularly inspect your paver to see if there are any issues with the sanding.