Do you want a sealer that holds up to sun and weathering for at least 2 to 3 years? Are you looking for nice wet look, gloss appearance that really brings out the colors in your pavers? For best performance it is important to understand how to seal pavers and why?
I’ve been dealing with the question of how to seal pavers for the last 18 years.
My best recommendations are as follows:
Spray apply rather than roller apply.
Use water based sealers rather than solvent based.
Use polyurethane sealers rather than pure acrylic sealers.
Spray Application vs Roller
Whilst roller applying a sealer is easier than spraying, roller application does not work as well on pavers compared to say concrete. The biggest drawback when rolling sealer on brick pavers is that the roller can pick up the joint sand and roll it over the top of the brick paver surface. This is especially true if the joints are wide. Furthermore the amount of sealer that soaks into the sand joints is difficult to control when rolling .
I recommend spraying when applying brick paver sealer. Apply product with a pump-up sprayer . These are readily available from Home Depot or Lowes . A low pressure spray pump also works great. equipment. Apply a flood coat to the paver surface including the joints. This method will apply the sealer very generously while allowing the sealer to soak into the sand joints as well. As long as you apply the paver sealer on a windless day, the coverage can be generous and effortless. If you really cant get a pump up garden sprayer, opt for a sponge-type roller to apply the sealer. A nap-based roller is more likely to grab and trap your joint sand.
Water Based Sealer vs Solvent based
Solvent based sealers are bad for the environment! Manufactures are gradually moving away from these type products. Regardless solvent based sealer are more difficult to spray apply than water based sealers and they don’t really seal the joint sand as well as the water based products. The solvent based sealer tends to seal only the top surface of the sand compared to the water based, which soak down deeper into the sand. Whilst solvent based sealers can produce a nice high gloss surface they can also make the surface slippery if applied too thick. Water based acrylic sealers eliminate this issue with solvents and are better at stabilizing joint sand to prevent sand loss. However it is important to use a high solids acrylic sealer or a urethane modified acrylic sealer otherwise they fade and loose gloss after 6 month to a 1 year.
Polyurethane vs Acrylic
Acrylic based sealers are very moisture sensitive. This is true for both solvent and water based acrylic sealers. The paver surface must be very dry when you apply the sealer other wise you will get blushing ( turning white) from trapped moisture. Once the sealer turns white it is virtually impossible to fix the problem. You have to strip off the sealer and start again. This is a major headache.
Water based polyurethane sealers developed to work with moisture and produce a highly durable wet look sealer as well as a product that stabilizes the joints. These 2 part polyurethanes when mixed together, chemically cross link to for a paver sealer that is highly resistant to sunlight and weathering. Polyurethanes are a tougher sealer than acrylics and are more UV resistant and chemically resistant. They perform better outside and they hold up better against chemicals oil, brake fluid, and chlorine.
A big plus is that they are much less sensitive to moisture. You can apply water based polyurethane sealer as soon as you finish pressure washing. We call it” same day” sealing. You can pressure wash your pavers sweep of any major puddles and then apply the water based polyurethane sealer all in the same day. So you get all the advantages of water based technology with longer durability than solvent based sealers.
Key Steps on How to Seal Pavers
Pavers, bricks or concrete must be clean. Use appropriate cleaners for removing oil, efflorescence mold and mildew. Don’t apply sealant over efflorescence. This will only seal the efflorescence to the surface of the paver. If your pavers have already been sealed over and you see efflorescence, the sealant will have to be stripped. Remember, efflorescence can appear after sealing, as it rises up from within the pavers.
Sweep dry, properly graded sand into joints and fill to required level slightly below the top of the pavers. (typically 1/8”) Completely remove all remaining sand from the top of the pavers A leaf blower is recommended for this and to remove any dust and debris.
After the sand has been applied into the paver joints and the application area blown clean, apply one coat of paver sealer to saturation; paying particular attention to getting as much sealer into the joints and down into the sand as possible. Concentrate spraying sealer over the joint. One liberal coat will seal, protect and lock down your interlocking concrete paving stones. Excess sealer on the surface must be back brushed or back rolled into the joints. A second coat should be applied to give additional protection and increase gloss.
Do not apply any sealers during inclement weather or in direct sunlight when temperature exceeds 90°F.
Remember when considering how to seal pavers, that investing in a quality sealant will improve the look and durability of your driveway, patio or pool deck. A cheap sealer will need to be reapplied more frequently and may cause discoloration if you switch sealers later on. It’s fine to comparison-shop, but the least expensive product may not give the best results.
StrongSeal Wetlook high gloss, sealer can be obtained direct from CoverTec, together with detailed application instructions and Technical Support. If you are interested in buying this product, please email your request or call us at 754-223-2465 to discuss your project.
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