Patios are one of our favorite outdoor amenities in a hardscape design. They provide a comfortable space to entertain and enjoy your yard. Beautiful patterns are possible if you use pavers in your patio design, but there’s a catch. At some point, you’ll need to restore your pavers to their original shine.
Over time, your pavers start to look dull and can become uneven, and all sorts of weeds can grow in the joints. You can do a lot on your own to bring your patio back to life. Weeding and spraying down with a hose can go a long way.
Restoring color to pavers takes more than just a wash. Leveling, deep cleaning, and sealing them is a massive undertaking but worth it in the end.
Join us as we look at the process of restoring your patio to its former glory!
Why should you hire a professional paver sealing company?
Before we go any further, we have to give a disclaimer. With all these steps, it’s easy to make a mistake. Hey, we all make mistakes, but having to reapply sealer over your entire patio is a harsh consequence. Large patios only worsen the issues because they take longer to fix.
Professionals use high-quality, trusted sealer
Just going to Home Depot or Lowes and picking a sealer off the shelf won’t guarantee results. In Florida, we only recommend using water-based sealer to withstand the climate and humidity. In addition, some brands are more reliable than others. You can rely on Premier Pro Wash & Seal to use trusted brands in all of our sealing projects.
Many people apply paver sealer incorrectly
Unlike deck sealer, paver sealer is a complex application. If you don’t get an even coating, it could flake off or need to be stripped and reapplied. Most people don’t have the expertise to get it right the first time.
It’s a time consuming project
As you can tell, this isn’t something you can knock out in an afternoon. Even with the right tools, going through the necessary steps can take a whole day or more.
For best results, it’s time to call in the professionals!
7 steps to restore your pavers
Some of the most satisfying videos on social media involve power washing dirty pavers. And we know how much fun it is to take a nasty patio from grungy to glorious. The truth is that there’s much more to the process than those videos lead you to believe. If you do it right, paver restoration is possible too.
Each of these seven steps is necessary for optimal results. Don’t skip out on one, or you may have to repeat the process!
1. Level your pavers
Brick and concrete pavers sink over time. Granular A, the substrate most commonly used for patio pavers, is compressed unevenly, resulting in an uneven surface. To level brick pavers, you must remove the sand between each one.
Use a pressure washer to blast out the sand and grit before you identify your low spots. Once you’ve done that, you can address the sunken stones. Carefully pry up the uneven areas and tamp down the dirt below. Then add enough substrate to bring them to level and put them back.
Replace any cracked or damaged pieces at this point in the process.
2. Pressure wash and use a cleaner
Now that you’ve leveled your patio, it’s time for a deep clean. To enhance the effect of the high-pressure water, add a cleaner to the reservoir. Make sure you wear safety glasses and consider coveralls because it’ll be messy!
Take your time to go over each paver individually with the water. You might not be able to tell right away, but after, you’ll notice if you missed a spot. This process removes grime and staining from age.
3. If you have old sealer, use paver sealer stripper
Frequently, your old pavers look drab because of old sealer that’s become discolored. Sometimes the power washer alone is enough to remove the old sealer, but not always. Using a sealer stripper can work wonders, but be careful which you choose.
Typical sealer strippers include extremely hot water, corrosive chemicals, and organic compounds. Soy gel, an organic compound, is less environmentally toxic than other options and is generally effective.
4. Wait to dry & blow away any sand and dirt
Once you’ve removed the old sealant, give your patio a break. Let the pavers dry before refilling any joints with sand.
Then use a leaf blower to remove any sand or dirt that’s collected in the area. Clean and dry pavers are ideal for re-applying paver sealer and restoring color to your patio.
Color pavers are usually brick, but concrete stain is frequently used to create a wide range of tones. Sealing prolongs the life of your investment and is well worth the effort.
5. Apply your new paver sealer
You can apply sealer through various methods, from pump sprayers to brushes. Apply the sealer to your entire patio and ensure even coverage. You’ll know you’ve applied enough when the whole area looks wet.
A glossy finish will give you the best result as it highlights the colored pavers in your patio.
6. Allow time for sealer to dry
Before you begin this whole process, make sure to check the weather. Paver sealer needs 48 hours to dry. So, turn off the automatic sprinklers and keep your pets off! If you’re using water-based sealer, it can get wet while still sealing properly.
Contact Premier Pro Wash & Seal to make your pavers look brand new again!
Getting your patio ready to entertain doesn’t have to involve hard labor, at least on your part. Instead, let Premier Pro Wash & Seal take care of the dirty work. Our experience and professionalism are second to none. Before you get out your coveralls, make the smart choice.
Check out our services on our website and schedule a quote today!