Patio pavers enhance the appearance of outdoor spaces with various colors and styles. Whether you want to create a living area surrounding a pool or enhance your driveway, they’re an excellent choice.
But for all the beauty and functionality, they can also cause a bit of a headache. The rough texture collects dirt, and cleaning is a chore. Sealed pavers make all these issues a bit easier to deal with!
After several years of exposure to the elements, pavers can start to look dull. Once vibrant colors fade away. Grass and weeds may grow between the joints and require you to remove them regularly.
If you’re in this situation and don’t want to repeat it, sealing your pavers is the easy solution. While it’s easier to address right after installation, you can breathe life into dull, lifeless pavers with sealant.
We’re taking a hard look at sealing your hardscaping for longevity and function. We’ll explore the benefits and get into different finishes as well.
Let’s get started!
The benefits of having pavers sealed
Hardscaping elevates outdoor spaces by providing a contrast to natural elements. You can turn your backyard space into an oasis with the right combination of features. As much work as you put into your home, you’ll want to consider sealing pavers to protect your investment.
Expand the lifespan of your pavers
Like anything else left exposed to the elements, your pavers start to fade after time. A combination of wind, rain, and dust wears down beautiful colors and textures. Instead of leaving things to chance, sealing your pavers increases their lifespan.
Unsealed concrete pavers are porous and absorb any fluids they’re exposed to. Over time, cracks expand, and there’s even more space for moisture to ruin your hardscape. The right sealant protects your pavers from the weather and keeps moisture out.
Weeds will not grow through the joints of sealed pavers
Even with the proper underlayment, nature usually finds a way to break through unsealed pavers. Weeds and grass grow through joints and ruin pool decks.
Paver seal penetrates the concrete and sand alike. It provides a smoother surface and protects vulnerable joints. That way, the moisture won’t get through when the weather hits.
With driveway pavers, even sealing isn’t enough to stop the growth of weeds. Because of the open nature of driveways, grass cuttings and seeds still manage to find a way to grow. There will be a lot less, but it’s not reduced by 100%. Anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t telling the truth!
Cleaning becomes less of a hassle
Cleaning is a hassle with all of the textures in a hardscaped area. Blowers and power washers help remove some of the grime, but they can also remove sand from between joints. Sealing provides a more uniform surface that’s much easier to clean.
If you’re using a power washer on your sealed pavers, use a moderately powered stream. Too powerful, and you can damage your pavers and ruin the seal. If you’re worried about damaging your sealed pavers, hire a professional pressure washing company to do the job right.
The colors on pavers are preserved better after sealing
Colored pavers are stained concrete. Manufacturers add pigments to the sand to create vibrant colors. Pavers usually fade to regular concrete without sealing in as little as seven years! Elements like water and UV rays degrade color over time, leaving few options.
To help preserve vibrant, straight-from-the-factory colors, we recommend sealing. By protecting your investment, you can enjoy your patio for years to come.
Sealing helps avoid pesky stains
The outdoors is unpredictable. Rain isn’t the only thing that can harm your patio or driveway. Rust, asphalt, leaky vehicles, and even food may stain unsealed pavers. And while many of these stains are easy to clean, some require more intensive methods.
With the right sealant, your pavers won’t absorb fluids and resist stubborn stains. They’ll still need cleaning, but they’ll look great after a good scrub.
You save money in the long term by having sealed pavers
There are many choices when choosing a sealant for your driveway or patio. Whichever you choose, they’re all formulated to preserve the life of your investment. An upfront investment in sealing can save serious money over time.
Damaged or degraded pavers need replacing, and without sealant, you’ll have to do it more often. After three or four years, you’ll need to reapply the coating used to seal the concrete. But resealing is a fraction of the cost of replacing significant portions of your hardscape.
Common questions asked in regards to sealed pavers
If you’re considering applying sealant to your pavers and still have questions, we’re here to help. We’ve gathered the most common questions about sealant here for your convenience.
What type of look do you want your pavers to have?
You can achieve four primary looks with sealant: natural, clear, color boost, and wet. Natural and color enhancement formulas soak into the pavers and create a matte finish. Clear and wet finishes sit on the pavers and create a gloss or semi-gloss finish. Depending on how you want your hardscape to look, you can achieve it with sealant.
Are there different types of paver sealers?
Sealant works through two finish types, film-forming and non-film-forming. And while they all provide protection, the different types don’t do it equally.
Film-forming sealants fall into the clear and wet categories. They form an impenetrable barrier film on the surface of the paver. And while they protect thoroughly, you’ll have to re-seal more frequently.
Non-film-forming sealants, natural and color boost, don’t form a physical barrier but offer excellent protection. Instead of sitting on the surface of the concrete, this style soaks into the bricks. A water-repellent barrier forms when the solution cures and protects longer than a film-forming seal.
How much is the cost of paver sealing?
Sealing costs depend on several factors, including location and square footage. For example, in Florida, the cost per square foot is approximately $1.50. In the Northeast, you can expect to pay upwards of $3 per square foot.
Depending on the finish and cost of materials, these prices may trend up or down. But remember that you’ll get what you pay for. Spending more on the front end for a superb sealing job is worth it in the long run.
Premier Pro Wash & Seal is here to make the sealing process quick and effective!
At Premier Pro Wash & Seal, we stand by the quality of our work. Maintaining pavers is one of our specialties, and we’re experts at it. Highly trained technicians clean and apply the highest quality materials to your pavers. Working with state-of-the-art tools, our team will help prolong the life of your patio and driveway.
We’d love to come out and give you a quote on what it’ll take to protect your investment. Book a consultation on our website today!