Outdoor spaces often include paver patios, pool decks, or stone driveways, but proper care, including patio sealing, is essential. Properly cared for and maintained patio pavers can last a lifetime. And with the investment into your outdoor space, why wouldn’t you want to keep the initial visual beauty?
Why Seal My Patio Pavers
Extending the lifespan of your patio pavers includes sealing them. While pavers look stunning and are intended to withstand the elements of the outdoors, keeping them looking and functioning with their best sealant is necessary.
Patio Paver Color Preservation
UV rays cause pavers to fade over time. Although the patio pavers remain strong, the sun’s UV rays fade their pigment, stripping their vibrance and leaving them dull. Sealing the patio pavers preserves the original color you chose to keep them looking new.
Not only can patio sealing preserve the original color of the pavers, but it can also enhance it! Patio sealant acts as varnish does to wood but for stone! A sealant can pull out the natural contrast in the stone, making it appear brighter. Some sealers can even give the pavers the “wet look” that might appeal to you.
Additionally, and maybe most importantly, patio sealing makes the pavers less porous. This limits the amount of oil, dirt, or other unwanted substances absorbed into the pavers. Less staining is always ideal for any surface, including pavers! Plus, sealing your concrete pavers makes spill cleanup easier.
Stabilizing Joints
When applied, the sealant also stabilizes the joints between pavers. If you have sand or loose material between your pavers, it will shift over time because of their outdoor exposure to wind and rain. The goal is to keep joint sand between the pavers out of the pool.
When To Seal Pavers
With Cambridge Armortek pavers, we recommend waiting one year before sealing to allow the naturally occurring, white, dusty-looking buildup, known as efflorescence, to escape from the paving stones. This is due to the unpredictability of efflorescence’s bleeding process.
Before sealing any surface, you must ensure there is no efflorescence in the pavers. Efflorescence is the natural process that occurs in all cement-based products and many other paving products. Over time, the condition will correct itself with exposure to the elements.
How To Seal Patio Pavers
Patio sealing is your personal choice based on aesthetic preferences. Although not necessary, it can benefit your pavers’ longevity. Before sealing, we clean your paving stones with an efflorescence cleaner.
For best results, we ensure the pavers are dry and there is no predicted rain in the next 24 hours. We remove all furniture, debris, existing stains, and weeds growing between cracks. After clearing the area, we clean and apply a sealant according to industry guidelines.
If your paver patio needs some love, please contact us at Cypress Glen Outdoors. We’re here to bring your patio back to life and protect it in the future! We can enhance and protect your pavers for you… call today!
