What sealing actually does
Unsealed pavers in Florida lose their colour to UV, take on stains they never give back, and let joint sand wash out until weeds and ants move in. Sealing stops all three, and it costs a fraction of relaying stone.
Sealing
- Deep clean first, because sealing dirt in is permanent
- Joint sand replaced and locked
- Sealer matched to the stone
- Grip additive on pool decks
Installation
- New paver patios, walkways and pool decks
- Proper base preparation, where cheap jobs fail
- Edge restraint so it does not creep
- Sealed on completion
Three finishes, same stone
Illustration of finish, not photographs of our work. We show you all three on your own pavers before you choose.
The mistake we get called to fix
Sealer does not clean. It preserves whatever is underneath it.
Seal a dirty patio and those stains are locked in for years. Anyone offering to seal without cleaning first is doing you harm and charging for it, and stripping bad sealer back off afterwards costs more than the original job would have.
The order matters
Done properly this is a two-day job, and the waiting is most of it. Anyone promising clean and sealed in an afternoon is skipping the drying, and you will see it within a season.
Clean
High-pressure hot water across the whole surface, edges and steps by hand. Whatever is growing in the stone comes out now or it stays under the sealer forever.
Dry
Pavers must be dry all the way through, not just on top. Sealing damp stone traps the moisture and turns it cloudy white. This is the step that gets skipped.
Re-sand the joints
Fresh joint sand swept in and locked. This is what stops the creeping, the weeds and the ants, and it has to happen before sealing rather than after.
Seal
Sealer matched to the stone and the finish you picked, with grip additive on pool decks because a slick deck is a real hazard rather than a theoretical one.
Areas we cover
Questions we get asked
How often do pavers need resealing?
Two to four years here, depending on sun, traffic and whether it sits under a screen. Pool decks go sooner than driveways.
Will sealing make it slippery?
Not with the right product. On pool decks we use a finish with grip additive, for the obvious reason.
Wet look or natural?
Wet look deepens the colour and suits good stone. Natural stays matte and hides wear better. We will show you both on your own pavers before deciding.
Can you fix sunken or uneven pavers?
Usually. Lifting, re-levelling the base and relaying the affected area is normal work, and far cheaper than a full replacement.
How long before I can walk on it?
Foot traffic the same evening in most cases, vehicles after a full day. We will tell you exactly on the day, because it depends on the product and the weather.
Also available
Get a price for sealing.
Send a photo and a rough size. We will tell you whether it needs cleaning first, and what both cost.