What Is Paver Sealing?
Do you have a surface that is made of pavers somewhere on your property? Pavers make a beautiful addition to homes and businesses, and they can be used to create sidewalks, driveways, patios, and many other structures. However, did you know that pavers can become damaged over time? Because of this, many property owners rely on paver sealing to protect their investments. This might leave you wondering, though—what is paver sealing anyway?
In this blog, we will teach you more about paver sealing, what makes it so helpful, and how it works. Then, if you want, you can schedule an appointment with us! We are Redline Exterior Cleaners, and sealing pavers in the Vineland, NJ community is one of our specialties.
Pavers Become Damaged Over Time
So, what is paver sealing anyway? It’s the process of protecting pavers with a thin, transparent layer, usually made of acrylic resin polymers. The reason this is so important is that pavers that aren’t sealed are gradually damaged over time. For example, when pavers collect debris, they will slowly erode. Additionally, rain, snow, and hail will cause moisture damage to your pavers. Finally, simply walking or driving on pavers will cause friction damage. None of this damage is visible at first, but it adds up over time. It will sneak up on you like a thief in the night!
Repairing pavers, unfortunately, isn’t cheap. It can quickly gobble up whatever extra money you’ve got in your monthly budget. We highly recommend that you have your pavers sealed to prevent damage from happening. That way, you can avoid expensive repairs and save a significant amount of money.
Preparing Pavers For Sealing
If you are tired of your pavers becoming damaged over time, paver sealing might be the right choice for you. However, it’s important to make the correct preparations before sealing pavers. For example, you’ll need to remove any objects from your pavers. If you want to seal a driveway, you’ll have to relocate any vehicles. Similarly, if you want to seal a patio, you’ll want to take any furniture, decorations, and other items to a separate area. This ensures that the pavers are free from any obstacles that would prevent you from doing the work.
We also highly recommend that you have your pavers pressure washed before sealing them. It’s very likely that your pavers are smothered with debris, including dirt, moss, mold, and algae. If you seal pavers while they are dirty, you are effectively trapping a layer of grime, making your pavers less attractive for years to come. Additionally, it’s difficult to apply an even layer of sealer to pavers that are covered with debris. Pressure washing pavers is worthy of its own blog. Just remember that we offer pressure washing services if you need our help.
Sealing Pavers With Liquid Sealer
So, what is paver sealing going to entail? To do this work on your own, you’ll need the correct equipment. This includes a bucket of liquid sealer, a paint tray, a paintbrush (we recommend a roller brush), and drop cloths. Protect any surfaces near your pavers with drop cloths to prevent them from collecting droplets of liquid sealer. Then, pour a moderate amount of liquid sealer into the paint tray. Finally, dip your brush into the sealer and apply a thin layer of it across the pavers. Once you have done this, put your equipment away and take some time to relax because the only thing to do now is wait.
Sealer takes up to two days to dry. Until then, don’t walk, drive, or put items on the pavers. Once two days have finally passed, check out the surface and ensure that the sealer has dried. You should find that it has formed a firm, durable barrier between you and the pavers. At this point, you are welcome to use the paver surface again.
Paver Sealer Isn’t Invincible
You may think that your pavers are set for life after you have sealed them. Unfortunately, this isn’t exactly the case. Consider this. Sealer protects your pavers from damage. What this means is that the sealer is becoming damaged instead. And because of this, it will eventually need to be replaced. We estimate that you will need paver resealing every three to five years. Keep an eye on your pavers as time passes. Once you notice that its sealer has become noticeably worn down, it’s time to do some maintenance.
Before resealing pavers, you’ll need to remove the original layer of sealer. This is typically accomplished using a chemical sealer stripper. (Be sure to wear protective gear, including eye goggles and gloves, when handling this substance.) Apply the stripper to the sealer and wait fifteen minutes before pressure washing the surface clean. Once the pavers are dry, the sealing process can start anew.
Challenges of DIY Paver Sealing
If you were just asking questions like “what is paver sealing”, it’s unlikely that you’ve done this work before. Because of this, you can expect your first time sealing pavers to be a fairly challenging process. You’ll have to purchase all the necessary equipment and learn how to use it. You’ll have to find enough time in your schedule for the paver sealing process. Finally, you’ll need to be prepared to correct any mistakes that you make along the way. If this sounds like a hassle, and you’d rather spend your time in other ways, we have good news. You can always schedule an appointment with Redline Exterior Cleaners.
We are Vineland’s paver sealing professionals, and it is always our pleasure to pressure wash and seal pavers for our clients. By scheduling an appointment with us, you won’t have to do any of the work on your own. Instead, you can take some time to relax while our experts handle the work for you. Contact us online and let us know how we can help! Then, choose a time and date for your appointment, and we’ll be there to serve you soon.