We get it. You just purchased a new home with a paver driveway or hired a crew to install a paver patio and now you’re wondering, “Should I seal my pavers?”
You might have found sources that claim that it isn’t necessary, and they’re right. You don’t have to seal your pavers, but you should if protecting your investment is important to you.
If you don’t care about the money you’ve spent on your pool deck, driveway, and patio and how much it will cost to repair and replace damaged ones, then you can let your pavers go.
However, when properly protected, brick and natural stone pavers can last well over 50 years.
Yes! They will outlive you!
And longevity is only one of the many benefits of sealing pavers.
There are many advantages to the process that might surprise you!
#1 Stain Protection
Maintaining your pavers with a biannual wash and seal service is a lot like brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste in the morning and evening. The practice washes away impurities and then applies a protective barrier that gives your pavers additional resistance against substances that can stain and deteriorate the surface.
Unsealed pavers absorb liquid through their pores, allowing spills to seep in and remain there. Most stains have acidic qualities that slowly break down the substrate. So the longer they sit, the more permanent damage they cause!
Although you could hire a company like Premier Pro Wash & Seal that provides stain removal services every time you spill coffee, wine, or fertilizer, that would be even more expensive than a simple wash and seal maintenance service.
Preventative measures far outweigh the cost of constant upkeep.
When we seal your pavers, we fill the pores in with polymers, which prevents stains from embedding into the tiles. In a few years, as the sealer wears away, we will apply a fresh coat of sealer.
All subsequent sealing will strengthen the protective qualities of the sealer as they fill the porous substrate more and more, penetrating deep into the material.
#2 Less Yard Work
Nobody enjoys pulling weeds, and weed killers can stain unsealed pavers. So what is a homeowner to do?
Plants will survive in every crack they can find. And in between every paver is a joint filled with a sandy oasis for a stray seed.
But when we seal your pavers, our water-based sealer will render the sand rock hard. Most plants will find it very difficult to grow on a surface that doesn’t allow it to send down roots.
Besides reducing the weed population, sealing provides you with more freedom to use most weed killers without worry.
#3 Easy Cleanup
After a long day of outdoor chores, you’ll have dirt and debris to wash up. The good news is, if you have sealed pavers, a garden hose and (maybe) some mild soap is all you’ll need to make your pavers bright again.
But if your driveway or patio is unsealed, soiled pavers can remain discolored no matter how much you scrub. And steer clear of commercial cleaners at the hardware store that can damage the substrate!
The only way to resolve this problem is through power washing or pressure washing. Premier Pro Wash & Seal uses an industrial strength rotary surface cleaner that combines the power of 8 gallons per minute water flow with heat to flush the porous surface of pavers gently and effectively.
But do you really want to go through that every time you make a mess?
No way!
That’s why we seal your pavers with a two part professional grade water based sealer.
#4 Shields From the Elements
Here in Florida, Mother Nature is brutal. She will rain, hail, and throw all the wind she has at you. Then, when she’s feeling generous, she beats you down with heat and scorching sunshine.
When the weather is too extreme, you can run inside where it’s dry and cool, but your pavers can’t. UV rays from the sun deteriorate, water and wind erode, and hail smashes into whatever it wants to. Together, they make one mean team of destruction on your property.
You shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of your driveway, patio, or pool deck, and you don’t have to if you seal your pavers.
#5 Algae & Mold Inhibitor
Are you tired of unsightly and excessive mold, mildew, or algae overtaking your beautiful pavers and stones?
You are not alone!
If you live in the Tampa Bay area, it’s a hot, moist, tropical environment causes pavers to become the perfect breeding grounds for microorganisms. In fact, one of the most common concerns expressed by our customers is the mold, mildew, and algae living on their property.
But when you seal your pavers, they dry much faster, greatly reducing algae and mold growth. While nothing can completely eliminate the mold from returning, sealed pavers help prevent mold from reaching deep into the stones making cleanup much easier and more efficient.
The Sealer We Use
Have you ever seen previously sealed pavers that have a cloudy, white, milky look to them?
How about pavers that appear the sealer is almost flaking off in areas?
If so, chances are the previous contractor used a solvent or oil based sealer that failed. Sadly, we see this almost daily. These contractors run and hide and leave us to fix their mistake.
Solvent sealers fail in Florida because of excessive humidity. Across the Tampa Bay area, from Wesley Chapel to Valrico and Bradenton, we receive a lot of rainfall! Over time, all that moisture gets trapped under the sealer. The water locked inside pavers creates a cloudy, white, and blotchy appearance.
Once sealer fails on your pavers, the only resolution is to chemically strip off the failed sealer. That process is 3-5 times the cost of sealing to restore your pavers!
You’ve spent too much money having your pavers installed to let amateurs ruin your property! Protect pavers with the right sealer, one that will hold up for years.
Two part professional grade water based sealer provides a safer and more reliable alternative. Our sealer is guaranteed not to fail, trap moisture, flake, or turn yellow.
We offer two different choices:
- Enhanced (wet look)
- Natural look
When complete, the finished wet look will be almost equivalent to how your pavers appear after it rains. It’s a clean look that brings out the color with a nice, light sheen.
For natural stones such as travertine and marble, our natural sealer is almost as popular as our enhanced sealer. About half of our clients prefer the natural look while the other half prefers the wet look. But for pavers, almost 98% prefer the enhanced version.
The choice is yours!
We do not have sealers that produce a high gloss.
Be careful with high, high gloss sealers because they are typically a solvent or oil based sealer.
Our Professional Sealing Process:
- Attack any stains such as rust, efflorescence, oil, and grease stains.
- Deep clean the pavers and joint spaces to remove stains, debris, and mold as much as possible using our 8 gallons per minute rotary tools called surface cleaners.
- Wash the pavers in multiple directions to give your pavers the ultimate deep clean.
- (If necessary) we use a turbo nozzle to ensure we get out the dirt and grime that sometimes gets deeply embedded in-between the paver joints even after a thorough washing by the surface cleaners.
- The joint spaces are filled with coarse, angular sand that has been filtered from nutrients.
Using sterile sand is crucial to mitigate mold, algae, and weed issues. Play sand or any type of thin sand or polymeric sand is not an option. These sands are a breeding ground for mold.
While filling the joints with sand, we prefer using a wet sanding approach if applicable. The wet sanding technique allows the weight of the water to help pack in the sand which helps reduce air pockets while spraying sealer. We fill the sand to their proper depth levels, which is 1/4″ – 1/8″ below the chamfered edge of the pavers.
- Next, our team meticulously cleans up excess sand. We go above and beyond to ensure excess sand is wiped and vacuumed from your door jams, frames, sliders, and around your pool enclosures.
- Finally, your pavers are ready to be sealed. We apply two to three coats of sealer.
You can walk on the pavers after 4 hours, return furniture after 24 hours, swim in the pool after 24 hours. Pets may walk on them after 24 hours, allow vehicles after 48 hours, and allow lawn care work after 48 hours.
Maintenance Plans:
My pavers are cleaned and sealed, now what?
Premier Pro Wash & Seal offers an optional maintenance cleaning program to our sealing customers in Apollo Beach, Wimauma, Parrish, and more. This helps you to keep your pavers or travertine in pristine condition until it is time to seal again in 2-3 years.
Our plan is based on 6 month cycles. That’s when we come back to your property and perform a low pressure soft wash to the area.
There is no contract and maintenance plans can be stopped at any time. We encourage customers to maintain their pavers regularly to preserve their integrity.
Are you ready to get started?
At Premier Pro Wash & Seal, we care about you and your property in the Tampa Bay area. It’s important that your pavers receive the best maintenance to support their strength, resistance, and longevity.
If you want to seal your pavers and you are looking for experts that won’t let you down, check below to see if we serve your area and complete the form below for a free quote!