Sealing Your Own Patio Pavers? Follow These Tips
Patio pavers usually need to be sealed a few weeks after they are installed. Many people choose to hire professionals to do this work, and that is the best way to ensure you get great results. However, sealing your own patio pavers is definitely possible. If you're careful and follow the tips below, you should be successful in sealing your own patio pavers.
Clean your pavers thoroughly before you begin.
If there is any debris or grime on your patio pavers when you apply the sealer, it will get "stuck" on the pavers forever. So, you need to do a very thorough job of cleaning the pavers before you apply any sealer. Power washing the pavers works well. Just make sure you let them dry for a day between washing and applying the sealer. If you don't have a power washer, you can use a scrub brush and a hose. Use a small brush, such as a toothbrush, to get in all of the cracks.
Apply the sealer on a mild day.
If you apply the sealer when it's really hot outside, the sealer may cure too quickly and may not adhere to the pavers properly. If you apply the sealer when it's too cold outside, it may cure too slowly and slough off. Check the sealer's label to see the temperature range in which you should apply it. Follow these instructions, even if it means waiting a few extra weeks before sealing your pavers.
Use lots of sealer.
Don't skimp on the sealer. You need to use enough to fully penetrate and fill any pores in the pavers. If you do not see some extra pooling on the surface, you are not using enough. You will want to over-apply the sealer and then use a dry roller to re-absorb any extra after a few minutes. The product label on the sealer should tell you approximately how many square feet it is designed to cover. If you cover significantly less than this recommendation, then you have probably applied the sealer too thinly.
Let it cure completely before walking on it.
You probably can't wait to start using your newly sealed patio, but rushing the curing process is never a good idea. Let the sealer cure for the full recommended time, which is often 48 or 72 hours, before you walk on or otherwise use the pavers.
If you follow the tips above, you can expect good results from your paver sealing process. Contact a professional who offers paver sealing services if you need help.