Pavers are an aesthetic material. Functional, yes, however, most people agree that the primary value pavers bring to a home is their visual impact. Sealing pavers helps to add to this value. A sealer will protect them from premature fading due to strong or direct sunlight. You will be able to clean the pavers easier once they have a sealer on them. Water will bead on top of the pavers after a hard rain, just like it beads on your car after you’ve had it waxed. Mold cannot as easily take a foothold in the natural pours of the bricks, as those pours are now sealed. And most significantly, sealer will darken the pavers. When pavers are sealed, they have a wet look to them. Generally, the wet look is very appealing as it makes the rich, vibrant colors of the pavers stand out more prominently.

The sealing process normally takes two days. The first day the pavers will be pressure washed and cleaned. Any stains, mold, or mildew will be washed off of the surface of the pavers. Once the pavers  have been washed, it will be necessary to add a polymeuric joint sand in between the joints in order to stabilize the pavers from shifting. Next, the pavers must dry completely. Most paver sealers are solvent based, not water based. The use of a solvent based sealant requires a low moisture content. If the pavers are sealed, while damp, with a solvent based sealer, a white, cloudy residue will form on the surface of almost every brick. It is, therefore, imperative that the pavers are completely dry before the sealer is applied. The next day, the sealant is applied. To apply the sealer, we recommend using  a slotted foam roller technique which allows for even coverage. We apply one heavy coat across the paver area, allowing about three hours for dry time. It is important to not apply too thick a coat as the sealer will not properly penetrate the pours. It is important to let the sealer dry overnight before using the area. You can apply second coat if you need it.

When asked whether a sealer should be applied, we consistently recommend that it should. If you have recently just installed pavers or if you’ve had pavers for ten years and you want to freshen them up, cleaning and sealing them is a sound investment in their well being. It is not a necessary step to owning pavers, but one that will allow you to enjoy them looking beautiful for a long time.

JJW BrickScape offers brick paver sealing to homeowners located in Rochester Hills, Macomb, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, Troy, and many other cities in Oakland and Macomb County Michigan.