How to Apply Paver Sealer
One of the best ways to give your paver patio, walkway, or driveway a professional finish is to apply paver sealer.
This application enables you to protect your exterior hardscape from extreme weather conditions as well as heavy human or vehicle traffic.
In this post, you’ll learn the procedures involved in completing a paver application. Don’t forget to prepare, plan, and apply caution throughout this slightly rigorous process.
What Tools Do You Need for Sealer Application?
Before you get engrossed in sealing your pavers, identify every tool and equipment you might need. Note, however, that you can seal your pavers immediately they’ve been installed or after some days, weeks, months, or years. The best part – pavers are available in all sorts of sizes, colors, and textures. And your choice of sealers is entirely up to you. The most common types of sealers are:
- Water-base/solvent-based sealant (natural look and often more durable)
- Acrylic paver sealer (glossy finish and usually more attractive)
After you have chosen your preferred sealer, purchase products from any of these manufacturers:
- Sherbond
- BP Pro
- Alliance Gator
If you aren’t sure of the best sealer to purchase, ask your pavers contractor. Nonetheless, the key factors when choosing should be longevity, traffic rate, and maintenance requirements.
Having said that, you’ll need:
- A garden hose or pressure washer – for washing the pavers before the sealing begins
- Metal sprayer – the best option for spraying with accuracy
- Roller – another option for applying the sealer
- Rake – for clearing weed, dirt, and other unwanted debris
- Polymeric sand – for filling blasted areas with sand joints
- Push broom – for replacing sand joints
Steps to Follow When Applying Paver Sealer
Now that you’re familiar with the application tools you need, let’s go straight to the preparation routines, application steps, and after-care practices.
Step 1 – Clean, Wash, and Dry the Pavers
The first and most crucial step when applying paver sealer is the cleaning stage. You must clear pavers of stones and dirt that could get held in place when the sealer has been applied.
Rake the area if necessary or simply use a brush. A garden hose is equally necessary for spraying water. Give it 1-2 days to dry before applying the sealer.
Step 2 – Apply the Sealer Using the Metal Sprayer (Preferably)
Next, carefully apply some of the best paver sealers to a small corner of the entire pavement. This test allows you to determine whether you’ve made the right choice of sealer.
If you’re pleased with the results, go ahead and spray the entire area. Remember that less is more; so, try not to overspray.
According to professional paver contractors, the metal sprayer provides more accuracy and consistency. So you might want to go with this. Alternatively, the roller should do.
Step 3 – Give it Time to Dry (About 24 Hours)
When you have applied the sealer successfully, place barricades (if necessary) around the area to ensure that the sealer dries up without any form of traffic.
Further, give it a minimum of 24 hours to sink in correctly and produce the shine that you imagined.
Step 4 – Re-apply the Sealer After a Year or So
Finally, you would need to re-apply paver sealer after a year or two. It’s a fact that the sealer protects the pavers but doesn’t prevent them from wearing. Tire tracks and shoe patterns may soon become an ugly sight.
Hence, find out if you need to wash off the former sealer before reapplication or simply cover the old spray with the new one.
Have you tried applying a paver sealer to your driveway? How easy did it turn out? Share your experience with us!
