How Long Should You Wait to Seal Pavers?
This article could be useful for all those who are seeking to find the right answer to the question how long should you wait to seal pavers? We need to understand that paver sealant is important because it helps to keep walkways, patios, pool decks and driveways looking good and appealing to the eye.
How Long Should You Wait to Seal Pavers? — The Perfect Amount of Time
At the same time, we should also realize that overdoing it could lead to problems and the risk of over applying seal pavers should be avoided at all times. Here are a few things that could be useful in finding the right balance.
Is It Important To Seal All Concrete Pavers?
The answer is yes, because concrete is porous and it will start absorbing stains if it is not sealed properly. Further, sealants also offer a protective layer and protect colors from fading. But the challenge lies in buying the right paver sealing products. There are many cheap variants available in the market and you should stay away from those. Just going behind high profile brands or buying it from big stores may not be the right way forward. Not all brands are good because one brand may be very good while the other that might look the same may not be so good. Many experts believe that Techniseal sealants could be the right choice. This is because Techniseal is considered to be a pioneer in this industry. Further, they invest quite a bit in Research & Development and these results in durable and effective products that have been specifically created for maintenance and installation of pavers.
Two Types of Paver Sealants
There are mainly two types of paver sealants. They are film-forming and non film forming types. The former has a semi-gloss or glossy finish while the latter comes with a matte finish. The film-forming sealants are the ones that offer the best possible protection. This is because they help to create a physical barrier as far as the paver surface is concerned. On the other hand non-film forming sealants are also not bad because they do offer very good protection and they perhaps last that much longer.
Some Useful Information About Curing Of Pavers
Let us try and find some answers to the question as to the curing time for pavers before they are sealed. A weeks’ time should be sufficient if you are using non-film forming paver sealants. On the other hand if you are using a film forming sealant, you should have to wait for 30 days so that you do not run the risk of trapping moisture under the protective barrier.
What is The Prep Process?
New pavers should be thoroughly cleaned with professional paver preps before they are cleaned and you should know how much sand you’ll need before installation. It will clean the pavers and also will be able to open the pores on the surface. This will allow better penetration of sealant. Pavers that are old will also stand benefited because paver preps could help in removing any efflorescence that may have accumulated. This is a whitish sort of salt buildup.
The Final Word
We are sure that the above would have given the readers some idea about the question how long should you wait to seal pavers. The rule of thumb is that the sealer should be reapplied every three to five years and there will be some tell-tale signs that should not be ignored. You could see light changes in the color of the pavers and other such things could also be visible.
