Cleaning and sealing concrete or brick pavers sounds like a pretty easy thing to do. The truth is that it is an involved process and without the proper training, tools and materials it is very easy to screw up.
Sealing pavers and stone is not a do it yourself project. It is extremely time consuming and detail orientated. Having the right equipment and knowing what to look for is extremely important. Sometimes a soft touch is needed and other times you must break out the heavy equipment.
Hiring your landscaping company to clean, install polymeric sand and seal is not a great idea either.
Over the course of the years I've seen situations where when installing polymeric joint sand, they leave too much in the joints and some even on the surface of the pavers. This will cause wide white joints that look like failing grout lines. Then without properly blowing off the pavers it will leave a white haze that will get trapped under the sealer.
Another huge mistake is sealing the pavers before they were dry leading to the white haze on the surface of the pavers. These are all situations that can be around for a long time and although not permanent, you don't need the added expense of doing it a second time.
CLEANING AND SEALING IS NOT A ONE DAY JOB
Sealing your concrete or brick pavers is a wise investment and when installed right can give you years of enjoyment and protection.
Concrete and brick pavers have become very popular for outdoor hardscapes, driveways, patios, sidewalks and outdoor kitchens. Pavers are simply small pre-cast blocks of colored concrete that are assembled in various patterns. Although pavers are very hard and durable, they are also extremely porous. This makes them very vulnerable to oil stains, spills and moisture related problems such as efflorescence. The sand between and below the pavers is also a weak point. It can easily wash away with heavy rain and will also quickly start to grow weeds soon after construction. Both can cause serious structural problems for your pavers. Sealing your pavers can address all these issues, as well as enhance and restore the colors to your pavers. We at Stone Creations of Long Island Pavers and Masonry Corp. have sealers that leave a completely natural appearance, and paver sealers that beautifully enhance the colors and leave a rich wet look.
Sealing not only protects the paver itself, but also the sand between the pavers. As the sealer soaks deep into the sand joint, it hardens and locks the sand into a solid mass that cannot wash away or grow weeds…
www.stonecreationsoflongisland.net
Paul Saladino
Deer Park, N.Y 11729
Office: (631) 678-6896
