Why You Should Hire Paver Professionals

What is paver sealing?

Paver sealing and paver cleaning are beneficial for obvious reasons, such as maintaining your property’s aesthetics. However, the process is different than cleaning and protecting other areas of your home, which is why you may not know of some of the other reasons these things are important.

What is paver sealing?
Paver sealing is the process of applying a chemical to the pavers that will permeate and seal them so that they’re protected. Different types of sealants exist. The one that’s right for your home will depend on what type of pavers you’ve had installed.

What are the different kinds of sealants?
The different types of sealants are essentially different brands that vary in quality. You’ll want to choose one that offers deep penetration because the deeper it goes, the more protection your pavers will receive. There are also two different categories of sealants that you should know about prior to your paver sealing project commencing. These are film-forming (a.k.a., gloss, semi-gloss) and non-film-forming (a.k.a., matte). With the film-forming sealant, you’ll get a wet or clear finish, especially after you’re done with paver cleaning. This provides your pavers with even more protection as the gloss will create an additional physical barrier on your pavers’ surface.

Do you have to seal your pavers?
This is a common question that seemingly everyone asks when they’re having pavers installed for the first time. This question deserves a two-fold answer. First, you should know that paver sealing isn’t necessary for the structure and performance of your pavers. However, professionals do highly recommend it as a way of protecting your pavers’ quality and aesthetics. This, combined with routine paver cleaning, will significantly extend your pavers’ longevity and protect their value.

Why should you seal your pavers?
Your pavers are constructed from porous materials (e.g., concrete). These materials have very tiny spaces inside of them through which liquid and air can travel. Since pavers are made out of these materials, it’s very likely that your pavers will absorb materials and substances (e.g., contaminants, pollutants, oils, dirt, fluids) that’ll significantly impede upon their life span and appearance unless you do a lot of extensive paver cleaning.
Besides simply protecting the appearance of your pavers, paver sealing will also:
• Make the pavers easier to clean.
• Either stop or greatly reduce mold from growing there, thus resulting in grout haze.
• Reduce the wear and tear on your pavers.
• Protect the pavers from harsh weather, especially U.V. sun rays.
• Protect the pavers from spills, especially when such spills may result in stains.
• Stop or significantly deter pests such as ants from infesting your pavers and coming up through them and causing an unsightly mess.

When should pavers be sealed?
There’s no perfect time for laying sealant. Pre-sealing pavers will prolong the installation process since the pavers will need to dry before being laid. However, once your pavers are laid, they’ll need some time to allow moisture to evaporate so that it doesn’t become trapped under the sealant. A professional will be able to advise you when you should have yours sealed.

Should you handle your own paver cleaning and sealing?
Typically, when you hire professionals to lay your pavers, they’ve either suggested or applied a protective sealer to them. Most sealers will protect your pavers for 5 years. There are many great benefits you’ll get throughout this time. While you may be able to get some of these results from a DIY project, they’ll be inconsistent at best. Therefore, you should leave this paver cleaning and sealing project to the professionals at Unreal Paver Seal Tampa Bay in Tampa, FL. Contact us today so that you can save time and money by getting the job done right the first time.