I have always enjoyed getting asked what needs to be done to maintain paver patios because the easy answer is NOTHING.

A good quality paver will last forever. That is the beauty of the segmental paver system, no need for maintenance…

I don’t change my mind very often but a change of mind was in order when it comes to the value of paver maintenance in the form of sealers.

There are a lot of great reasons to consider pavers for your patio, walkway or driveway. One big reason people choose pavers is because of the aesthetic appeal over concrete. They look amazing and the things we can do with paver patterns and colors are unmatched in any other surface.
In my line of work, I have to pay for a lot of insurance which is probably one reason why I hate insurance. But some things need to be protected.
Your paver surface is an investment and should be protected. Luckily the insurance is cheap and the protection is good.

The best way to protect and enhance your hardscape project is to have it professionally sealed.

What you need to know:

Sealers come in 3 different finishes: Matte, gloss and wet look.

-Matte finish protects against all mother nature can throw at your patio. It also helps to strengthen the polymeric joint sand between pavers that provides interlock and prevents weeds and ants from ruining your patio. If you do not like the wet look but want protection, this is the right choice for you.

-Gloss finish is exactly what the name implies, it provides all the same protection against the elements but with a couple of differences. The Gloss sealer comes with an antimicrobial agent that prevents mold and mildew from forming on pavers in shady areas that do not dry well.  In addition, this sealer can protect with one coat, but if a high gloss is desired, two coats will really make it shine.

-OK, you have put 3 coats of gloss on and it still just does not have enough bling for you.

-Wet look sealers make your pavers look like glass. It comes with the same protection and antimicrobial agent as the gloss but more shine. It is the most aggressive aesthetic difference you can make with a sealer. It also typically lasts a little bit longer than the matte or gloss which leads me to my next point.

Yes, you will have to have it re sealed.

The matte and Gloss finish (depending on how many coats are applied) typically last about 3 years. If you use the same exact kind of sealer, the old sealer does not have to be stripped off. If you want to switch to a wet look from the Gloss, the old stuff has to be stripped off first.

I know you are wondering what all these strippers and sealers will do to your prized rose bushes.

It varies, companies like SEK do manufacture environmentally friendly products but they are still chemicals so steps do have to be taken to protect vegetation. In many cases we pre-saturate the soil around the plants or grass with tons of clean water so the roots don’t take in any of the chemicals and/or cover them with plastic.

So consider your options, at the very least a matte finish sealer will provide years of protection to keep your paver surface looking new.

Ask us anything and if I don’t know the answer, I will find out.