Pressure Cleaning and Sealing
What does sealing do for pavers?
How long does the process take?
When do my pavers need re-sanding?
Will sealing my pavers make then shine?
How can you tell if you need to reseal your pavers?
How often do I need to reseal my pavers?
I had my pavers sealed before but there's a white cloudy film on the surface, can it be fixed?
What am I to expect when you come and do repairs, pressure cleaning and sealing for me?
What does sealing do for pavers?
Sealing is meant to protect pavers from the elements (i.e. rain, sun etc...) and anything foreign that were to fall on them. It creates an invisible barrier on top of the pavers that repels water, oil and anything else you might accidentally drop on your pavers, as long as you wash it clean as soon as possible. Sealing also preserves natural beauty of the pavers for years to come. Unfortunately, sealing does not prevent ants from coming up from your lawn or weeds from sprouting up due to seeds in the air. Other products may take care of those issues for you, like a good ant killer sprayed in the yard, and a good weed killer.
How long does the process take?
It's usually a 1 or 2-day process (weather permitting). The first day, a chemical wash is done if necessary, followed by pressure cleaning (stubborn penetrating stains like oil and rust may not come out). The second day, given that the surface to be sealed is completely dry, a sealer is applied to the pavers.
One or two coats are applied depending on the need. We suggest keeping vehicles off the areas 48 hours after sealing is completed. Pedestrians may walk on the sealed surface after just a couple of hours.
When do my pavers need re-sanding?
Fine sand is the finishing touch of any paver job. It gets into the spaces between the pavers and secures them, preventing them from moving or shifting. After pressure cleaning, sometimes sand is blasted out of place. Re-sanding is recommended where necessary. Most people think that the sand needs to come all the way to the surface. Sand is securing the pavers together and does not need to be seen to do its job. If spaces are unusually large between the pavers, they might be shifting due to damage to the edge restraints and you might be in need of some repairs.
Will sealing my pavers make then shine?
Sealing is made to protect the pavers and also to preserve their beauty. When a sealer is applied, it enhances the original colors. Some times you might get the pavers to shine, but it depends on your pavers' colors. Darker colors tend to have a more noticeable sheen then lighter ones. Again this is a bonus that comes with sealing and not its main purpose.
How can you tell if you need to reseal your pavers?
A simple test can help you tell if you need sealing or not, but it's not the only one. Turn on your water hose and watch water bead up on the surface. If water is not beading, you might need a fresh coat of sealer.
How often do I need to reseal my pavers?
Usually a good sealing job, with a good product should last between one and a half to two years depending on the care given to the area, the traffic, and the elements (i.e. rain, sun etc...).
I had my pavers sealed before but there's a white cloudy film on the surface, can it be fixed?
Your pavers are porous. When sealer is applied to your driveway for instance, the pavers absorb it. Two reasons cause that white cloudy film on your pavers:
Number one is moisture. If after pressure cleaning, the job is not given time enough to dry completely,the sealer then traps moisture inside the paver itself. When that moisture tries to escape it is blocked by the barrier set up by the sealer and causes that white look. It is possible to improve the look of your pavers if this happens, but the results do vary.
Number two is saturation. Since the pavers are porous as previously explained, if too much sealer is applied, the paver becomes saturated with the product and becomes not only white, but also very slippery and dangerous. Improving the look of your pavers if this happens is very difficult and costly and is not guaranteed either. A good alternative would be Color Sealing (staining).
What am I to expect when you come and do repairs, pressure cleaning and sealing for me?
The pressure cleaning and sealing process takes one or two days. Repairs less than one thousand square feet usually take one day (or less) to complete. All work is done weather permitting. If we are to do work around a pool, great care will be taken in keeping your pool clean, but even though we are careful your pool will be subject to debris (i.e. sand, dirt, etc...) from pressure cleaning, re-sanding and/or repairs. We suggest you contact your pool maintenance company to inspect your filters and clean your pool upon completion of our work. We will coordinate with you for the date work is to be performed. Please feel free to contact us for any other questions or concerns you may have.
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