Whether your project involves sandstone, limestone, porcelain, brick, or even a trusted slab of concrete, it’s highly recommended that you seal your paving. The way that you seal your paving – and the materials that you use – could be the difference between new paving that adds value and functionality to your property, and one that begins to deteriorate within months.
Let’s discuss the best way to seal paving, the materials you’ll need for the project, and the advantages of certain sealants over others. For all your paving products, needs, questions, and concerns, there’s nobody better to speak to than our knowledgeable RF Paving team.
The Benefits of Sealing Paving
In essence, sealing is a straightforward task, and it normally comes at the end of the landscaping project when all of the hard work is complete. Choose the right product, apply it with care, look after your paving in the correct way, and you’ll barely need to worry about upkeeping your paving at all. Sadly, it’s an essential step that many people unknowingly skip.
Failing to seal your paving correctly will lead to nothing but frustration and wasted time. Materials will begin to wear much sooner than anticipated, and you’ll make significantly more work for yourself upkeeping the design.
Follow these steps to provide your paving with a seal that is long-lasting, durable, and doesn’t tarnish its appearance.
Do Your Research and Purchase the Right Supplies
Before you even begin checking the weather forecast, you need to decide which type of sealant you want. There are typically two choices: gloss finish or matt finish.
Gloss finish sealants (wet look and clear look) will add another physical layer on top of your paving. These sealants are likely to make your paving look darker, or ‘wet’, and will certainly alter its appearance. This creates a strong seal, but remember that it will not harden the sand or the grout as effectively. If you haven’t used sand or if the pavers are laid close together, this is an ideal option.
On the other hand, matt finish sealants will not alter the appearance of your paving. These sealants are water-based and tend to be used for porous paving such as bricks. This seal isn’t quite as strong as the gloss seal, but it still creates a strong seal by penetrating your paving and hardening the sand (or grout) joints.
Check the Forecast
It seems obvious, but plenty of people have made this mistake. Be sure that once you clean your paving, you’re allowing it to dry for at least a day. Then, you’ll need to apply it on a dry day so that it has time to create an efficient seal before any potential rains arrive.
Clean the Paving
Once you have all the equipment you’ll need (roller kit, pressure washer, sealant), you need to prepare the paving. Even if it’s freshly-laid paving, make sure to clean the paving as much as possible and clear away any debris. That means removing any weeds too.
Apply Your Sealant
Even sealant is different, no matter how many of them you’ve seen. Be sure to read the instructions on the product and follow the recommendations for your sealant.
But before you go covering your whole patio, apply the sealant to a small area, and check the seal. Is it what you’re looking for? Does the new appearance meet your requirements? Allow it to dry and test your sealant. Once you’re happy with the results, you can continue applying the sealant to the rest of the paving.
Apply your sealant using a specific pattern or method. This way you’ll always know which section has already been sealed, and you won’t be forced to walk over wet sealant during the procedure. Be sure to apply it evenly, and make sure that you don’t overdo it – the more sealant you apply, the longer it will take to dry.
Take Care of Your Equipment
Once you’ve applied your sealant, clean your roller or nozzle immediately. It’s important to remove the materials before they begin to harden. That way, if another layer of sealant is required, your equipment will be good to go.
Review and Re-Seal as Required
Once your paving has been sealed, the job isn’t done – unfortunately, this is something you’ll need to maintain regularly. Gloss sealants will last longer than water-based sealants, but that comes at the cost of darker, wetter looking paving.
Check your paving as often as is necessary – the manufacturer will normally recommend a minimum time before you consider resealing. This could be anything between 6 weeks and 6 months. Be sure to apply another coat of sealant when necessary and your paving will always keep its clean, fresh, and durable look.
Paving Products and Sealant with RV Paving
We’ve sold thousands of paving slabs to landscaping projects throughout the United Kingdom, and our experienced staff always make sure that you know how to take care of your paving.
When you apply the correct sealant, you’ll protect your paving from the effects of the British weather and make it easier to clean any spillages or marks. Leaf stains, grime, and tyre marks won’t appear on your paving quite as easily.
Speak to our friendly team today to find out how we can help you get the materials and advice you need for the long-lasting paving that you’ve been dreaming of.