Best Practices for Cleaning and Sealing Paver Patios, Walkways & Driveways
Are you wondering how to make your paver patio look new again? Your quest for answers may have led you to a great question, “Do pavers need to be sealed?” And if so, how often does it need to be completed? What kind of prep work should be performed before the sealing?
Or maybe you’re considering installing a paver patio, walkway, or driveway, and have questions surrounding their maintenance.
Cleaning and sealing are two very important steps that you can take to ensure your pavers continue to look and perform their best. But it might not be something you want to tackle on your own. If you’re unsure about how to handle sealing or cleaning pavers, you might be looking to understand what’s involved.
Why Do Pavers Need to be Sealed?
It is definitely recommended that you seal your pavers. This is a practice that should be done approximately every three years, though the exact timeline can vary depending upon factors such as how much sunlight your patio receives and how harsh the weather conditions have been.
Why is it important to regularly seal your pavers? Simply put, sealing pavers is an effort that will help you to protect your investment. In fact, there are a few key benefits to sealing a paver patio, walkway, or driveway, which make it worth doing.
- It reduces moss growth.
- Sealing pavers helps protect your patio from fading.
- When pavers are sealed you can prevent stains and repel oil, grease, and grime.
- It enhances the color, texture, and brightness of your pavers and gives an overall “cleaner” and “fresher” look.
- Sealed pavers can better resist the harsh effects of weather conditions.
Cleaning Paving Stones Prior to Sealing
Having your home’s pavers cleaned and sealed is actually a two-day process which begins with cleaning. Cleaning is performed with a power washer that has a special attachment called a floor scrubber. This attachment helps to give your paver patio, walkway, or driveway an even and thorough cleaning.
Because pavers should be dry before being sealed, they will be left to dry overnight after cleaning is complete. The sealing process will begin on day two.
In terms of the best time to seal a patio, it is a weather-sensitive issue. It is typically recommended that the temperature not dip below 55 degrees during sealing. That’s because the product won’t dry as well.
At Earth, Turf, & Wood, we actually prefer that it is at least 60 degrees, even in the evening hours. That makes mid-summer the best time for sealing pavers, though we may perform these services as early as May and as late as September, depending on weather conditions.
Hiring a Professional for Sealing Pavers
Some people attempt to seal their pavers on their own. While some are successful in handling this work as a DIY project, it’s important to recognize that there are mistakes which can be made. For instance, power washing your pavers without a special attachment can leave unattractive lines in the pavers. You also need to choose the right sealer for the type of paver that you have. If you have a wet-cast paver then you will require a wet-cast sealer.
Some homeowners are worried about making a wrong choice or not performing cleaning or sealing correctly. In these cases, they may prefer to just leave the service up to a professional. This eliminates the hassle involved while also providing peace of mind that it will be done correctly. Instead of having to waste any time worrying about how to do it, all you have to do is enjoy the results. Many homeowners say they feel as though their patio looks new again after a fresh cleaning and sealing.
While we do not typically perform paver sealing as a stand-alone service, at Earth, Turf, & Wood we have handled the ongoing maintenance of patios we’ve installed for clients. In addition, we might also perform paver sealing as part of a larger job for one of our new clients.
Sealing pavers is such an important way to protect your investment and ensure you are able to enjoy your patio, walkway, or driveway for many years to come. Because we want our clients to truly get the most out of their spaces, we encourage all of our clients to make sure they are having their pavers sealed regularly.
If you’d like to discuss your paver patio, driveway, or walkway needs at your Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, Hershey, or Reading, PA home, then contact us for a free consultation.
Art has worked for ETW since 2005. He has an Associates Degree in Design Drafting, which is a great asset in reading plans and managing unexpected challenges that come up during projects. He enjoys working in his yard and spending time in the outdoors. He also enjoys spending time with his family, having individual time alone with each one of them on his Tuesday night date nights. He resides in New Holland, with his wife and three children.
