Why should you seal your pavers?

There are many reasons you should seal your pavers, the least of these are
The aesthetic results of the product.

With so many types of sealers available which is the right one?
Good question, but you first have to ask, what is the objective and other details

* Do we want to make this attractive?
* Do we want to protect?
* Do we want to achieve both?
* Do we want to enhance the color?
* Are we making a repair?

The answer is to give up trying to a professional researcher in the Interlocking Paver cementious field and call upon a company that works hand-in-hand with that kind of company. They can address each application and make the right vehicle choice and right product choice. There is no ONE sealer that does it all. A professional will use the right sealer for the right application.

In a nutshell here is what you have:

When trying to achieve:
A Flat look or appearance….Silicates or Siliconates V-SEAL 101 or DP120
A Shine………...1 coat of high solid acrylic……… Industra-Gloss SB/WB
A Gloss…………..2 Coats of high solid acrylic Industra-Gloss SB/WB
A Gloss…old pavers..2 Coats of high solid acrylic Industra-Gloss SB/WB

A non-Slip surface…shine, flat, gloss, etc…call this one in
Commercial or Industrial applications…Polyurethanes, Epoxies, Fluoropolymers, etc.

" Point here re: Acrylics….There are 2 versions
WB { Waterborne } & SB { SolventBorne}
We want to disperse of some rumors here. There have been some great new technologies in the WB Waterborne Acrylic sealers and they can perform as well as the SB Solvent Borne Sealers. But there is still a place to use each.

Normally if you are happy with the color look of your paver, a waterborne can be just fine, if it is the right waterborne, high-solid, truly non-yellowing acrylic, warm climate, but if it is a cold climate the SB Solvent-borne is a better call and especially if you are trying to enhance the color a little. We can go into more details as each scenario surfaces.

The functional reasons for sealing your pavers are as follows:
1. Protects the paver from stain penetration
2. Helps prevent insect intrusion
3. Resists mildew
4. Inhibits weed growth
5. Helps prevent tire marking
6. Stops harmful UV rays
7. Eliminates efflorescence (the white dusty looking coating often encountered in concrete pavers)
8. Enhances long term functional performance and ease of maintenance
Another reason you may want to use a solvent-based over a water-based acrylic sealer?
Solvent based sealers provide traditionally deeper penetration than some water based products. Acrylic, when dissolved into a solvent, is able to penetrate as far as the solvent will penetrate the paver. When suspended in a water base, the acrylic will only penetrate as far as the acrylic solids will penetrate.

This deeper solvent penetration and higher acrylic solid content can provide longer protection from surface wear and environmental conditions.

The solvent based technology also provides an inherently re-coatable surface. Soiled pavers are actually fairly easy to clean and re-seal without the use of any extremely hazardous materials, as the stains are captured by the acrylic and don't penetrate the paver.

Worn and damaged pavers can be replaced, and sealed to closely match surrounding pavers.

Remember, a thorough cleaning is necessary for best performance of any sealer !

V-SEAL / TARA group, LLC / USA
Courtesy of Whites Paver Sealing in FL.
ICRI { International Concrete Repair Institute }