Pavers are, arguably, the most popular hardscape element in the market today. Homeowners all across the globe are willing to invest in pavers due to their reliability, aesthetic value and structural strength. Sealing is an important part of any paver installation, so how long does paver sealer last?

This is a very important question. Knowing how long paver sealers last are fundamental to calculate the long term value of any paver installation. Understanding what sealers actually do and how important they are is also very important.

There are many types of sealers available in the market today. Matching what your installation needs with what the sealers provide can sometimes become very complex, so the more information you have, the better.

The goal of this article is to explain how sealers actually work and how you can start thinking about which one is the best for you. So let’s get right into it.

How Long Does Paver Sealer Last?

The answer to that question will greatly depend on what kind of sealers we are talking about. Usually, paver sealers last between 3 and 5 years before needing to be reapplied.

There are basically two broad divisions of sealers: film-forming and non-film-forming.

Film-form sealers show visible signs of damage as time goes by. Those signs can be used as an indicator of when the time has come to reapply the sealer.

As for non-film-forming sealers, it is possible to see a difference in the color of the pavers when they start to become ineffective. That is a clear sign that the sealer need to be reapplied.

The Function of Paver Sealers

Paver expenses are not a trivial matter.

The cost of materials, installation and maintenance categorizes a small renovation. Therefore, pavers can add a tremendous amount of value to a property. For that reason, pavers are considered to be an investment. You pay more upfront to have more returns as time goes by.

When compared to any other “flooring” option in hardscape, like concrete or even regular grass, pavers are the ones who need the least maintenance and can last longer without causing problems.

So it is only fair that you want to protect your investment as best as possible. That’s where sealers come in.

The majority of pavers in the market are composed of porous material. The only exception are porcelain pavers, currently considered the best paver option available.

Being porous, pavers are subjected to absorb water and liquids of all kinds. That can stain the pavers and even cause structural damage as freeze-thaw cycles go by. Sealers prevent that effect and protect pavers against all sorts of stains and absorptions.

As we mentioned before, there are two ways in which they can do that. Let’s talk about each one a little more in depth.

Film-forming Sealers

These are the sealers that create a film protecting the surface of the pavers. The exactly chemical composition may vary from sealer to sealer, but they all follow the same idea: protecting the pavers by placing a coat of protective material on top of them

These sealers can slightly alter the color and texture of the pavers, so they are not recommended if those are things you make a point of maintaining.

On the other hand, some options, when combined with the right kind of paver, can actually increase the looks of it.

Non-film-forming Sealers

Also known as penetrating sealers, these, as the name suggests, act inside the pavers themselves.

Their strategy is to fill the pores of the pavers with specific chemicals. That prevents the pores from being filled with any other material. So liquids that would otherwise be absorbed by the pavers, with no place to go, flow right on top of it.

These are the sealers that least alter the appearance and texture of the pavers. They are usually applied in a spray form.

How to Apply Paver Sealer?

Surprisingly, that is a hard question to answer.

There are so many options of sealers in the market today that it is hard to give a general guide on how to apply it. For example, some require thinning before being applied, while others can be applied directly.

The waiting period from one coat to another can greatly vary, as well as the number of coat that need to applied for the sealer to be successful.

There are many variables involved, and that’s why we always recommend follow the instructions that will certainly come on the label of your sealer of choice. The better you follow the instructions, the better the job will be.

Still, there are some guidelines that all sealers follow.

You should always wait at least 30 days before applying sealer on a new installation or after the deep cleaning of an old one to be prepared for reapplication.

The reason for that is a combination of the curating time of the polymeric sand used in the installation and the for the paver to be completely free of moisture.

Also, the waiting period of usage of the pavers after the application of the sealer is of 24 hours for foot traffic and 48 for vehicular traffic.

Choosing the right Paver Sealer

Making the right choice of sealer can be incredibly complex.

As we explained, there are many variables involved. The material and texture of the paver, the objective of the installation, the location of it, how much directly sunlight does it get. Things can quickly get out of hand for an inexperienced person, and wrong choices often happen in that regard.

That’s why we always recommend contacting professionals when thinking about sealing paver. Qualified hardscape professionals can point in you in the right direction and help you with the sealing of your installation.

Here at Eagle Pavers, we have helped countless homeowners across our 14 years of activity with the sealing of their installation. We know how choices can be tricky sometimes, so we highly recommend you contact a professional in your area to help you.

And if you happen to be around our area of activity, the Sarasota and Manatee counties, in FL, why not give us a call to help you?

You can contact us right now at +1 941-210-4192 or email us at sales@eaglepavers.us. We would be happy to hear from you and help you with your project.