No hardscape element is as reliable and cost beneficial as pavers. There’s a reason why they are the centerpiece of many projects. Therefore, they need all the protection they can receive, and sealing is an important part of this protection. So what exactly is paver sealer, and how long does it take for a paver sealer to dry?

As popular as they are, many people still don’t know pavers need to be sealed in order to last for as long as they can. But sealing is an important aspect of any paver installation. An important aspect that cannot be ignored.

The goal of this article is to explain what exactly are paver sealers, why are they so important, and how long you should wait for a paver sealer to dry. And, at the end, we will give you a simple guide on how you can apply sealer to your new paver installation yourself.

How Long for Paver Sealer to Dry?

First thing you need to know about sealing is that there’s an incredible array of options in the market. Each option has its own mixture method, applying rules and drying time. Still, they greatly vary in details, but the overall gist of it stays the same.

Most sealers take between 4 and 12 hours to dry. However, they still continue to harden for the next 36 to 48 hours. As an industry guideline, it is recommended that you wait at least 36 hours before allowing for foot traffic on a recently sealed installation. As for vehicular traffic, you should wait at least 48 hours.

What are Paver Sealers?

Paver sealers are substances that are applied to the pavers in order to prevent humidity absorption.

They are divided in two different categories: topic sealers or penetrating sealers.

Topic sealers are the ones who create a film on top of the pavers. This film can alter the looks and texture of the pavers, but in return they prevent water from penetrating it. The water can then freely flow on the surface and be directed towards the proper drainage system.

Penetrating sealers act inside the pavers. They go inside each paver and fill up their pores, essentially turning a porous material into a non-porous one. These alter the visual and texture of the pavers much less, but, in the end, they do the exact same job.

Sealers also protect pavers against any form of stain that can happen from biological material staying on top of it for too long, like leaves and spills.

The Importance of Paver Sealers

Pavers are not exactly cheap.

Still, they are very much worth the price. They are considered a small renovation element that add a tremendous amount of value to a property. When properly cared for, they can last a lifetime without losing a fraction of their original value.

But part of maintaining that value for the long run and protecting your investment is to have a good maintenance routine. Sealing is the very first step of this maintenance.

Sealer will, as we mentioned, protect the pavers against all sorts of stains, spills and liquids. But they do much more. They also protect the pavers against freeze-thaw cycles in extreme weather regions. They prevent the appearance of weeds, mold and mildew.

Sealers are the first and most important line of defense your pavers have against several factors.

Applying Paver Sealer

Here a disclaimer is necessary: choosing the right sealer is not as easy as it sounds, and mixing it is even harder. Due to the aforementioned great amount of options in the market, the choice can be overwhelming.

Sealers can either be applied by a pump and spray method or using a paint roller. The pump and spray is by far the easiest, and sealer that use this method usually come ready to be applied, skipping the mixture part, that can be really complicated depending on the product.

We recommend you chose one of those pump and spray method, since their application is much simpler and safer.

The goal is to work on small manageable areas, one at a time, until you can cover the entire area and going back for a second coat of the product.

Not much mystery when it comes to the pump and spray method. Simply walk around spraying the sealer on the pavers evenly. Make sure the section you’re working on is evenly wet before moving on to the next.

Wait at least 5 minutes before walking on a recently sprayed area to apply a second coat of sealer. At the end of the application of the second coat, the job is done. After 36 hours, the installation is safe to be walked upon. After 48 hours, it is same to receive vehicular traffic.

Professional Paver Sealer Application

Sealing is extremely important for the long term cost benefit of pavers. From our perspective, it is, in fact, too important and too complex to tackled from a DIY perspective. Your best course of action to make sure you end up with a job well done is to hire professionals to help you.

A qualified hardscape contractor can help you choose the right sealer for your installation and apply it as best as possible, without waste of resources.

We here at Eagle Pavers, over our 14 years of activity, have helped many homeowners across the Sarasota and Manatee counties sealing their installations, so we know the importance of good practices when it comes to it.

Don’t hesitate and look for a hardscape professional in your area to help you.

In fact, if you happen to be around our area of activity, 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 porcelain paver project.