How Long Does Paver Sealing Last? (Expert Sealant Guide)

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If you’re a homeowner or commercial property owner, it’s vital you know how long paver sealing lasts, as regular sealing protects concrete, asphalt, stone, and similar surfaces from excess wear and tear, weather exposure, and other damage.

Your property’s pavers should be sealed every 3-5 years. This schedule will vary according to area weather conditions, traffic, rainfall amounts, and how well you clean and maintain that pavement throughout the year.

To help keep your property’s exterior stone, concrete, and asphalt surfaces in good condition, you might consider some added details about paver sealers including their benefit and costs. It’s also helpful to note a few simple tips for protecting exterior walkways, driveways, and parking lots, so fresh sealant lasts as long as possible.

Remember to discuss all these points with a paver cleaning and sealing company near you, and note any damage you notice as well. A paver sealing contractor can typically offer personalized suggestions for your property, so you always keep exterior surfaces in good repair and looking their best!

How Long Does Paver Sealing Last?

While paver sealing might last an average of 3-5 years, consider why you might need to adjust that schedule, either putting off sealing for a few years or scheduling cleaning and sealing more often than average!

• Harsh weather conditions take a toll on even the strongest paving material! Hot, direct sunlight dries out stone and asphalt especially, making these materials brittle and more likely to break.
• High winds literally etch pavement surfaces, weakening the material and increasing the risk of spalling.
• Not only does heavy snow increase the risk of cracks and potholes, but scraping stone pavers, asphalt, and concrete with snowplow blades also damages those surfaces! Corrosive snow salt also eats away at their binders, leading to chips and cracks.
• Pavement suffers wear and tear every time you drive over it! The heavier the vehicles and the higher the traffic, the more wear that pavement suffers.
• Water is the natural enemy of asphalt and concrete, as binders used to keep these materials together degrade when exposed to moisture. The more rainfall in your area, the more protection needed for pavement and pavers.
• Motor oil, snow salt, lawn care chemicals, and other such debris eat away at the asphalt, concrete, and paver stones. Power washing removes these corrosive materials, keeping pavement in good repair while neglecting needed pressure washing increases the risk of damage. The more you neglect regular cleaning, the more often your pavement and pavers need sealing!
• Poor-quality sealants and application or common mistakes such as mixing sealant brands decrease the life of paver sealers.

Does Paver Sealer Wear Off?

Nothing lasts forever, and that includes paver sealer! Over time, sealant becomes thin and worn so that it offers your pavement and stone pavers far less protection. Mold, mildew, algae, weeds, and chemicals also tend to erode pavement sealers, making them less effective at protecting stone and pavement.

One sure sign that your paver sealer has worn away are dark areas on your property’s brick and stone, and especially after it rains. Dark areas mean that the pavers are absorbing more water and not drying as they should; since sealant provides a barrier against water, once those pavers stay wet longer than they should, it’s time for fresh paver sealant!

While most sealant lasts from 3 to 5 years, remember that there is no “one size fits all” formula for when the sealant wears away, as said. If you notice dark areas, stains, mold, and other signs that your pavers need fresh sealant, call a paver cleaning and sealing company and schedule a fresh coat of sealant for your property’s pavers or pavement.

What Is the Cost to Seal Pavers?

Most contractors determine paver sealing pricing by the square foot, and you might expect to pay anywhere from $0.75 to $12 per square foot for your property. Why such a huge discrepancy in price?

The brand and quality of sealer chosen is one vital factor; the better the sealer, the higher its cost, but the less often it will need a fresh coat over the years! Some contractors might also include a full-scale cleaning along with sealing, which improves paver appearance while ensuring a more thorough job.

A skilled and experienced contractor will also typically charge a bit more, because they might spot paver damage more readily or ensure a more thorough job than someone with less industry experience. Investing in a higher-quality contractor means a better job that looks more attractive and lasts longer!

Does Sealing Pavers Prevent Mold?

Sealing pavers protects stone and other surfaces from water damage and everyday wear, and from harsh sunlight and weather conditions, as said. Note some added reasons you should invest in consistent paver sealing:

• Sealant repels weeds, grass, mold, mildew, moss, algae, and other vegetation. If you notice mold growing along paver surfaces, it’s probably time for fresh sealant.
• Sealed pavers repel stains, vital for patios and outdoor kitchens as well as surfaces exposed to motor oil and other such fluids.
• As pavers freeze and thaw, they shrink and expand, increasing the risk of cracks, spalling, and other damage. Sealant helps inhibit that freeze-thaw cycle, reducing surface cracks.
• Sealant repels insects, reducing the risk of infestation in stone and brick pavers.
• The natural colors of brick and stone as well as concrete paint and stain tend to fade over time, especially when exposed to harsh sunlight and extreme weather. Sealant protects those colors, keeping pavers and other outdoor surfaces looking fresh over the years.
• Evaporated pool water contains chlorine and other chemicals that settle onto nearby pavers and concrete. Sealers protect surfaces from resultant drying and other damage.

Can You Pressure Wash Pavers?

Pressure washing is an excellent way to clean mold, dried dust, ground-in dirt, and other debris from pavers, and is often the only solution for removing corrosive motor oil, snow salt, and other harmful agents, but only if it’s done properly! Using too much pressure on stone, brick, asphalt, and concrete can lead to splits, cracks, chips, and spalling, as well as splashing and splattering that leaves behind an even bigger mess than before.

Pavers are often difficult to clean properly, as dirt and grime gets ground into their surface pits and pores. Many paver cleaning and sealing contractors use soft wash systems, which start with specialty detergents designed to penetrate those crevices, dissolving thick dirt. A low-pressure rinse is all that’s needed to then remove that debris.

Specialty scrub brushes meant for patio pavers in particular also help loosen dirt and grime but without dislodging stone tiles. Your local paver cleaning or power washing contractor might suggest the best way to remove dirt and grime from your property’s pavers and pavement, to keep it clean and looking its best.

Will Vinegar Damage Pavers?

Vinegar is an excellent cleaning solution for glass and other interior surface materials, but not exterior pavers! Never use vinegar on brick, stone, concrete, and other such surfaces, as vinegar is far too acidic for those materials.

When trying to address stubborn stains and spots along paver surfaces, use a mixture of one cup dish soap diluted in one gallon warm water and spray or simply dump this soapy water onto your pavers. Scrub the area with a soft-bristled brush meant for exterior pavers and then rinse away that debris.

For mold, moss, and other vegetation, dilute a cup of chlorine bleach into a gallon of water and spray this mixture directly onto surfaces; let it sit for several minutes so the bleach can work to kill mold spores and other roots. Rinse the mixture away and then use your dish soap and water mixture to clean any bleach residues.

Quick Tips for Protecting Pavers & Other Exterior Surfaces

Regular paver cleaning and sealing is the best way to protect exterior surfaces from damage. It’s also good to ensure vehicles are in good condition so they don’t drip oil and fluids onto asphalt and other such surfaces. Avoid heavy traffic and vehicles not meant for that pavement or its thickness; if you must drive heavy vehicles over your residential or commercial pavement, consider adding a few inches of thickness to its surface so it can manage that weight.

Stone pavers, asphalt, and concrete need protection from potential water damage from both their surface and underside! These materials absorb water from overly moist soil, so it’s vital you keep your property graded properly. Ensure any buried irrigation features are in good repair and not leaking water under pavement or pavers as well.

While stone pavers and other materials might seem strong and durable and impervious to surface damage, avoid scraping them with snowblower blades and other sharp tools and equipment, as said. Use sand or natural deicing materials rather than corrosive rock salt, where needed. It’s also helpful to hose off pavers and pavement after applying lawn care chemicals and fertilizers, or cutting the grass, to remove corrosive substances, wet grass clippings, and other debris.

This information is proudly presented by Sarasota Paver Cleaning and Sealing. If you’re still wondering, how long does paver sealing last, don’t hesitate to give us a call! We offer a wide range of paver cleaning and paver sealing services as well as all the exterior pressure washing in Sarasota you need to have done.