Paver Sealing & Cleaning
CABCO- Regarding Paver Sealing
We are not in the paver sealing business, as such the following are observations only. CABCO makes no
guarantees or warranties of the accuracy, results or outcomes that may arise from observations below.
Do your own due diligence. In all cases: Manufacture directions supersede everything
Some General Information:
Why seal? Sealers help hold color longer in our Arizona Sun. Sealers help hold sand to stay in the sand joints. Sealers slow spills from absorbing in, so makes spills easier to clean. It appears that almost all sealers as with cleaning will enhance colors. Wet look sealers will usually really pop color.
Sealers generally come in 3 choices of finish. A natural (dry look), a satin or semi gloss (as name implies) and a gloss or (wet look). There are two basic chemical compositions like paints- a water based and a solvent based. Brand quality, traffic and sun exposure will determine how long the sealer will last. Our experience is 1 year to perhaps 5 years or so.
Which sealer to use? There are many opinions on which is best, and some conflicting opinions on use as well. We do not seal pavers, but we can point out some products that are locally available or on Amazon. These are Quikrete Products, Behr, Glaze & Seal, Classic Coatings, Diedrich, Ghostshield, Foundation, and Lastiseal products. WE MAKE NO RECOMMENDATION as to suitability, just some that are most popular. Some additional resources are below;
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-paver-sealer/
https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/home-goods/best-concrete-sealers
https://www.concretesealerreview.com/best-brick-paver-sealer/
https://www.radonseal.com/articles/paver-sealer.htm
Preparation
For best sealing results the sand joints should be filled and swept clean, the pavers should be clean, if not clean, look at section below this called Paver Cleaning. Be sure pavers are completely dry for at least 48 hours before any sealing, even when using vapor permeable sealers. If you trap water you will likely get a whitish haze trapped under the sealer. Do not try to seal when temperature is below 50 or above 90 degrees, or windy conditions.
How to Apply
Sealers are sprayed, sprayed and brushed, rolled or broomed, depending on sealer's manufacture recommendations.
Sealer recommendations should be closely followed. Washed out color, or actual damage to the paver surfaces can happen. Most sealers seem to be applied with a pump type hand sprayer. We have seen good results with 1-2 gallon garden type sprayers. Do a small test area with a paint brush in a inconspicuous area. Let fully dry and confirm its the look you want. Start from the rear of paver field, do in sections like 5x5 foot and work your way back out to it's entrance. Some sealers require 2 coats, follow instructions accordingly.
Precautions
PPE- At a minimum proper eye protection, and gloves along with any further requirements provided by the sealer manufacture should be used.
A vapor approved mask or painters cartridge type mask should be available and with some products it could be mandatory. Precaution with sprayers when using solvent based sealers in hot weather: if stopping for more than a few minutes, release pressure with vent, then crack open the fill tube so the tank can vent. We have heard of solvent sealers expanded greatly in the sun and blowing a plastic sprayer apart.Keep in mind spray may reach out to adjacent structures and plants and damage them. Avoid over-spray and never seal on a windy day, due to over spray concerns and debris sticking to paver surface before it dries. In all cases, sealing procedures should be started in small inconspicuous areas to ensure the sealing method is effective, and providing the desired results. Let dry and confirm surface remains with no hazing. Never assume- always test to ensure desired results. Some sealers take awhile to dry, so once dry confirm it's the look you want.
In all cases, sealing procedures should be started in small inconspicuous areas to ensure the sealing method is effective, and providing the desired results. Let dry and confirm surface remains with no hazing. Never assume- always test to ensure desired results. Some sealers take awhile to dry, so once above confirms look you want. Start from the rear of paver field, and work your way back out.
Form 8/2024
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CABCO- Regarding Paver Cleaning
We are not in the paver cleaning business, as such the following are observations only. CABCO makes no
guarantees or warranties of the accuracy, results or outcomes that may arise from observations below.
Do your own due diligence.
For just a cleaning of dirt and grime, a light power wash with clean water (under 2000 PSI with fan spray head) (no hot water pressure washers), keeping the nozzle a minimum of 6” from surface and away from sanded joints.
If pavers have stains on surface or a haze, a good masonry cleaner may be needed. (Diedrich, Prosoco, BP-Pro, etc.). The cleaning agent manufacturer's recommendations should be closely followed since some products can not only damage the pavers, but can also cause
injuries to personnel. We have noticed very good results with efforescence cleaner /removers. Normally the cleaner can be applied with
a pump type hand sprayer. Make sure cleaning solution does not rust internals in any sprayer. For most cleaners, follow almost immediately
with clean water power wash, with enough volume to completely dilute the cleaner.
As a general recommendation for all cleaning efforts, care should be taken to use a cleaning method that is as non-aggressive as possible
so as not to damage the paver surface, color or surrounding materials.
PPE- At a minimum proper eye protection, and gloves along with any further requirements provided by the cleaning agent, shall be used.
Keep in mind spray may reach out to adjacent structures, personal and plants and damage them. Avoid overspray
and never wash on a windy day.
In all cases, cleaning procedures should be started in small inconspicuous areas to ensure the cleaning method is effective,
non-damaging, and providing the desired results. Let dry and confirm surface is clean with no color change or streaking. Never
assume- always test. Color pigments may contain various minerals which will react differently to cleaners. Once the effectiveness
of the cleaning method is determined it then may be applied to the rest of the project.
Form 1/2024
We are not in the paver sealing business, as such the following are observations only. CABCO makes no
guarantees or warranties of the accuracy, results or outcomes that may arise from observations below.
Do your own due diligence. In all cases: Manufacture directions supersede everything
Some General Information:
Why seal? Sealers help hold color longer in our Arizona Sun. Sealers help hold sand to stay in the sand joints. Sealers slow spills from absorbing in, so makes spills easier to clean. It appears that almost all sealers as with cleaning will enhance colors. Wet look sealers will usually really pop color.
Sealers generally come in 3 choices of finish. A natural (dry look), a satin or semi gloss (as name implies) and a gloss or (wet look). There are two basic chemical compositions like paints- a water based and a solvent based. Brand quality, traffic and sun exposure will determine how long the sealer will last. Our experience is 1 year to perhaps 5 years or so.
Which sealer to use? There are many opinions on which is best, and some conflicting opinions on use as well. We do not seal pavers, but we can point out some products that are locally available or on Amazon. These are Quikrete Products, Behr, Glaze & Seal, Classic Coatings, Diedrich, Ghostshield, Foundation, and Lastiseal products. WE MAKE NO RECOMMENDATION as to suitability, just some that are most popular. Some additional resources are below;
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-paver-sealer/
https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/home-goods/best-concrete-sealers
https://www.concretesealerreview.com/best-brick-paver-sealer/
https://www.radonseal.com/articles/paver-sealer.htm
Preparation
For best sealing results the sand joints should be filled and swept clean, the pavers should be clean, if not clean, look at section below this called Paver Cleaning. Be sure pavers are completely dry for at least 48 hours before any sealing, even when using vapor permeable sealers. If you trap water you will likely get a whitish haze trapped under the sealer. Do not try to seal when temperature is below 50 or above 90 degrees, or windy conditions.
How to Apply
Sealers are sprayed, sprayed and brushed, rolled or broomed, depending on sealer's manufacture recommendations.
Sealer recommendations should be closely followed. Washed out color, or actual damage to the paver surfaces can happen. Most sealers seem to be applied with a pump type hand sprayer. We have seen good results with 1-2 gallon garden type sprayers. Do a small test area with a paint brush in a inconspicuous area. Let fully dry and confirm its the look you want. Start from the rear of paver field, do in sections like 5x5 foot and work your way back out to it's entrance. Some sealers require 2 coats, follow instructions accordingly.
Precautions
PPE- At a minimum proper eye protection, and gloves along with any further requirements provided by the sealer manufacture should be used.
A vapor approved mask or painters cartridge type mask should be available and with some products it could be mandatory. Precaution with sprayers when using solvent based sealers in hot weather: if stopping for more than a few minutes, release pressure with vent, then crack open the fill tube so the tank can vent. We have heard of solvent sealers expanded greatly in the sun and blowing a plastic sprayer apart.Keep in mind spray may reach out to adjacent structures and plants and damage them. Avoid over-spray and never seal on a windy day, due to over spray concerns and debris sticking to paver surface before it dries. In all cases, sealing procedures should be started in small inconspicuous areas to ensure the sealing method is effective, and providing the desired results. Let dry and confirm surface remains with no hazing. Never assume- always test to ensure desired results. Some sealers take awhile to dry, so once dry confirm it's the look you want.
In all cases, sealing procedures should be started in small inconspicuous areas to ensure the sealing method is effective, and providing the desired results. Let dry and confirm surface remains with no hazing. Never assume- always test to ensure desired results. Some sealers take awhile to dry, so once above confirms look you want. Start from the rear of paver field, and work your way back out.
Form 8/2024
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CABCO- Regarding Paver Cleaning
We are not in the paver cleaning business, as such the following are observations only. CABCO makes no
guarantees or warranties of the accuracy, results or outcomes that may arise from observations below.
Do your own due diligence.
For just a cleaning of dirt and grime, a light power wash with clean water (under 2000 PSI with fan spray head) (no hot water pressure washers), keeping the nozzle a minimum of 6” from surface and away from sanded joints.
If pavers have stains on surface or a haze, a good masonry cleaner may be needed. (Diedrich, Prosoco, BP-Pro, etc.). The cleaning agent manufacturer's recommendations should be closely followed since some products can not only damage the pavers, but can also cause
injuries to personnel. We have noticed very good results with efforescence cleaner /removers. Normally the cleaner can be applied with
a pump type hand sprayer. Make sure cleaning solution does not rust internals in any sprayer. For most cleaners, follow almost immediately
with clean water power wash, with enough volume to completely dilute the cleaner.
As a general recommendation for all cleaning efforts, care should be taken to use a cleaning method that is as non-aggressive as possible
so as not to damage the paver surface, color or surrounding materials.
PPE- At a minimum proper eye protection, and gloves along with any further requirements provided by the cleaning agent, shall be used.
Keep in mind spray may reach out to adjacent structures, personal and plants and damage them. Avoid overspray
and never wash on a windy day.
In all cases, cleaning procedures should be started in small inconspicuous areas to ensure the cleaning method is effective,
non-damaging, and providing the desired results. Let dry and confirm surface is clean with no color change or streaking. Never
assume- always test. Color pigments may contain various minerals which will react differently to cleaners. Once the effectiveness
of the cleaning method is determined it then may be applied to the rest of the project.
Form 1/2024
Before Cleaning After Cleaning
