karyn_gw

Paver stones - seal vs no sealing?

karyn
6 år siden

We are in process of building a screened in patio (aka lanai in FL) and are going back and forth about having it sealed or not. The installer has suggested sealing. I should add our entire driveway is also all pavers like this. Sealing in and of itself requires regular maintenance and recurring resealing with the possibility of trapping the "salts" (efflorescence) that emit from the stones underneath it - creating a white hazy appearance. It also could mean paying to strip the sealing off if it's gone bad - or worst case replacing the pavers entirely.

On the positive side - sealing would provide a barrier against the mold and slime that accumulates on everything in contact with the 100% humidity cess pool that is Florida. Since pavers are porous, this kind of growth will be as happy as a pig in swill. It could be kept at bay with no sealing and regular pressure washing, and possibly chemicals. But sealing seems to make some sense in this environment especially.

This area will be just general use - almost never eating out (weather rarely permits that) - so more or less just an area for casual gathering and the dog to run and play. Point being - there's less chance of needing "protection" from spills - one of the big selling point of the sealing companies. There is no risk of weeds on the lanai part - there is a concrete pad underneath, but the driveway (on sand base) already has some, just 2 months old.

Of course the "sealing companies" tell you what they do is better than big box store DIY sealing because it's "special". It all seems like smoke and mirrors to us. We're just undecided though...

(2) kommentarer

  • PRO
    DJSquire Designs
    5 år siden
    Sidst ændret: {last_modified_time}5 år siden

    As I mentioned on another discussion thread, I have a client, Go Pavers, with a sister company, Paverwash.com and we recently had discussions not only about power washing pavers (and the damage that can be done when someone doesn't know what they are doing) but sealers as well.

    One of the guys was discussing a client’s paver sealing nightmare when an inexperienced company used the wrong sealers on their expensive new driveway. At any rate, the upshot of the conversation was that a good sealers will protect the pavers, and your investment, and it’s a good idea to have it done.

    Found this Blog article that might assist:

    6 Tips To Avoid Pavers Sealer Disaster

    Hope that helps someone, if not you.

  • karyn
    Forfatter
    5 år siden

    1 Year later - we decided to skip the "sealing" - glad we did. It was an unnecessary expense with many problems of it's own. So far we've only once needed to treat/wash with an inexpensive product called "Mold Armour" - spray on , let sit - wash off. It's perfectly fine.

Sponsored

Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore

Danmark
Tilpas mine indstillinger ved hjælp af cookies

Houzz bruger cookies og lignende teknologier til at tilpasse min oplevelse, give mig relevant indhold og forbedre Houzz-produkter og -tjenester. Ved at klikke på 'Accepter' accepterer jeg dette, som beskrevet yderligere i Houzz-cookiepolitikken. Jeg kan afvise ikke-essentielle cookies ved at klikke på 'Administrer præferencer'.