Should I Seal Coat My Pavers? The Pros and Cons

Installing pavers in Tampa, Fl, can make your property look good. Since pavers offer a wide variety of choices, both in colors and textures, the options are seemingly infinite. You can make your pavers contrast or complement your property’s landscape or architectural features. However, a glaring question remains, “should I seal coat my pavers?” 

In this blog, we will try to answer your question in as much detail as possible.

Seal coating your pavers has its own set of pros and cons. We will discuss each in detail below.

The Pros of Sealing Your Pavers

Applying a seal coat on your pavers is the final optional step during a paver installation. Sealers can help protect your pavers from staining and extend their lifespan as they are generally made of porous materials. The seal coating should not be applied immediately after installation. Instead, it would be best if you allowed your pavers to settle into place for a few weeks and then proceeded with the sealing process. This will also give you ample time to decide whether or not to seal your pavers.

• Helps Preserve the Paver’s Looks

The primary function of a paver installation is to boost the aesthetic appeal of your exteriors. Seal coating pavers do much more than just preserve the beauty of your pavers in St. Petersburg. Some sealers can help the pavers look better by providing a glossy finish on top. Sealers are transparent, so they will not alter the colors of your pavers; instead, they will help highlight your paver’s color palette better. An additional benefit of sealing pavers is the added protection against UV rays, which can save your pavers from fading out.

• Protects Your Pavers

All paver materials are prone to get eroded with time. They can grow mildew, fade, or get stained with rust or dirt. Applying a seal coating helps prevent any stains from developing. Cleaning a sealed paver is much easier and leaves no residue behind. If your pavers are not sealed, moisture can easily enter the porous surface of your pavers in Largo, Fl. This trapped moisture can expand when the temperature dips and eventually develop cracks in the pavers. Sealing them prevents water from making its way into the paver surface.

• Makes Your Pavers More Durable

Pavers are only as durable as the materials they are made from, and every material has a different lifespan. However, you can significantly extend the life of the material by applying a sealer on the surface. Pavers made of softer materials like travertine need a sealer to extend their lifespan. Weeds growing between the paver block joints also threaten their lifespan. Since sealers are not only applied to pavers but also to the gaps in between, they can effectively stop any weed growth.

The Cons of Sealing Your Pavers

Sealing the surface of your pavers in Clearwater, Fl can enhance their looks and lifespan. However, they also require regular maintenance and the chances of your sealant contaminating the surroundings are high. Furthermore, it can also make your pavers incredibly slippery when wet.

• Added Maintenance

Sealed pavers need regular resealing and extra maintenance. If the sealant layer is too thin, it can develop an unsightly film over time. The primary determinant of how often your pavers require resealing depends on the material of your pavers and the sealant used. Travertine pavers must be resealed multiple times a year, while you must reseal limestone pavers once every two years.

• Can Contaminate the Surroundings

Any overspray while applying a sealant to your pavers can prove fatal to any surrounding plants. Using plastic sheeting on surrounding plants is crucial, and wearing a mask protects you from inhaling sealant fumes. Since you cannot remove sealant from clothes, it is advised to wear full protective gear during the application process.

• Can be Costly

Sealants come in all price ranges; however, the best quality sealants are usually costlier than the thinner sealants, which have a very low lifespan. The silver lining here is that the frequency of resealing your pavers goes down with an expensive sealant. 

Final Words

Pavers can raise your home’s curb appeal and elevate your outdoor living experience. Sealing them can enhance the experience, but it comes at a price. If you decide to apply sealants to your pavers in Tampa, Fl; ensure that you use a good quality sealant as it is a one-time investment, and you will save in the long run by having less frequent resealing needs.