How to Extend the Life of Paver Driveways and Patios

FREE RESOURCEThis informational resource is a home guide that contains everything you need to know about paver brick sealing services, all in one place. It is designed to enable residential and commercial property owners to make informed decisions when it comes to investing in paver brick sealing for your driveways, pathways, or patios.

We’ll teach you about the different types of paver sealants, the benefits of paver brick sealing, and also provide valuable insight on how to find superior service providers that will get the job done to your satisfaction both efficiently and affordably.

  1. Chapter One: About
    1. The Different Types of Paver Sealants
    2. The Benefits of Paver Brick Sealing
    3. The Average Cost of Installation
  2. Chapter Two: When to DIY or Hire a Professional
    1. Why Consider Hiring a Professional?
    2. How to Find a Quality Paver Brick Sealing Service
    3. Questions to Ask in the Hiring Process
  3. Chapter Three: Additional Resources
    1. Related Articles
    2. About the Author

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About

1. The Different Types of Paver Brick Sealants

The two most common types of paver sealants include acrylic sealants and water repellant (or penetrating) sealants.

Acrylic Sealants

Acrylic sealants coat the surface of your pavers with an acrylic, liquid-resistant film. They come in both water-based and solvent-based formulations. Solvent-based acrylic sealants are best used by those who desire a darker, glossier finish on their pavers. On the other hand, water-based acrylic sealants are best used by those who are seeking a more matte, true-to-color finish with some gloss.

  • Leave behind a low-to-high gloss finish
  • Leave a surface film
  • Should be resealed every 1-3 years
  • Prevents staining and deterioration

Application: As the sealant dries, the liquid carrier (either water or a solvent such as xylene or acetone) used in the installation process evaporates, leaving the sealant’s acrylic particles on the surface of the pavers to form a film.

Water Repellant (Penetrating) Sealants

Water repellant, or penetrating, sealants are designed to chemically react with your pavers to coat their pores with a hydrophobic substance. Instead of simply forming a protective barrier, they seal from within to repel liquids from entering. Once applied, they protect the surface of your pavers without significantly changing their look, color, or appearance.

  • Don’t typically affect the appearance of the pavers
  • Penetrates to work below the surface
  • Should be resealed every 7-10 years
  • Reduces staining and deterioration

Application: As the sealant dries, the water from the installation process evaporates causing the sealant’s polymer particles (silane, siloxane, or silicates) to chemically react with the pavers and move closer, deform, then fuse together. This forms a hydrophobic barrier that causes water and other liquids to bead off the surface of pavers.

2. The Benefits of Paver Brick Sealing

Improve Curb Appeal

Sealing your pavers or concrete is a quick and simple way to enhance the appearance of your property exterior. It is available in a number of different styles including low-to-high gloss, matte, or wet finishes, allowing you plenty of choices when it comes to customizing your home, office, or retail space.

Keeping your property well-maintained also helps boost its value and can be the difference between closing a sale or coming up empty-handed. Sealing your pavers will help hold their depth of color, repel stains, and reduce their surface deterioration.

Reduce the Negative Effects of Weathering

Although it’s natural for pavers to depreciate with time, it is possible to slow these processes. Sealing your pavers helps them withstand harsh weather conditions by waterproofing their pores, stabilizing their joints, and protecting them from dirt and UV rays. This allows you the peace-of-mind that your driveway, pathways, or patios, will be around for the long haul.

Protect, Prevent, and Gain Long-Term Savings

By budgeting to cover paver sealing expenses at the time of installation, you protect your pavers and reduce the likelihood of having to face larger, unexpected, and more expensive repair projects down the road. It’s simple: Wouldn’t you rather spend less in the long-term, versus more later?

Installation is Painless

Once you have done the research and decided on the type of paver sealant you want to use, reach out to a local professional with any questions and to have it installed both quickly and painlessly.

3. The Average Cost of Installation

Typically, paver sealing is priced by the square foot and can vary in cost from year-to-year. This is because there are a number of factors that must be taken into account, including:

Type of Paver Sealant

The price per square foot often depends on the brand and style of paver sealant that you desire. For example, a standard paver sealant that you find at Home Depot or Lowes is likely to be cheaper than a professional-grade sealant.

Size of the Patio, Driveway, or Pathway

The higher the square footage, the less it will cost per square foot. However, you will have to invest in more paver sealant.

Type of Surface

Different types of surfaces (e.g., brick or concrete) require different cleaning methods or types of sealants.

Paver Porosity

Some pavers are much more porous than others and this will increase the amount of sealer that is required.CHAPTER TWO

When to DIY or Hire a Professional

1. Why Consider Hiring a Professional?

Professional contractors are here to help. They use their knowledge to provide streamlined services for your convenience, after all, choosing the wrong sealant could put the appearance of your pavers at risk. Why else should you consider hiring a professional?

To Achieve Superior Outcomes

Paver sealing is easier said than done. Instead of wasting time tracking down the correct equipment and supplies before doing the job yourself, consider hiring a professional. Professional contractors bring their own professional-grade supplies, along with the proper training and equipment to get the job done properly.

In this sense, they not only save you the hassle of purchasing the supplies, but also the time and effort that would have been spent on doing the job yourself. With their expertise, trust us, you will notice the difference between your DIY job and theirs!

To Save Your Time and Energy

It may seem more cost-efficient to do it yourself but, unless you’re a professional, chances are it’s not. When it really comes down to it, you could waste time trying to do the job right and still end up with streaks on your pavers. Plus, you may be tempted to cut corners out of frustration.

Think about it this way: Trained professionals are used to sealing pavers on a day-to-day basis. They have the experience to not only get the job done quickly but properly as well. On top of that, many service providers rely on their reputation for new or repeat business and will strive to uphold it by ensuring that all of their customers are satisfied—including you.

It Can Be Affordable

The cost of a DIY paver sealing project can add up when taking into account the necessary equipment and time spent on the job. Since many professionals are able to purchase their materials wholesale, their expenses often work out to be less than what you would pay.

On top of that, professionals are experienced at what they do. DIY paver sealing can be a lengthy and frustrating process, whereas professionals are used to doing it day in and day out. So, unless you already have all of the equipment and the energy to get the job done, hiring a professional may actually be the most affordable and reliable solution.

In general, professional contractors have access to the training and resources that most do-it-yourselfers do not. They have been trained for the job and hold certifications along with proper liability insurance. Save yourself the trouble (and time!) by locating and hiring a contractor you trust, who can get the job done properly, in a fraction of the time that you might take to do it.

2. How to Find a Quality Paver Brick Sealing Service

Pricing can vary across service providers, but this usually depends on how long they have been in business and the types of supplies they utilize. For example, anyone offering paver brick sealing services could easily pass as a professional, but that does not mean they have any experience. Below are a number of tips to help find a quality paver brick sealing service:

Get and Compare Quotes

Always get quotes and detailed estimates in writing because if something were to go wrong, a verbal quote would not provide you with any form of protection. In cases where it is hard to get an exact estimate, it is not unreasonable to get an over-run percentage stating that the job will not exceed 15% of the original amount quoted. Be sure to be consistent when talking to each contractor in order to help you compare quotes. Comparing quotes can be useful when deciding which contractor you will choose for the job.

Ask for Customer References

You can tell the quality of a contractor by the satisfaction of their customers. If a contractor’s customers are willing to provide positive reviews then that is a sign that they are not only skilled at their job, but also reliable.

Read Reviews and Customer Testimonials

Many customers will post reviews of their experiences with service providers online or on social media. A number of sites well-known for reviews include: HomeAdvisor, ThumbTack, and Google.

Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! If they want your business, then they will be happy to answer all of the questions you have for them. For a list of questions to ask in the hiring process, click here.

We recommend that you use your best judgment when hiring a service provider. Although it is true that you will often pay a premium for quality services, it is still worth comparing quotes and reviews. True professionals will answer your questions, do the job right, and then advise you on how to best protect your investment for the future.

3. Questions to Ask in the Hiring Process

Are you licensed?

Some states require contractors to be licensed.

Are you insured?

This protects you if any accidents were to occur on your property. We recommend that you have proof of insurance emailed to you prior to the job’s start date.

What chemicals do you use?

This is important if you have any family members or pets that are sensitive to chemicals.

How much experience does your team have?

The more experience, the better!

How long will the job take?

This can be unpredictable and often depends on the number of people on the team, the size of the driveway, patio, or pathway, as well as the weather on the day of the installation. Even so, the amount of time that they propose should be reasonable.

When can you come?

It is important to find a contractor who is available and willing to work with you and your schedule.

How much will it cost?

Be sure to get an estimate in advance. You may even want to compare estimates across different companies, but be sure to also take into account other factors such as their experience, availability, reputation, etc.

Do you have references?

In addition to checking online reviews, it can be helpful to reach out and speak to some of their satisfied customers firsthand.

Will you provide a written contract?

Having a written contract can protect both parties and also helps to ensure that the job will be completed as agreed to and on time.CHAPTER THREE

Additional Resources

1. Related Articles

Check out Total Shield Protection’s blog for updates on industry news, educational tips and resources, and trends in paver brick sealing products and services.

2. About the Author:

Handshake
Founded in 2015, Total Shield Protection began as a window film company and today has expanded to several services. Since opening, we have accumulated over 100 positive online reviews on websites like HomeAdvisor, ThumbTack, and Google. This wealth of positive feedback is a testament to our company culture of dedication to customer satisfaction. No matter which of our services you are in need of, we work with you to determine the best fit for your project requirements, budget, and schedule. Our service technicians are highly skilled at what they do and are fully insured for your peace of mind. Our team strives to provide quality services that exceed your expectations.

Locally owned and operated, Total Shield is your trusted source for solar rejection, impact resistant, and privacy window film installations as well as professional window washing, pressure washing, and paver brick sealing. Our ultimate goal is to improve environments for living, working, and recreation, while providing meaningful career opportunities in the communities we serve.

Join our many satisfied customers.

Contact us today at 941-894-7138 or schedule a free estimate.

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