STEPS FOR SEALING AN OUTDOOR CONCRETE PATIO
Sealing your paver patio will help protect against normal wear and tear, provide a level of stain resistance, and also help protect your pavers from damaging UV rays. Sealing your concrete pavers can also enhance color or improve aesthetics, depending on the look you desire. While sealing pavers is a fairly easy job, be sure to review these important steps before getting started.
Prep. As with most home improvement projects, proper preparation will be your key to success. So before sealing, be sure to read our blog post, 4 Things To Do Before Sealing Your Pavers.
Gather your supplies. The next task on your to-do list: make sure you have all of the necessary supplies and equipment for the job. Here’s a short list of what you’ll need to seal your pavers:
- Safety Glasses
- Mask
- Gloves
- Work Boots
- Waterproof Overalls
- HVLP Sprayer (i.e. Chapin Xtreme with 1.0GPM brass nozzle)
- Roller (i.e. Gator Grey for solvent-based or Gator Yellow for water-based)
- Roller Handle
- Metal Paint Tray
(Important Note: You should have a dry surface before sealing pavers, although water-based sealers can be applied to pavers that are slightly damp. Make sure you carefully follow the directions for applying efflorescence cleaner and allow your pavers to dry for 24-48 hours before applying the sealer. Also make sure there is no rain expected within 24 hours following your sealer application and the temperatures are within the recommended limits.)
Apply the sealer. Using the sprayer, apply a coating of sealer and then even it out using a roller. Make sure there is no puddling or buildup of sealer. One coat is all it takes! Over application of the sealer often results in unattractive milky-white spots on the surface. To put things in perspective, one gallon of sealer should cover approximately 175 square feet of concrete pavers. However, results may vary based on the pavers age, density, and water absorption characteristics.
Dry. Allow your patio to dry for a full 24 hours before using it.
Follow these basic steps and you’ll master the technique of paver sealing!
For a short lesson on solvent-based vs. water-based sealers, click here! We also have a collection of sealing videos on the Alliance Gator YouTube channel.
Looking for a fast and easy online resource that covers all of your questions about sealing concrete pavers? Click here!