Category: Brick Paver Sealing Tips
What is the Best Concrete Sealer?
2017 is here and time to review and apply a new concrete sealer. This article is one of our top articles related to concrete sealers and there has been over 2100 Comments and Questions. If you need advice on What is the Best concrete Sealer for you, please ask below in the comment area.
Concrete comes in many different types and substrates that can be found both for both interior and exterior applications. There are Concrete Driveways, Vertical Brick Walls, Brick Paver Patios, Basement Floors, etc. Concrete is very porous and can be prone to degradation from Water, Ultra Violet Radiation, wear, and tear, etc. By sealing or waterproofing your concrete surface you will add life and protection to your surface.
So what is the Best Concrete Sealer?
The answer to that is dependent on why you are sealing, what surface you are trying to seal, and what your final expectations are.
Best Brick Paver Sealer
Brick Paver Sealer
What is the best paver sealer to use?
2017 is here and time to review and apply a new Brick Paver sealer. This article is our top article on our Review site and there have been over 2400 Questions anAnswersrs on this topic. If you need advice on What is the Best Brick Paver Sealer for you, please ask below in the comment area.
Brick Paver Patios and landscaping blocks have become increasingly popular in the last 10-20 years. They offer an alternative to regular plain white concrete by adding old world charm which resembles walkways and streets of the 19th century. Brick Paver patios can be customized to be designed for any area. They are very popular for driveways, walkways, around pools, etc. Of course, with any exterior horizontal surface, there is a need for general maintenance with brick pavers by cleaning and sealing on a regular basis.
Brick paver sealers are water repellents and coatings that are specifically designed to be used on paver stones and block.
Paver sealers have 3 main functions:
- Seal and protect the pavers from UV degradation and fading.
- Enhance to pavers by either adding a wet look, shine or both.
- Solidify or stabilizing the jointing sand in between the individual stones
Why Seal Brick Pavers
Update May 2017
As of 2017, we have found that the Super Seal 30, Super Seal 25, and the Supreme Shield SB-600 are the most popular sealers for Brick Pavers. You can find the reviews of these brands on our website. If you have any questions as to the best type of paver sealer for your project, please ask below in our Q&A area. We are here to help!
Brick pavers have become increasingly popular among homeowners in recent years. Areas around the home such as patios, porches, sidewalks, and driveways can be created with brick pavers and can certainly enhance the beauty of your property.
It is, however, important to note that like concrete, wood, and other surfaces, brick pavers will last longer if they are maintained regularly. The most beneficial thing you can do for your brick paver areas is to apply a brick paver sealer. When pavers are not sealed they can suffer from effects of erosion, weed growth, mold/mildew buildup, sun fading, ant activity, and discoloring. In extreme cases, brick pavers can shift, become loose, or settle causing low areas where water can puddle.
Concrete Surfaces and Which Sealer to Use
Different Types of Concrete Surfaces and Best Sealer to Use.
Decorative Concrete – This is any concrete surface that is not simply a means of construction but that is also altered to enhance its beauty. While still serving as an integral part of the building process such as floors, walls, driveways, or patios the concrete is also transformed into a decorative piece. The altering of concrete to enhance its beauty is accomplished through a number of procedures such as stamping, acid staining, polishing, coloring, overlaying, and more.
Sealer Type to use: Use a sealer that enhances the color tones with a wet look. Typically these are Acrylic sealers in either water or solvent based. If solvent, use a “styrene” acrylic to allow moisture to escape. These come in a Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin, and No Gloss.
How to Apply a Paver Sealer
Exterior landscape pavers are extremely popular because of their versatility and beautiful appearance. They can be used as walkways, driveways, patios, garden paths, and so on. Some larger pavers that resemble a concrete block can be stacked up in a staggered pattern to create landscape and retaining walls. With many choices of sizes, colors, shapes, and textures the sky is the limit. However, pavers should be sealed to preserve their color and integrity.
Knowing how to apply a paver sealer is the key to getting professional like results. The first step in sealing pavers is to wash the pavers to remove any dirt buildup and grime. You will also need to blast away any sand joints so they can be replaced. Weeds and moss should also be removed. A pressure washer and concrete cleaner are ideal. Once the pavers are completely cleaned and have dried out for several days a new paver sealer can be applied. If your paver area has sand joints you will need to replace the sand prior to sealing. If not then you can move on to sealing the pavers.
Shiny Brick Paver Sealers
Paver sealers come in several different types of finishes. Sealer finishes can range from a matte or semi gloss to a high gloss or wet look appearance. In this article we want to address shiny paver sealers and how they differ from other finishes such as a wet look sealer, and yes there is a difference.
All paver sealers are used to help solidify sand joints between pavers, lock out unwanted moisture, reduce weed growth, reduce freeze and thaw damage, and of course to create a beautiful long lasting finish. In terms of the final finish of a sealer, a matte finish will not alter the appearance of the pavers while a shiny paver sealer will leave a glossy appearance. A wet look sealer will leave the pavers looking wet even after the sealer has dried but is not designed to add a shine.
Shiny vs Wet Look Paver Sealer What is the Difference?
Sealing pavers is an excellent way to enhance and preserve their appearance. There are certain paver sealers that will bring out the natural colors of the pavers while locking out moisture, which will help preserve and increase their longevity. The sealer also helps to solidify the sand joints and can help with weed growth and freeze/thaw damage that may occur in colder climates.
There are several different finishes involved with paver sealers. A matte finish will not alter the appearance of the pavers at all but will still preserve the surface and keep out unwanted moisture. Typically a matte finish sealer is water-based. Besides a matte finish you can also go for a shiny or wet look. So what is the difference between a shiny vs. wet look paver sealer? There is a slight difference in appearance and also in the formula that makes up either sealer.
Best Paver Sealer With Wet Look But No Shine
In order to preserve pavers it is necessary to seal them. This solidifies the sand joints, helps reduce weed growth, locks out moisture, and reduces freeze/thaw damage. Sealing pavers can also enhance their natural beauty. There are several different finishes available for brick pavers. A matte finish would protect the pavers from the elements but would not alter their appearance. For those looking for a more enhanced look that is not shiny or glossy, a “wet look” may be the answer.
A wet look appearance is just like the name implies, the bricks look wet but not shiny. The wet look sealers are also less slippery when wet unlike glossy finishes. The best paver sealer with wet look but no shine comes down to a couple of choices. One of the best according to the reviews for the best paver sealer with wet look but no shine is Supreme Shield SB-600 Paver Sealer. This solvent based penetrating sealer results in an enhanced color, wet look finish without the fake glossy or plastic appearance. Supreme Shield SB-600 is water, salt, stain, and oil resistant to protect your pavers and preserve their beauty. This easy to use paver sealer is perfect for stamped concrete, concrete pavers, as well as other porous concrete surfaces.
Best Application Tools for Paver Sealers and Concrete Sealers
Paver and concrete sealers are used to prolong the life of patios, driveways, pavers, masonry, and many other brick and concrete surfaces. They repel water and moisture and help to maintain the beauty of these types of surfaces. Most paver and concrete sealers can be applied by anyone using the proper application tools. Always follow the application methods recommended by the manufacturer. In addition, it is best to only apply sealers to a clean, dirt free surface. Therefore washing the surface properly is highly recommended prior to applying any type of sealer. Not doing so may jeopardize the sealer’s effectiveness and longevity.
The best application tools for paver sealers and concrete sealers may be purchased from the same online authorized dealer where you purchase your sealer. Application tools can vary but most widely used are brushes, stain pads, rollers, and a quality pump up sprayer. The type of sealer may determine how it is best applied. Wet look or shiny sealers can be thicker in nature and may not apply well using a pump sprayer. A large brush or roller may work best.
Deep Wet Look Paver Sealer
Applying a paver sealer to your brick paver surfaces is a great way to protect them from the damaging effects of Mother Nature. The elements can play a vital role in creating dirt, grime, mold, mildew, moss, and unwanted weed growth. Harsh UV rays can fade and discolor pavers that are unprotected. Locking out moisture and preserving the color of your pavers is one good reason to seal them on a regular basis.
In addition to protection, some paver sealers can bring out the natural beauty of the pavers to help enhance their appearance. A deep wet look paver sealer will give your pavers a rich “wet look” that helps bring out the natural beauty in the brick. This deep wet look keeps the pavers looking rich for several seasons. This wet look serves well on pavers and is becoming increasingly popular among homeowners today. This type of wet look sealer also does a great job of solidifying sand joints between each of the pavers. This helps reduce unwanted weed and moss growth as well as sand erosion.