This post was most recently updated on April 29th, 2023
How to Strip a Paver Sealer
Stripping a Paver Sealer Update
Brick Paver Sealers are different than regular concrete sealers in that they darken and enhance the appearance by giving a wet look and or shine.
Unfortunately, Brick Paver Sealers sometimes fail by discoloring and turning milky white or yellow in color and will need to be chemically stripped to fix.
New Information on Stripping Brick Pavers for 2023
The main ingredient of a Paver Stripper, Methylene Chloride has now been banned for consumer use in the US. The good news is that there are other options that will work. The main difference is a longer dwell time to activate.
Here are the main reasons why you will need to strip an old sealer from your brick pavers:
- A brick paver sealer can fail by turning white from moisture trapped under the sealer.
- Efflorescence (white salt deposits) was not removed prior to the sealer application.
- The Paver Sealer used was a cheap brand causing the acrylic in the sealer to turn white from the sun.
- A buildup of too many applications of sealer through the years.
- Polymeric sand haze under the sealer application.
Brick Paver Sealer Turned White
Please follow these steps to ensure success with Stripping a Paver Sealer:
- You will need to buy a brick paver sealer stripper and use a high-powered pressure washer. We use the Clemons Concrete Sealer Stripper or the RAD PaintStrip. Both are excellent strippers.
- Cover the house and all delicate shrubs, vegetation, furniture, etc. with plastic sheeting.
- Use protective clothing, gloves, and eyewear.
- Apply the stripper with a roller. Do small sections at a time. About 100-200 sq feet.
- Wait about 20-60 minutes after applying the stripper then pressure wash off the old sealer.
- Repeat until all the failed paver sealer is removed.
If you plan on resealing the pavers, make sure to use a brand that is not prone to turning white in color. Our favorites are:
If you have any questions about stripping a paver sealer, please ask below.
As an article and comment contributor to the site, Scott has been around the pressure washing industry since attending college. In 1993 he started his first company called Oakland Pressure Wash specializing in exterior pressure washing, concrete sealing, and deck staining. That company evolved into OPW L.L.C. shortly thereafter concentrating more on exterior restoration. Scott and his restoration Michigan company have restored over 10,000 projects in the Metro Detroit area since the early years. He has become an authority in the restoration industry and has contributed to numerous restoration forums and informative sites.
All the products he suggests through this site are sold through online sites and in retail stores, allowing the consumer to choose their own means of purchase. Scott’s eCommerce sites do sell many top brands he endorses and if you appreciate any of the help he has offered then feel free to purchase from one of them.
I used H&C sealant wet look from Menards and few years ago and the pavers are looking dull and I would like to freshen it up do I need to strip it or can a fresh coat be put on.
Post some pics of current condition.
I live in Wisconsin. I have an aggregate pool eck and I am planning on sealing it. It is about 20 years olds, but in very good condition. I used to seal it with a wet look finish every three years, but would like to seal it with something that will last longer. I just power washed it and am planning on doing it myself. What are my choices so it will be safe for me to do? Thanks
Try Super Seal 30.
My question is related to pavers under a deck that never fully dries.
Would not have installed this kind of patio if I knew that sand would be used between the pavers. Anyway, it was recommended that we seal the area to prevent this, but the area never fully dries out. The pavers dry but portions of the sand stay damp.
Is there something else that can be done to keep the sand from eroding or if not, is there something else that could be put between the pavers instead of the sand? Thank you.
You cannot seal damp sand/pavers. Nothing else we can think of will work here.
I need to remove a sealer on bricks that gave a white color on all of them. Sealer was applied about one year ago. I live in California. What product would you recommend and is not restricted from this state?
Hello, we need to know the sealer brand and type of sealer. Also, pictures of the sealer on the bricks showing the issues.
Do you have a video doing this process?
We do not.
How do I fix this?
What are you trying to fix?
Hi we used a sealer on our sand dune pavers they were a rose color with purple undertones the sealer has turned them brown. Manufacturer said nothing can be done if sealer removed would they go back to original color or has the sealer made a permanent change to the pigment in the paver?
If you remove the sealer then it should go back to the original unsealed color.
I need to remove a recently applied polyurethane sealer off my block paved drive. Could you please advise?
You could try the Clemons Concrete Sealer Stripper.
Sealed a paver area this week with H&C low gloss solvent based concrete sealer from Lowe’s. Most has turned out fine, however the far back corner closest to the house turned out as pictured. I read online that acetone can bring out any moisture if it’s close to the surface, so that’s what I tried while using a brush. It really made no difference at all. Should I try Xylene now? I’m afraid to make the problem worse. There are also a few areas with the white area being concentrated along the lines of new polymeric sand. This patio has… Read more »
Try the Xylene.
Will the Clemons Stripper remove an acrylic based sealer easily
It is designed to remove acrylic-based sealers.
I see ads along side Sure Strip. I have used Sure Strip unsuccessfully. Is this the same product ?
No, they are not the same.
Post some pics of what you are trying to remove.
Hey guys we used seal and lock striper and these pacers turned out blotchy. Anyone know what caused this and how to fix it? Thanks
Does it look even when water with water?
Yes it does.
Then when you seal with a wet look sealer it will all blend.
Do you have a company you can recommend, that does the removal (CLEANING ACRYLIC SEALANT USED) & application of new sealant to pavers ?
Sorry but we do not know contractors in all areas of the US that can do this type of work.
hi, after 2 coats on my brushed concrete pool deck it looks all splotchy and uneven. Looks like someone spilled oil on my deck. It looked like that after one coat. The contractor said the second coat would fix it. Looks just as bad
What was your question?
Hi, my question is can this be fixed? Also could you tell me if the spiderweb lines in pic 3 is the concrete cracking or from the sealer. Thanks
You used the wrong type of sealer on this: https://www.concretesealerreview.com/wet-looks-sealer-and-plain-concrete-issues/
You will need to chemically strip it all off now with this: https://www.opwdecks.com/paver-sealer-stripper.htm
Thank you for your response. If I’m dealing with Delamination from old sealer and Xylene and new sealer doesn’t correct it (looks the same after the winter months). Remove the old stuff and replay new sealer would work? Or do you think I would have delamination again? Any help would be great. Thanks,
Send some pictures.
Sorry for the bad picture as its a picture of my picture. I can send an email with the actual photo’s that. Hope this picture helps. **Edit – doesn’t seem like I can post a picture. Can I send you an email?
To add a picture, click the attachment icon in the bottom right, then upload. We do not do emails, only through comments.
Just noticed it was due to size.
I believe the white spots are not from the old sealer but the stamped concrete pitting. There is not a simple way to fix this and no permanent way to prevent it from happening again. You can try stripping off all old sealer and then you would have to re-stain the concrete somehow so it blends. Seal after. You might want to contact a local professional installer about this for advice.
The concrete doesn’t seem to be pitting. It isn’t lower than the other spots, just that you can feel concrete in those spots. To me it seems like the sealer is lifting in little spots all over. I had a company come in and reseal, it didn’t work. The following spring, they used Xylene and then a week later sealed with some color in spots and looks great for the season. But after the winter, not salt or snow removal done, it looks like that again. I heard from my neighbor that he use to seal every year because he… Read more »
It is not the sealer that is cauysing this, it is the stampled concret. Still the only way to fix is what we suggested.
If you can get a hold of Methylene Chloride would that be a better choice than Clemons Concrete Concrete and Paver Sealer Stripper? Would it be the same process to remove the sealer
No, the newer version works better and is not nearly as dangerous to use compared to methylene chloride.
Can I use the SB 600 or 350 on a flagstone patio? (I”m in Calif–is only SB350 allowed?) Thanks!
Wet look sealers do not work well for natural stone as they are made for concrete surfaces. Can dry blotchy on the flagstone.
How warm does it have to be too use the clemons stripper
50+.
if my pavers were sealed many years ago do i still need to strip them if i am going to seal again and don’t want the white haze to happen
You will only need to strip if the pavers have a white haze now.
The Clemons Concrete Sealer Stripper contains Methylene Chloride which as your article mentions is banned. Is there another product that can be used to remove solvent based sealer from pavers.
No, it doesn’t. They changed their formula last year per new regulations. Works great.
What product can I use to strip a lacquer finish on my concrete pavers
Clemons Concrete Sealer Stripper
What do you think of Eagle Natural Seal for a patio with concrete and clay bricks?
Never used it. Sorry.
Will the Super Seal 30 or the Supreme Sheild SB 600 make the surface slippery? The patio has very rough old pavers and the driveway newer a smoother surface. We have limestone treads and would like to seal them without making them slippery.
Products like this will not work for limestone but they will work for the pavers. Typically not slippery when wet.
When applying a paver sealer should I wait until outside temperature is cool or does this matter. My sealer was applied
when outside temp was 105 deg. Is this to hot and should I wait for cooler temps ???
That is too hot. It could bubble on you.
This was put on our inside brick fireplace; we are wanting to paint the brick and need to know if we can paint over this sealer, it’s been on for approximately 10 years.
Not sure. Sorry, we work on exterior coatings.