Using A Paving Sealer for Long-Lasting Pavements

The primary function of a paving sealer is to protect one’s paved floor at home or at the office. This is irrelevant of whether such paved floors are brick or slab paving. By applying a quality penetrating/impregnating sealer, one can protect and preserve paving for years to come, making one’s pavements maintenance-free.

These sealers are surface-applied and come in two types: acrylic and polyurethane, which are both available in water-based and solvent formulas. While they take longer to dry, a water-based paving sealer is the more environment-friendly solution. Paving sealers help curb the growth of moss, weeds, and algae. In block paving, the sealers stop the loss of color and loss of paving sand. A clear protective coating is applied to the paving surface, of which the process stops the contamination from penetrating the paved area’s surface.

The best paving sealers can be applied to most paving types including stone, concrete slabs, pattern-imprinted concrete, and concrete. As soon as it is applied, the paving sealer makes food stains and engine oil easy to remove and makes the paving easier to maintain. Paving sealers also help the surface to be anti-skid. While one must check with the sealant manufacturer to check that the sealant is anti-skid, in some cases, an anti-skid grit must be mixed with the sealer before applying the sealer to the surface.

Water-based penetrating/impregnating sealers need two coats to apply and they are quite easy to apply with a roller or a plastic garden sprayer. Such sealers dry quickly – about 2 to 4 hours. While they are not recommended for driveways, they can be applied to light-duty areas like walkways or patios. A typical water-based penetrating/impregnating sealer provides a transparent, clear, non-silicon water-repellent coating, which will protect and enhance the appearance of medium and low-porosity building materials.

The water-based paving sealers’ films are resistant to water damage and disfigurement from airborne pollutants. Its water-repellent attributes are supported by an effective biocide to inhibit the growth of lichens, algae, and fungi. The sealer is resistant to ultraviolet light and it is trafficable. Using water-based sealers under waterborne finishes will improve durability and performance. The sealer can be applied over decorative coatings, which do not show chalking signs.

Other benefits of water-based paving sealers are that they enhance the life span and color brightness of the paving, prevent the effects of ice and snow, prevent sand loss in joints, help retain the flexibility of the pavement, can withstand harsh weather elements, reduce paver cracks and loosening, help prevent efflorescence, restrict grass and weed growth. The sealer also acts as a dust-proofer.

Such sealer penetrates into the paving material from 1 to 4 mm deep and is used for absorbent materials like concrete. One can apply the sealer to patios, balconies, terraces, and pool surrounds. Wherever one uses a sealer, one is assured of a brighter, cleaner, beautiful and long-lasting pavement. When sealing pavers, one can be guaranteed of longevity, durability, and overall beauty.