Protect Your Investment: Understanding the Different Types of Paver Sealers and Finding the Perfect Match for Your Home

When you’ve invested thousands of dollars in beautiful pavers for your driveway, patio, or walkway, protecting that investment becomes a top priority. Sealing pavers provides several benefits, including protection from stains, enhanced durability, color preservation, and reduced weed growth. Sealing your pavers helps prevent staining and fading, and also helps protect them from the elements. But with so many sealer options available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Understanding the different types of paver sealers is essential to making an informed decision that will keep your outdoor spaces looking pristine for years to come.

The Two Main Categories: Film-Forming vs. Penetrating Sealers

Penetrating sealers soak into the pores of the paver while film-forming sealers leave a distinct protective layer on the stone’s surface. Each type has unique properties and applications. Understanding these fundamental differences is crucial for selecting the right protection for your specific needs and aesthetic preferences.

Film-Forming Sealers: Enhanced Beauty and Protection

Film-forming sealers create a lasting barrier over the surface of the pavers. This opens the door to a wide range of finish and color options. Anything from matte to high-gloss is possible, depending on the specific sealer you choose. These sealers are particularly popular among homeowners who want to enhance their pavers’ appearance while providing robust protection.

Film forming sealers create a protective film on your surface to protect it from moisture as well as regular wear and tear. They bring out the beauty of your surface by enhancing and darkening its colour with a semi-gloss or gloss finish. They prevent contaminants such as dirt, oil, grease and chemicals from penetrating the surface, protecting it from damage as well as making it easier to clean and maintain.

Film-forming sealers come in two main varieties:

• Water-Based Film Formers: Water-based sealers, on the other hand, are low in VOCs. They have a more mild odor and clean-up is easier. Water-based sealers, unlike solvent-based sealers, provide a modern, matte finish on your pavers.
• Solvent-Based Film Formers: Solvent-based sealers are known for their durability and the glossy wet look they impart on pavers, which can significantly enhance their aesthetics. These types of sealants are excellent for creating a protective film-forming barrier that guards against stains, making surfaces easier to clean.

Penetrating Sealers: Invisible Protection

If your goal is to provide an invisible layer of protection against stains and de-icing salt damage, a penetrating sealer is the right option for you. Penetrating sealers work by increasing surface tension to cause beading. These products will create hydrophobic water-shedding, meaning water will quickly form into droplets on the sealed concrete paver surface instead of soaking in.

Penetrating sealants go deep into the stonework or masonry, chemically reacting beneath the surface to protect the paver stones. Penetrating sealers offer a natural look because they don’t form a film and typically don’t alter the appearance of the pavers. This makes them ideal for homeowners who want protection without changing their pavers’ natural appearance.

While penetrating sealers will not provide color or sheen enhancement, they offer superior levels of abrasion, heat, and UV resistance. The most common types of penetrating sealers are silanes, siloxanes and fluoropolymers.

Water-Based vs. Solvent-Based: Understanding the Chemistry

Beyond the film-forming versus penetrating distinction, sealers are also categorized by their chemical base. There’s two types of sealers: water-based and solvent-based. Each offers distinct advantages and considerations.

In most cases, water-based sealer is ideal. If you are protecting against the elements, care about odors and VOCs, and want the easiest way to finish your projects (meaning minimal clean-up), a water-based sealant is for you. Water-based is also the only way to get a mild, matte finish instead of a glossy look.

However, if you want a high-gloss finish, the only option is a solvent-based sealer. If you want to protect against oil or grease stains, using a solvent-based sealer is also the best option.

Choosing the Right Sealer for Your Long Island Home

For Long Island homeowners, selecting the appropriate sealer involves considering local climate conditions and specific use cases. On Long Island, pavers face wear from traffic, moisture, de-icing salts, and the coastal climate. That’s where paver sealing and restoration services come in—but not all companies approach the work the same way.

When searching for professional Paver Sealing Suffolk County services, it’s essential to work with experienced contractors who understand these regional challenges. We started Paver Savers to answer the needs of Nassau and Suffolk County property owners and preserve the aesthetics and durability of their hardscapes. Not long after we launched our company, we established ourselves as one of the most trusted paver cleaning, sealing, and restoration contractors on Long Island.

Professional Application and Maintenance

Resealing should be done every 2-3 years to maintain the protective barrier and keep your pavers looking their best. High-traffic areas or pavers exposed to harsh weather conditions may require more frequent resealing. The application process requires proper preparation, including thorough cleaning and joint stabilization.

After cleaning, our techs remove any loose or broken sand from the joints. From there, we apply polymeric sand, a high-performance material designed to resist erosion and block weed growth. When activated with a precise water mist, this sand hardens to help hold the pavers in place and reduce shifting.

Making the Right Investment Decision

The cost of professional sealing varies, but it’s significantly more affordable than replacement. While we love and support hard-working contractors, it usually will cost up to $3,000 for a contractor to seal your hardscape. But you can seal your paving stones on your own in just a few hours for less than $350. However, professional application ensures optimal results and longevity.

Sealing your pavers is a worthwhile investment that enhances their appearance and longevity. By choosing the right type of sealer and following the proper sealing process, you can ensure your outdoor spaces remain beautiful and durable. Whether you choose a penetrating sealer for natural protection or a film-forming option for enhanced aesthetics, proper sealing will protect your investment and maintain your property’s curb appeal for years to come.

Understanding these sealer types empowers you to make informed decisions about protecting your outdoor living spaces. Consider your aesthetic preferences, maintenance expectations, and local environmental factors when selecting the perfect sealer for your home’s unique needs.