Brick Paver Joint Sand: Facts & Fiction

Sealing vs. Poly Sanding brick paver joints

After being in the brick paver business for 36 years now, I have been able to experience the true facts and results of sealing or poly sanding brick pavers & paver joints. The number one request in our industry by clients is that they want a "permanent" solution for paver joint sand. Unfortunately, this request is not totally achievable or feasible with any brick paver joint approach.

Lets start by saying that brick paver joint sand is the most essential part of brick pavers. Paver
joint sand is the essential part that keeps brick pavers "locked up" laterally and helps reduce the erosion or deterioration of the sub base (below the brick paver).  Keeping brick paver joints filled also "helps" and "inhibits" the growth of organic materials like weeds, grass, moss, etc.. . this is NOT absolute.  Paver joint sand is the number one maintenance need for brick pavers and also the most neglected!

Prior to the last 15 years, using just "regular" paver joint sand was the norm. Like any industry, the development of products has evolved.  Brick paver sealants and polymeric (bonding) sands were developed to meet consumer demands and help improve performance of the brick pavers & paver joints.  In this post, I will help guide you to a educated decision of which process or product may work best in your individual situation.

Below are my opinions and conclusions from "real" results over the past 37 years of experience and research using these products. My results are drawn from executing decades of paver maintenance programs.  My goal is for you to make an informed decision on which approach is best for you and the optimum performance & appearance of your brick pavers.  I have done brick paver work in both Michigan & Florida and though the climates are extremely different, the performance of brick paver joint sand is very universal.  I understand there are many varying opinions from other contractors, product manufacturers, and online posts that may contradict with my assertions.  As I have always told my customers & potential clients, if you agree with a contradicting opinion, please move on or hire the contractor that best fits your own conclusion.


FICTION: There is a "permanent" solution for my brick paver joints so I do not need to sweep sand or I will never get any weeds, grass, or moss in my brick paver joints again!

FACT:  There is NOT a "permanent" solution for brick paver joint sand!  Routine joint sand maintenance for brick pavers is essential and required for optimum performance of your brick pavers.  The whole brick paver system is based on a flexing and floating system whereby it moves to the effects of winter frost/freeze thaw cycles, water erosion, wind, foot or vehicle traffic, and slight earth movements.  The brick paver joints take the brunt of these movements and climate effects.  This is an outdoor structure that will require joint sand replenishment on a routine maintenance program.


FICTION:  Sealing my brick pavers & paver joints or Poly sanding my paver joints, I will not have to maintain my brick pavers anymore!

FACT:  Again, there is no permanent solution to brick pavers joints, but sealing or poly sanding your brick paver joints will "help, reduce, or inhibit" the need for frequent paver joint maintenance or the occurrence of weeds, grass, & moss in the joints.  Sealed or Poly sanded paver joints will still slowly settle, erode, crack, and disappear as time goes on.  In Michigan, winter freeze thaw cycles are the biggest culprit.  In Florida, heavy thunderstorms are their demise.  Water erosion over your pavement (brick pavers) is the biggest contributor to paver joint sand maintenance.

FICTION:  If I have both sealing and poly sanding done for my brick pavers, I will have better results!

FACT: WRONG!  It is highly recommended not to do this process.  Here are few reasons why.

• You never want to mix sealer with poly sand. You never know if the chemical make up of these products will be adverse.  If there is an adverse reaction, it will not be reversible without total replacement of the damage brick pavers and paver joints.
• Sealer can improperly puddle and cloud up.  If you were to use poly sand in the joints, you must properly wet the poly sand to let it set up.  You cannot use the sealer as the wetting agent for poly sand!.  Once the poly sand is set, sealer cannot properly soak into the paver joints and will puddle or accumulate in the paver joint which will lead to clouding and/or yellowing.
• Using both products is redundant.  Both sealers and poly sands are made to work strictly on their own. Using them together does not add any additional performance.
• Cost vs Benefit:  If you are to use both these products together, the cost of doing both options far exceeds any benefit you would get.  

FICTION:  I do not have to CLEAN my brick pavers &  pavers joints prior to re-sealing or re-poly sanding joints

FACT:  FALSE.  You always have to CLEAN your paver joints prior to applying sealer or re-
sweeping in poly sand.  The only time you do NOT need to prior clean paver joints is when you are doing "touch ups" within a couple months of the initial work.  When it comes to re-sealing, you cannot just seal the brick pavers and paver joints with dirt, soot, and organic matter on the surface of the pavers or in the paver joints.  The same holds true with poly sanding the paver joints.  Crumbling, cracking, molding old poly sand needs to be removed and remaining poly sand needs to be cleaned thoroughly. The degree of cleaning for both options will depend on the current condition of the brick pavers and paver joints.  Our customers that stay on a 2-3 year cleaning and re-sealing (or re-poly sanding) maintenance program reduce the cost of cleaning from the initial restoration because the cleaning time is faster and less invasive.


FICTION:  Sealing or Poly Sanding is most of the cost of restoring my brick pavers.

FACT:  Excluding any repair or re-leveling work, cleaning (or prepping) the brick pavers and paver joints is a little over half the cost of a restoration project. In particular, the paver joints are the hardest and messiest work.  The more severe the paver joints that have grass, weeds, moss, etc.. the more time, effort, and clean up is involved.  Prepping for sealing or poly sanding is more time consuming than actually sealing or poly sanding the joints.


FICTION:  Once I seal my brick pavers, I have to seal every 2-3 years.

FACT:  FALSE.  If you decide that you did not get the benefits of sealing that you envisions, you can just let the sealer wear off your brick pavers.  Most brick paver sealants last 18-36 months depending on weather & climate during this time period.  The biggest reason for re-sealing on a routine schedule is to keep the appearance of the brick pavers consistent.  Areas that are exposed more to sun, wind, rain, traffic, etc.. will wear quicker and areas that are protected will last much longer. This same process will hold true with poly sand in the paver joints.  To keep your brick paver structure protected and the appearance even, the recommendation is to re-seal (re-poly sand joints) every 2-3 years.  The difference from 2 to 3 years really falls on the customer's preference.  We routinely contact customers the 3rd year as we feel this is the optimum time to have this service performed.  Many customers like the fresh look done every 2 years to keep a new appearance up to date or they have a special event that year.


FICTION:  Sealing my brick pavers will make them shiny and slippery.

FACT:  This is not true if you use the right brick paver sealants. High gloss solvent (chemical based) brick paver sealants are no longer the norm.  Over the past 5 years there has been an increased movement to use high quality "water based" sealers.  Water based sealers are not only environmentally safer, they produce a more natural appearance and perform much better with paver joint sand stabilization.  The brick paver sealants are less slippery as they do not create a heavy pills on the surface.  Any wet surface can have some slip but water base sealers help keep the texture of the surface in tact.  The "matte" finish is the normal now for outdoor brick paver structures.  In 2017 and 2018, we used 100% water based "matte" finish brick paver sealants.


FICTION:  After having my initial restoration work done on my brick pavers, I can wait until 2-3 years later to have any maintenance work done.

FACT:  Paver joint maintenance is an ongoing process with brick pavers.  The "in between years", the seasons between cleaning & sealing (poly sanding), should have seasonal (usually Spring) sweeping of regular paver joint sand to keep voided joints filled.  This maintenance program service is our largest brick paver service.  Except for customers that do it themselves, most of our customers take advantage of this seasonal service.  We begin every Spring in Michigan with this service for our current clients before taking on any new clients!


FICTION:  Sealing my brick pavers and paver joints is more expensive than just poly sanding the joints!

FACT:  FALSE.   I have done a cost analysis of both processes over the years using product cost and labor time that concludes the cost is about the same .  The cost of cleaning & prepping is the same in both options.  You cannot just clean the joints for poly sanding and not the brick pavers too.  So, the cost of cleaning in either restoration choice is constant.  Without going into complicated details, the cost per square is very close when using either product. This is why we charge the same restoration cost whether you use sealer or poly sand for your brick paver structures.  Keep in mind that poly sand is not used for modular retaining wall systems (block & caps for steps, walls, & patio retaining walls) but with sealing you get the added value.


SEALER vs. POLY SANDING:
I usually advise my customers to do the sealing option for their brick pavers & paver joints.  The main reason is that you get the same results with paver joint sand stabilization but sealing gives your brick pavers added surface protection and color enhancement.  The costs being pretty much the same, this is a no brainer decision.   For customer who are concerned about having too much "sheen" to the appearance, we are able to dial in the mix of the high quality brick paver sealant we use.  We can reduce the solids in the sealer somewhat to give a more "natural" appearance to the brick paver surfaces but need to make sure a good balance in the mix so not to deter the joint stabilization effect.  There are some circumstances where the poly sanding option fits best but this is on an individual basis.


WARNINGS & ADVICE:

• Make sure when restoring your brick paver structures you contract with a qualified "brick paver contractor" to perform this task.  Using a landscaper, lawn service, or handyman service can be a disaster.  Lake of experience, knowledge, and patience can result in a poor or non-reversal effect that you will pay for dearly.  In our case, we actually are solely focused only on brick paver repair & restoration services, no longer design & installation.  Our resources, training, and scheduling adhere to this specific service. Flexibility & patience is key to a good sealing or poly sanding job especially with weather variables.  Larger companies want your business, but due to the lower profits of your work, they do not prioritize in their schedules.
• Sealers and Poly Sand products should NEVER be purchased at big box stores!  Not only are they inferior in quality but they are not totally specific to high density concrete brick pavers. We purchase, as you should if doing yourself, sealers & poly sand from brick paver specific manufacturers and suppliers.  If your brick pavers are sealed or joint sanded with inferior cheap products, the bad results may be irreversible. 
• Make sure that the contractor you are using does a 2 coat process when applying sealer.  This 2 coat process is not sealing twice (returning when first coat is dry).  This 2 coat process is spraying a "flood" coat first to allow the sealer to properly soak into the paver joint sand.  Then shortly after, spraying a second coat to adhere to the surface of the brick pavers.  Keep in mind this is using a high quality "water based" sealer.
• Make sure that the contractor is NOT using a Poly Sand product with "cement" used as the major bonding product in the sand. This is a complete NO NO! Products using Portland cement as the bonding agent will surely leave a "haze" on your brick paver surfaces. We use a high quality polymer bonding agent based product that does not leave any "hazing" appearance and gives the best joint stabilization in the market!
• The level of joint sand is always "down" in the joint, NOT flush with the top of the brick pavers.  Optimum is 1/4" down but this level varies due to the levelness of your brick pavers and the style of brick paver.
• Joint sand is for the brick pavers to keep them locked up, NOT wall caps seams & gaps which are glued in place.
• Make sure the contractor you are using does a "follow up" service! A couple of years ago we decided to improve our customer service to include a one-time follow up and inspection service to do some touchups after the initial work is done.  Because there will always be some initial settling of joint sand when cleaning & sealing (or poly sanding), we return within about a month to inspect and touch up any problem areas.  The other benefit is we are able to see if there is any concerns from water run off.  We routinely find spots where water from the roof, gutters, or landscape exceedingly erode the joints.  We are able to inform customers of an issue so they can address appropriately.

Pavers Patio in St Petersburg gets Cleaning & Sealing

Brick pavers patios, driveways, pool areas, and entrances require some yearly maintenance

Our most popular brick pavers maintenance request is cleaning and sealing of neglected paver patios, driveways, and pool areas in the St Petersburg, FL.  We often see excessive mold & mildew, joint sand

in paver joints eroded and void, and the over taking of joints from organic matter like weeds & grass.
 

Over time if the paver joint sand is not addressed, filled & stabilized by sealer, slow erosion from extreme Florida rains will begin to effect the performance of your brick pavers installation.  As surface water runs down the open joints, it will slowly erode or undermine the base below the paving stones. Keeping paver joints filled will allow the water to run over the top of the paving stones, not between them!  Open joints also are a safe haven for weed, grass, & moss growth if not filled & stabilized by sealer.  When the base material below your brick pavers begins to erode, the paving stones will settle by sinking or shifting.


Routine brick paver maintenance will insure the long term appearance and performance of your brick pavers installation.  Cleaning and re-sanding paver joints can be done anytime when needed.  Sealing of your brick pavers patio, driveway, pool areas, entrances, etc.. should be on an every 2-3 year program to help protect the surface of your brick pavers and help stabilize the paver joints.

Paver Patios Repair, Cleaning, and Sealing

Paver Patios restored to original beauty will bring many years of enjoyment again

This past week we restored several brick paver patios to their original beauty and function. These paver patios needed minor repairs, cleaning, sanding, and sealing to bring back the life and appearance these homeowners once enjoyed.

A few homeowners thought they needed to replace their old paving stones with new ones to get the appearance they wanted. I was able to assure them that a less expensive option was available.  We repaired settled areas as needed, cleaned the paving stones & joints to bring back some color & texture, and then completed the paver restoration process with sealing the paving stones with a long lasting and approved paver sealer.

Some other homeowners had tried to restore or repair their own paver patios but without the results that an experienced brick paver contractor can return.  I commend their effort but if you are not patient, experienced, or have the proper tools, the paver patio restoration results will fall short. 

If you are discouraged with your brick paver patio, walk, steps, porch, driveway, etc.. due to its unsightly appearance, don't fret!  They can be restored and made beautiful again. Call a qualified brick paver contractor today to see your options and associated costs.

Brick Pavers Restored in Ann Arbor

Paver Patio, Steps, and Front Walk repair, cleaning, & sealing

If your brick paver patio, steps, or walk is in much need of attention, do not fret, a qualified brick paver contractor can restore them to their original beauty.  This past week my team and I had a challenging paver restoration project in Ann Arbor. Their paver patio was covered in mildew & moss. The front paver walk had alot of gapping & settling. The front walk steps where improperly installed and deteriorating. See this transformation!

Assessing the time & cost of restoring brick pavers can only come from years of experience.  I often work with customers that want to perform the cleaning process and that is fine. Repairs & sealing should be handled by the brick paver specialist to insure long term success & performance.


The pavers patio had never been cleaned or sanded since it was installed. Moss had taken over most of the paver joints and dirt & mildew diminished the color & texture of the paving stones.  By aggressively power washing & scrubbing with a general cleanser, we were able to prep this brick patio for a coat of paver sealant.  After we completed the sealing, this brick paver patio was anew & vibrant.

Look to the right here at the "before" and "after" pics to give you an idea of the magic that can be done to give you the confidence to have family and friends over again!

The front paver walk had several areas of settling and the soldier course row on both sides was gapping. Not only did the gaps present a tripping hazzard, the "opened wound" allows for erosion of the under base and breeds weeds & grass growth.  The paver repairs were performed first, the entire walk was cleaned & re-sanded, and then completed with an application of brick paver sealant. Repair of paving stones are not as easy as the original installation. Re-installing the pavers require attention to detail and foreseeing issues.  Often we find ourselves just relaying stretches of the paver installation because the frustration level will be greatly reduced.

The existing front walk paver steps were improperly installed by mortaring the paving stones together. After years of touch-up and frustrating repairs, the homeowner wanted another solution. In frost States like Michigan, mortared high density concrete pavers will NOT last long as steps. Our solution was to install a modular retaining wall block & cap system for the new steps. If there are any future need for repair, they can easily be repaired at a very low cost and no unsightly patched mortar.

If the brick pavers around your house have been neglected, it is not too late to restore & enhance the beauty and function they once served.  The cost is always determined by the severity of the neglect and the labor time it will take to restore.  The good news is we usually can reuse the paving stones and wall blocks & caps to keep the cost reasonable.  With a little tender loving care, you can avoid the high costs associated with extreme make overs.

TAKE A VIDEO TOUR BELOW OF THE FINISHED RESTORATION !

Brick Pavers Walkway Repaired, Cleaned, & Sealed in Ann Arbor

Overhaul of paving stones can bring back the original beauty & function!

We just finished the total restoration of a Brick Paver Walkway in Ann Arbor this week. Like many products, interlocking pavers can be restored to its original beauty & function by an experienced & trained brick pavers contractor.  This paver walk needed some desperate repair for safety reasons and the homeowner wanted to restore its original elegance with cleaning & sealing.

The damaged areas of this paving stone walk was created by the PVC edge restraint lip severely lifting up the outside bricks.

We removed the PVC edge restraint, lifted up @18" in on both sides of the walkway, re-compacted the base, re-leveled using additional base, and ran a power plate compactor over the entire walk to help re-lock & re-level heaved paving stones.  We used a cement bead edge restraint to avoid the same repair in the future. The final result was spectacular!

We then restored this brick pavers walkway's original beauty by power wash cleaning the paving stones & paver joints, re-sanding with joint sand, and then carefully applying an approved brick paver sealant a few days later after all paving stones & paver joints where completely dry.

This paver walk did not have any routine or periodic maintenance performed for over 10 years and it showed.  We were able to completely restore this walkway for just under $1,000 and with routine sanding of the paver joints and occasional sealing, this brick paver walkway can give a lifetime of beauty & function.

Brick paver walkways that are properly designed, installed, and periodically maintained will be successful in appearance, function, curb appeal, and safety. Do not give up on the chance for yours to be restored & enjoyed again.

Brick Paver Driveway need is easily resolved

Driveways constructed from Interlocking Pavers allow for easy maintenance solutions

In Ann Arbor this past week one of our brick paver driveway repair & maintenance customers had a unique request.  They wanted us to improve the appearance & curb appeal of their paver driveway and replace a dozen damaged paving stones. Though we did not initially install this 5,000 sq.ft. paving stone driveway, we have been contracted to perform ongoing maintenance services.

The original brick pavers contractor did not leave the homeowner any extra paving stones for future replacement of damaged or stained bricks.  This customers brick paver driveway was a special run of color and buying extra pavers was not available.  The resolution for this special need was then conceived.

We decided to create a design within the paver driveway that would allow us to obtain extra needed paving stones for current & future replacement and at the same time, rejuvenate the curb appeal at the street.

We removed @100 sq.ft area of Cobblestone pavers at the bottom of the driveway and installed a traditional and distinctive herringbone pattern using Holland pavers. The herringbone pattern is a strong lock up design and is a perfect application for brick paver driveways. We then replaced a few damaged & stained paving stones and stored the rest neatly in the homeowners garage. 


We will be returning later this Spring to power wash clean the entire brick paver driveway and paver joints, re-sweep new paver joint sand, and then apply an approved brick paver sealant. It is important to have a brick pavers contractor who performs ongoing maintenance services so they can resolve your special paver needs.

2011 will be a good year for Brick Pavers in Ann Arbor

Paver Patio Installations, Repair, Cleaning, and Sealing is on the rise!

As the economy in Ann Arbor, Saline, Canton, and Southeast Michigan improves slightly in 2011, homeowners are now reconsidering their brick paver patios & walkway needs. Paver Patios and walks have dominated the Outdoor Living spaces market for the last 30 years but has suffered a tremendous downturn due to the economic turmoil the past few years.

As a hard working brick paver specialist and contractor the past 28 years, I noticed the pendulum starting to swing back to more brick paver interest and needs during 2010.  I expect 2011 to make huge strides in the installation, repair & restoration, cleaning, sealing, and maintenance of interlocking pavers and modular retaining walls.

All service areas for paving stones are on the rise and good brick paver contractors are offering the spectrum of services that homeowners need.  Below are the reasons I am so optimistic about the 2011 brick paver season.

Installations:

As the economy has slightly ticked up, so has new home building. Though it is minimal, new home building has began to re-emerge.  Up until about 2006, 50% of my brick paver company revenues came from "new" home installations. In 2008, it fell to less than 10% of my total revenues.

Brick paver contractors lived and died by the new home construction sword if they were not diversified with offering "all" brick pavers services.  New home paver installations are the most profitable projects for brick paving contractors and this slow insurgence of new home building will help make this concrete paver industry more attractive.

Repairs & Restoration: 

The flip coin of homeowners not being able to sell their homes or build new ones was the insurgence for the need of "existing" brick paver patio, walkway, driveway, and porch repair. Homeowners quickly realized they were staying put and there was an immediate need for their brick pavers and retaining walls to be repaired and restored.

It is easy for homeowners to neglect their paver patios since it was not a financial necessity.  But as homeowners came to the conclusion that they were remaining in their current homes for years to come, they focused on home improvements.  With a little touch-up and re-focused attention too, paver patios could once again be an attractive and functional family outdoor living space. I predict that my paver repair & restoration projects in 2011 will double due to the emphasis by homeowners to improve what they currently have.

Cleaning, Sanding, and Sealing:

Good brick paving contractors will educate their homeowners to the benefits of touch-up repairs, cleaning, sanding, and sealing (optional) of paving stones.  In Ann Arbor, there has been a tremendous interest in these brick pavers services.  Interlocking brick pavers and retaining wall maintenance is now in the forefront.

With new and improved products for paving stones hitting the market each year, the needs for these opportunities to improve the appearance of paver patios has come to the attention of homeowners. From removing moss, efflorescence, and rust stains to polymeric sand to varying sealer appearances, paving stones products are revitalizing the attention too paver patios, walkways, driveways, and paver porch maintenance.

In conclusion, there is a resurgence in the attention for interlocking brick pavers and modular retaining walls services throughout Michigan as the economic uncertainty is stabilizing. Homeowners are reinvesting in their current homes while new home builidng begins to reappear. Capitalizing on these diverse services of paving stones will improve profits during 2011 for any good brick paver contractor who pays attention to this opportunity.

Prep work IS necessary for Sealing Brick Pavers

Brick Paver Sealing

I am amazed by the number of potential brick paver sealing clients who do not think it is necessary to prepare their paver patio, walkway, driveway, etc.. for sealing.  Preparation of the paving stone surface & paver joints is a must for the proper performance and appearance of paver sealant.

Each week I do a brick paver sealing estimate where the homeowner just wants me to apply the proper paver sealant to their brick pavers.  Most times the paving stones exhibit dirt, moss, mold, and stains that need to be addressed. More so, the paver joints need to be filled with paver joint sand and have dirt,moss, weeds, and grass removed prior to sealing their paver patio or walk.  Paver Driveways are a given for extensive prep work to allow for sealing.

The average cost of sealing brick paver patios in Ann Arbor & Saline is @ $1.00/ sq.ft plus the cost of prep work. Price breaks usually start after 1000 sq.ft and for driveways.  The cost of prep work depends on the severity of the condition of the paving stones & paver joints. Just for an easy example, a  400-450 sq.ft ground level paver patio with a couple of steps into doorwall, may cost $650-750 for general power washing, sanding of paver joints, and sealed with an approved brick paver sealant.  Severe paving stone & paver joint cleaning may increase this price range.  Brick paver repair to sunken or settled areas are also an extra cost.  Most of our brick paver patio restorations this year are running in the $600-900 range when you factor in touch-up repairs.

The only exception for applying a brick paver sealant without performing some extensive prep work would be when a paver patio, walkway, driveway, or etc.. was installed about 3 months earlier and the above mentioned foreign substances are not present.  Paver joints may still need some touch ups. Remember that most brick paver manufacturers recommend waiting 60-90 days after installation to allow any efflorescence to exit the paving stones.

The paver manufacturers have a few steps & cleaners of prepping for sealing that is not always necessary, but the minimum amount of prep work is a general power washing of the paving stones & paver joints.  If weeds, grass, mold, & moss are present, a more aggressive power washing will be necessary. After the brick pavers & paver joints dry, an approved paver joint sand needs to be swept in all joints.  Polymeric sand is NOT necessary to use if sealing your brick pavers and actually is discouraged from doing by polymeric sand manufacturers.

After the paver joint sand is carefully swept in all joints, touched up with a wisk broom in tight areas, and blown off the top of the paving stones with a leaf blower, the brick paver sealant can be applied.  An earlier post I had on brick paver sealing methods explains the pros & cons of different methods. 

To insure great performance & appearance from sealing pavers, the prep work must be done to make sure the paving stones & paver joint's appearance is enhanced by the sealant.  Sealing brick pavers is not cheap, and some prep work is necessary to make sure you get the results you are looking to get from your interlocking pavers.

Brick Paver Sealing : Spraying vs. Rolling

I am often asked what is the best method for applying brick paver sealant. The two methods that are most common for sealing brick pavers is "pump" spraying or rolling on with a foam roller. I have brick paver contractors that swear by both methods, but from my 25 year experience I prefer the "pump" spraying method.



Starting first with the Rolling method of applying brick paver sealant, I find that my time in applying the paver sealant is less. The special foam slitted roller spreads the sealer pretty evenly and efficiently. The rolling method of applying paver sealant will stretch the sealer so you will not have very much waste. The biggest setback that I experience when rolling on brick paver sealant is that the roller will sometimes roll the joint sand over the top of the brick pavers, especially if the joints are wide. Also, I am not satisfied with the amount of sealer that pours into the sand joints. Even though the paver sealant companies push their special rollers, I have yet to find one that satisfies me.


The Spraying method is my preferred method of applying brick paver sealer. When applying sealer for paver patios, walkways, and driveways, this method will apply sealer very generously while allowing sealer to soak into the sand joints as well. As long as you apply the paver sealer on a windless day, the coverage can be generous and effortless. You will use up more sealer with this brick paver applying method. The biggest headache for us brick paver contractors is that there are no real good brick paver sealer sprayers. Even the high dollar commercial sprayers require so much cleaning & maintenance to perform properly, most of us contractors have resolved to the cheap and disposable "pump" garden sprayers. After each brick paver sealing job, I just throw them away. The thermoplastics in the paver sealer harden up & eat up the rubber seals on the sprayers and make them unusable unless you thoroughly clean them out with acetone or thinner. I usually purchase a sealer sprayer under $20 at Lowe's or Home Depot. I feel my time is worth more than the actual cost of the sprayers.

No matter what brick paver sealing method you use, make sure you seal patio stones & retaining walls on a dry sunny day. Make sure all pavers and paver joints are completely dry and it will not rain within 4 hours. To get more information and instruction about brick paver sealers and cleaners, check out Techniseal for information and source near you!