When you have new pavers installed, you may find yourself wondering if you should get them sealed. The answer is a resounding yes; even if you had them installed a while ago, you still need to have them sealed. While you may have been led to believe that paver sealing is only done as an aesthetic improvement, really, this is just the secondary reason for doing so. The most important reason why you want to seal your pavers when you first have them installed is to protect them, their color, and their surface from deterioration over time.
Why should you seal new pavers?
OK, so we’ve given you a brief reason as to why you should seal your pavers, but there are a few other reasons for doing so. One is the fact that as soon as your new pavers are installed, the sun’s harsh UV rays will start to deteriorate their dyes and pigments. This is especially true if you live in Tampa, FL. Here your pavers will quickly lose their color unless they’re sealed because paver sealing acts like sunblock. It’ll keep your paver from soaking up the sun and leaving its color behind. Additionally, it’ll prevent acid rain from deteriorating your pavers as it pelts their surface.
How long should you wait before sealing your new pavers?
Paver sealing is something that needs to be done right away. Typically, you wait 30 – 60 days. Giving the stone time to sit and breathe also gives it time to rain so that the construction debris is washed away. However, once you reach 60 days, it’s time to have them sealed. Waiting any longer can lead to any number of problems, some of which we’ve listed above.
What will paver sealing do for things like mold?
Living in Tampa, FL, you’re probably all too familiar with the issue of mold. Now that you have your new pavers installed, you may be wondering if having them sealed will also help prevent mold from growing in their joints. The short answer here is yes. However, if mold is already growing there, you’ll need to steam clean it out of the joints.
While you may be tempted to use something like bleach or chlorine, they don’t actually kill mold. Instead, they simply remove the leaf and leave it behind the spore, which will then allow the mold to grow back again. Therefore, the only way to effectively kill these spores is by using really hot water (e.g., steam cleaning) or acid. This is why you’ll need to maintain your pavers with a special white vinegar with a really high acid level. It’s also why it’s easier to simply get your pavers sealed before mold has a chance to start growing there.
Are there any other reasons why I should seal my pavers?
As you can see, paver sealing is vital for many different reasons. It’s something you’ll want to have done right away. Once it’s done, your pavers will look enhanced if you use the wet-look sealant. If you don’t like this wet look, you still need to seal your pavers. There’s a sealer that’ll leave behind a natural look without changing the way your pavers looked when they were first installed. The fact is, you’ve spent money installing your pavers, and you want to protect your investment. This is the best way to do so and to also ensure that yourpavers look great both now and in the future. So, if you’re located in Tampa, FL, and in need of paver sealing, contact us at Unreal Paver Seal Tampa Bay today.