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Frequently Asked
Questions
What
does sealing do for pavers? How long does the process take? When do my pavers need re-sanding? Will sealing my pavers make then shine? How can you tell if you need to reseal your pavers? How often do I need to reseal my pavers? I had my pavers sealed before but there's a white cloudy
film on the surface, can it be fixed? What am I to expect when you come and do repairs,
pressure cleaning and sealing for me?
What
does sealing do for pavers? Sealing is meant to protect pavers from the elements (i.e. rain, sun
etc...) and anything foreign that were to fall on them. It creates an
invisible barrier on top of the pavers that repels water, oil and anything
else you might accidentally drop on your driveway or pool deck, so long as
you wash it clean as soon as you spot it. Sealing also preserves the
pavers' natural beauty for years to come. Sealing helps prevent ants and
weeds, but is not guaranteed to eliminate them.
How
long does the process take? It's usually a 2-day process (weather permitting of course). The first
day, we treat any stains with various solutions or solvents which is
followed up by pressure cleaning, getting almost anything out (stubborn
penetrating stains like oil and rust may not come out). The second day,
given that the surface to be sealed is completely dry, our sealer is then
rolled on. One or two coats are applied depending on the need. We suggest vehicles
not to be driven over a completed job for at least 24 hours. Pedestrians
may walk on the sealed surface 1-2 hours after completion.
When
do my pavers need re-sanding? Fine sand is the finishing touch of any paver job. It gets into the little
spaces between the pavers and secures them, preventing them from moving or
shifting. Most people think that the sand needs to come all the way to the
surface. Sand is securing the pavers together and does not need to be seen
to do its job. If spaces are unusually large between the pavers, they
might be shifting due to damage to your edge restraints and you might be
in need of some repairs.
Will
sealing my pavers make then shine? Sealing is made to protect the pavers and also to preserve their
beauty. When a sealer is applied, it darkens the original colors. Some
times you might get the pavers to really shine, but it depends on your
pavers' colors. Darker colors tend to have a more noticeable sheen then
lighter ones. We use a high solids sealer which usually leaves a satin
finish on a single coat, and a high-gloss finish on a two coater. Again
this is a bonus that comes with sealing and not its main purpose.
How
can you tell if you need to reseal your pavers? A simple test can help you tell if you need sealing or not, but it's not
the only one. Turn on your water hose and watch water bead up on the
surface. If water is not beading, you might need a fresh coat of sealer.
How often do I need to reseal my pavers? Usually a good sealing job, with a good product should last between two to
three years depending on the care given to the area, the traffic, and the
elements (i.e. rain, sun etc...). In addition, the quality of the pavers
and the condition of the pavers play a role in the longevity.
I had my pavers sealed before but there's a white
cloudy film on the surface, can it be fixed? There are two reasons cause a white cloudy film to appear on your
pavers: The number one reason is due to a cheap product being used. If too much
cheap sealer is applied, the paver becomes saturated with the product and
becomes white. Don't let anyone use a cheap sealer on your pavers! We
would recommend leaving your pavers bare rather than coat them with a
cheap sealer
The number two reason is saturation with a good product. If after pressure
cleaning, the job is not given time enough to dry completely, the sealer
then traps moisture inside the paver. When that moisture tries to escape
it is blocked by the sealer and causes that white look you notice. In most
cases, we can apply a solvent which re-wets the sealer and allows this
moisture vapor to escape.
What
am I to expect when you come to pressure clean and seal my pavers? The pressure cleaning and sealing process takes two days. All work
will be completed weather permitting. If we are to do work around a pool,
great care will be taken in keeping your pool clean, but even though we
are careful your pool will be subject to debris (i.e. sand, dirt, etc...)
from pressure cleaning. If you have a cover for the pool, we will gladly
use it. We suggest scheduling your pool company to inspect your filters
and clean your pool after we complete the job. In addition, some covered
pools have taken 2-7 days to dry from pressure washing before the sealer
could be applied. We will contact you on date work is to be performed but
cannot give you a specific time of start due to different variable. Please
feel free to contact us for any other questions or concerns you may have.
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