If you are planning on Taking on the job of cleaning and sealing your own paving please follow our guide below. If you are unsure about any of the processes please seek professional help..
- Sweep clean the paving area that is to be sealed.
- Decide if your paving needs to be cleaned with a cleaning fluid, if so is it -
- Moss and weeds, then a fungicidal wash.
- Efflorescence blooming on the surface of the paving. This is the white salts that apperar on the paving after a few weeks after being laid. Try scrubbing with a stiff brush, as often the salts will simply brush off the paving. If not then a gentle scrub with efflorescence cleaner will be needed to remove the bloom on the paving.
- Dirt and stain removal. A good quality de-greaser.
- In all cases apply the cleaner and then wash off. If you use a high powered jet wash then clean at an angle that doesn't remove all the sand or cement in the paving joints. Some paving may not need to be cleaned, but remember that the sealer will seal the surface once applied and if the paving is dirty the sealer may not be fully absorbed by the paving and the dirt will be sealed underneath the sealer.
- Allow the paving to completely dry out (the dryer the better).
- Re-sand or re-point the paving using kiln dried sand or pointing motar ensuring all the joints are full and excess sand is swept off (A soft brush is good for this).
TIP. If sealing block paving try to brush in the kiln dry sand on the day you apply the sealer . That way you are guaranteed the sand will be dry. If you are repointing paving slabs please allow the cement to fully dry before applying the sealer to the paving. This may take a day or two.
- The sealer can be applied using a large roller and tray, brush or sprayer unit. The roller should be of a polyester type. About 300mm (12 inch) is fine.
- Always wear protective / old clothing. Gloves and a respiratory mask are highly advisable if using a solvent based sealer.
- Put enough Block or paving sealer in the tray to fill but not overflow.
- It is always best to saturate the area to be sealed especially the paving joints but don't allow the sealer to pool.
- It is always best to apply a second coat of sealer. That way no areas are missed. This should be done as soon as the first coat of sealer has dried, usually within 4 hours but it is dependant on the weather conditions.
- Once the application of paving sealer is complete vehicular and pedestrian traffic should be kept off the paving for at least 24 hours.
- If you need to walk on the paving before completely dry then please wear an outdoor pair of shoes.
- Sit back and admire your sealed paving.
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