After installation or maintenance, you probably wondered how long you have to stay off pavers after sealing. After all, you don’t want to compromise the work.
Sealing is one of the most significant steps in pavers’ installation and is also directly responsible for keeping them looking new for much longer. Thus, it’s natural that you don’t want to accelerate the wear process unnecessarily. But after all, is there a minimum waiting time?
In this article, we will not only answer that question, but we will also talk about other relevant sealing aspects. The recommendations here are to help you make sealing last much longer, even under adverse circumstances, such as constant traffic and extreme weather conditions.
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How Long Does It Take For Patio Sealer To Dry?
In general, we recommend you stop vehicle traffic for at least 48 hours after applying the sealer. Foot traffic is ok after 3-4 hours. Sealers can take anywhere from 4-12 hours to dry before you can walk over it, but they will continue to harden for up to 48 hours after the application. Concrete sealed with an acrylic sealer should not be walked on (except for a recoat), driven on, or wet for at least 36-48 hours.
Still, the sealing durability depends on factors other than allowing enough drying time. The sealing process itself is often ignored by people who install paver patios, which is a mistake, especially if what you are looking for is to keep them looking new for much longer. We’ll see more about that below.
Is Sealing Pavers A Good Idea?
When it comes to the question if paver sealing is a good idea, there is a right answer: and it is YES. As we mentioned, the sealer performs a key role in keeping pavers looking new for much longer, but now we’ll understand how it works.
Paver sealer is a substance that, when applied over a paver’s surface, creates a protective film. Some types of sealers can even form a visible physical film over the exterior. Sealer types also vary widely; some are specific to make pavers look wet. Besides, when the sealer comes into contact with the joints’ sand, it forms a sort of glue. All of this protects pavers in many ways:
- Makes moisture absorption harder, allowing pavers to dry much faster after rain
- Hinders weed growth in pavers’ joints
- Avoids mold and moss formation on pavers’ surface
- Hinders pavers’ absorption of substances and liquids, such as paints, which allows you to clean pavers easily and prevents stains, including oil, which are quite common on driveways
But these are just to name a few benefits.
Many people choose not to apply a sealer because they fear that pavers will change to a different color. The fact is, yes, sealing pavers make them darker, but it depends a lot on their original color. Darker colored pavers tend to have a more noticeable sheen than lighter ones.
Another frequent question people make is if sealing pavers make them slippery. But the fact is, almost any wet surface will be moderately slippery. The benefit of sealed pavers is that they will dry much faster, reducing the time they will continue wet. Moss is another determining factor in making pavers slippery, much more than the sealer. And as we mentioned, sealing pavers helps to prevent moss formation.
What If It Rains After Sealing Pavers?
Staying off pavers after sealing isn’t enough. You must watch the weather forecast before scheduling your sealing. Rain can wash the sealer off if it rains right after the application. Ideally, we recommend that there is no rain for at least 24 hours after applying the sealer. However, if necessary, it’s possible to use additives that can speed up the curing process.
Does Paver Sealer Wear Off?
Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, not even the sealer. Eventually, you will notice pavers’ areas that will have a darker shade, especially after rain. These are places where pavers have absorbed water and are taking longer to dry. One benefit of sealing is that it protects pavers against moisture absorption. Those dark spots are a sign that the sealer wear reached the point where you have to reapply it.
There is no specific time for that wear off to happen. The important thing is to be vigilant and observe how pavers behave in contact with water. Note that it’s normal for pavers to have a darker shade on rainy days, especially heavy rain, but it does not mean that the sealer is worn.
Anyway, it should be clear to you now that there are many benefits when it comes to paver sealing. As long as you follow our recommendations, you’ll be all set. And when necessary, we will be available to reapply the sealer or refer someone to do it for you.
JSBrick has 20+ years of experience providing paver installation, cleaning, and sealing services in Sarasota and surrounding cities. Don’t hesitate to leave us a message or call us at your earliest convenience for a free sealing estimate.
