Does block paving really need to be sealed? What are the advantages to using a block paving sealant? Find out all the answers here.
A lot of people wonder whether you should seal block paving. The answer is that while you do not have to seal your block paving, it is worth doing so. Sealing your block paving can not only help to ensure that it looks as beautiful as possible, but the sealant can help to protect the stone.
Let’s go into a little bit more depth on this for you. Throughout the rest of this page, we want to talk about some of the benefits of sealing your block paving. We also want to talk a little bit about the right and wrong times to seal your block paving.
Table of Contents
Should You Seal Block Paving?
Firstly, if your block paving is under 6-months old, then no. You should not seal it. This is because the block paving will still be settling. There will also be water stains on the block paving that you want to disappear (the white powdery substance). If you seal the block paving at this point, then you are pretty much going to ruin your block paving.
Once 6-months have passed, you can start considering the idea of sealing your block paving. There are plenty of reasons why you are going to want to do this too.
Stops Your Car Oil Staining The Surface
If you have a car parked on your block paving and oil leaks onto the block paving, (then the stone block paving will be stained. This is because it seeps deep into that paving and it is virtually impossible to remove.
If you seal the surface of your block paving, then you do not have to worry about oil dripping on the stonework. If it happens, then you can just pressure wash it away. In fact, if you catch it early enough, just throwing a bit of water onto the stone should be more than enough to keep it free of oil.
Ensures Color Of The Block Paving Is Preserved
Over time, your coloured block paving is going to fade in colour. There isn’t really much that you can do to stop this. Even with a sealant on the block paving, it is inevitable.
That being said, a good sealant can slow down the process drastically. If you work hard to keep the block paving clean, then it can look just as good a few years down the line as the day that you had it installed.
With some of the better sealants on the market, you may even find that the block paving color will be enhanced by the sealant.
Stops Weeds Dead In Their Tracks
Anybody that has ever owned block paving will know just how common weeds are.
The seeds will creep inside of the joints. Before you know it, you will have weeds sprouting everywhere. The problem is that once they have e started to sprout, they are going to be virtually impossible for you to be able to remove.
Remember, the weeds aren’t just going to be unsightly. Their roots will start to grow under the paving. This will start to cause the paving to move about. In some cases, it may even cause it to crack. Obviously, the only way that you are going to be able to deal with that problem is to replace the paving.
If you put sealant on the block paving, then you are preventing the seeds from burrowing into the joints.
Prevents Loss of Joints
Block paving is joined together by jointing sand.
While it is pretty hardy stuff, over time, that jointing sand is going to start to disintegrate. After all, it is going to be constantly exposed to the elements, pressure washers, and a whole lot more. It isn’t good at all.
If the jointing sand starts to go, then your block paving is going to start looking rather unsightly. On top of this, you are going to have to deal with moving blocks. You may even find that some blocks become completely loose when you drive or walk over them. It isn’t good at all!
Increases Lifespan Of Your Block Paving
As you can probably guess (based on what we have told you so far), the lifespan of block paving will be drastically increased when you seal it. You can add years and years to the life of the block paving.
You may even be pleased to know that the amount of maintenance or replacing block paving that you need to carry out on the block paving will also be reduced significantly!
How Long Does Block Paving Sealant Last?
A block paving sealant should last around 2-years.
However, don’t worry. Once that paving sealant has hit the 2-year cap, you will be able to reseal the block paving.
You can continue to do this for as long as you want.
Can You Seal Block Paving Yourself?
You can.
However, since it is likely that you want the block paving to look as good as possible, it may be worth calling in a professional to do the work for you.
Professionals will help to ensure that your block paving is sealed properly (i.e. no gaps). They will often use some of the best block paving sealants on the market too. This means that you do not have to shop around.
Of course, it should be pretty affordable to call in a professional too. You only need to have it resealed every couple of years (with a good sealant), and you will be saving a whole lot of cash not having to carry out any other maintenance on the block paving.
A professional will also be able to strip back the old block paving sealant to ensure that the color is not adversely impacted when they add a new coat.
Final Word
While you do not have to seal block paving, there are far too many advantages to avoid doing it. If you seal block paving, you will be drastically increasing the lifespan of the block paving. You will also be stopping yourself from carrying out a multitude of maintenance tasks such as weeding.