Homeowners know that sealing your pavers is the best way to keep them looking good year after year, especially in Perth’s harsh climate. Sealing pavers protects them from UV and weather damage, spills, wear and tear, and means you get to enjoy your paver surface looking fresh for longer.
But if your pavers aren’t beautifully clean before sealant is applied, you’re risking product failure. Depending on the sealant you’re using, this could be unsightly delamination, salt deposits, cloudiness, or just never being able to really get your pavers looking their best.
Thorough paver cleaning and sealing is an essential part of proper maintenance. We reckon it’s worth getting the professionals (like Mr Blastit) in from the start to get the job done right – but if you’re determined to DIY, here’s what you need to consider.
What kind of pavers are you cleaning?
Natural stone pavers are made of all kinds of materials; marble, travertine, limestone, granite, terrazzo, bluestone and more. These have different density, chemical properties, and care recommendations – then there’s manmade options like concrete pavers, clay, brick, or exposed aggregate.
Depending on the stone material you’re using, there may be certain cleaning considerations. For regular cleaning you should use a stone-specific cleaner (i.e., marble cleaner) or a pH-neutral one to avoid any potential damage to your surface. Find out more about caring for sealed surfaces, including what to avoid using on stone.
You can also pressure clean pavers. This is better for pre-sealing cleans than scrubbing away by hand, because the high pressure can get dirt and grime right out of the pores of the stone.
Do you need to remove old sealer from the pavers?
If your pavers have been sealed before, you will need to remove the old sealer so the new product can properly adhere to or penetrate the paver surface. Typically, this is dependent on what sealer was applied before, what condition the existing sealer is in, and what type of sealer you are wanting to apply. This needs to be done using a mix of pressure and chemicals.
Removing solvent-based sealers
Oil-based solvent sealants create a layer on the top of your pavers only. These are harder to remove for DIY-ers as they may need a solvent-based stripper to remove any sealant that’s still stuck fast.
Many of the options you’ll commonly find are aggressive solvents, designed to break down the tough surface; you’ll need PPE like a respirator and gloves to keep yourself safe when working with them. You will also need to be careful and tape up all around the area that you are working in. This is to protect surfaces like painted walls, rendered walls, sliding door and window frames.
Removing water-based sealers
Commonly water-based sealers are penetrating and work differently to solvent-based sealers, so you don’t really need to ‘strip’ them off in the same way. Instead of creating a physical barrier on top of the pavers, they sink deep into the stone and bond with the surface on a chemical level. Depending on the age of the water based sealer, high pressure cleaning (3,000+ PSI) will do a great job of clearing water-based sealers. If you’re not sure, applying a chemical cleaner such as Guard Remover and high pressure cleaning will almost guarantee removal of the water based penetrating sealer.
Mr Blastit uses a 4000+ PSI vacuum recovery pressure cleaning system, which can utilise hot water for a thorough cleaning. If that doesn’t get the old sealant off, or if there are stubborn spots, we can then apply environmentally friendly treatments to problem areas. We only use products that are safe for you and your family.
Cleaning your pavers
Here’s the basic process:
- Clearing the space: Make sure the surface is completely clear of furniture, potted plants, and anything else that might get in the way. You’ll want to move these far enough away that they won’t get splattered as you work.
- Clearing out debris: Moss, weeds and other organic growth needs to go. If you’re using a power washer, you can largely skip this step as the vegetation will get blasted off then. If you’re not, or if it’s not very powerful, you’ll need to use a handheld brush with stiff bristles to loosen it.
- Pre-wash treatments: Stains come from various sources – mud, rust stains, dirt, grease or oil, food or drink, plant material, even graffiti if you’ve been an unlucky target. These need to be addressed first. You may even need to get a couple of different specialised products, depending on what kind of stains you’re treating, as they often can’t be treated effectively with universal products. If you’re using a cleaning solution, this is when you would mix it up and apply it to the area as a pre-treatment. Some solutions recommend using a broom to scrub it in, working in small areas for even coverage.
- Rinsing: This is where you get your garden hose or your pressure washer out. If you’re using a pressure washer with a nozzle, be sure to work carefully across the surface to ensure you don’t miss patches or apply uneven pressure.
- Drying Time: Check if your sealer needs a dry or damp surface for application. Most traditional sealants need a dry surface, or they’ll trap moisture in, which leads to cloudiness or delamination. If you need a completely dry surface, you should wait 24 hours to be safe.
- Paver Sealing: Again, you will need to check the manufacturer’s instructions for this step as it can vary between brands and formulas. Work in sections and have a small, clean brush handy for any nooks and crannies your roller might not be able to reach easily.
What paver sealer should you use?
The type of sealer you’re using will drastically impact your project:
- Solvent-based sealants require your pavers to be completely dry before application, which means a more time-consuming process – and not one you’d want to do if there was a chance of rain, such as in winter or spring.
- Water-based sealers can be used on wet surfaces. Our preferred sealer range is from WA Sealers, who distribute the Pro Seal range of sealers. These are designed to be applied to wet surfaces, meaning we can apply them year-round with minimal disruption to your schedule.
You want to find the best paver sealer for your surface, how you use it, and for Perth’s harsh weather conditions. For example, we use Pro Seal and Guard Industry paver sealers to bring out the beauty in stone surfaces. We’ve found that over hundreds of jobs and years of working with these products, they give the best finish and provide a long-lasting protective barrier.
5 questions to ask before you DIY cleaning your pavers
1. Do I have all the equipment for cleaning and sealing?
The level of cleaning you need to achieve pre-sealing is more than you can realistically pull off with the garden hose and a broom. If you don’t already have a pressure cleaner with at least 3,000+ PSI, you’ll need to buy or rent one. And if your existing product is solvent-based, you’ll likely need to invest in chemicals to strip it (and gear to apply the stripping product safely).
2. Do I have time to do this properly?
Because you want your protective barrier to last, there’s no shortcuts in this process if you’re going to do it yourself. You need to map out, realistically, your weekend to get this done. The full time will depend on how long it takes you to clean off grime and any remaining sealer, as well as the time you must wait between cleaning and applying your sealer. Be sure to read the instructions thoroughly!
3. What condition is my paver surface in?
If your pavers are brand new and just waiting for a bit of sealer to keep them safe, that’s one thing. If they’re older and need some serious TLC before being sealed, you’re looking at more product, time and care to get them clean and sealed again.
4. Do I have proper PPE for solvent application?
No matter what kind you’re applying, you should wear a respirator and gloves at minimum. All sealers have some kind of chemicals in them, some harsher and less friendly to people and the environment than others – so it’s best to err on the side of caution.
This is especially relevant if you’re using an oil-based solvent for whatever reason. These contain hazardous compounds, and during application and dry-down you don’t want to be breathing these in.
5. What if it goes wrong?
We all like to think we’ll nail it first try, but often that doesn’t happen. It’s not a reflection on your capabilities; cleaning and sealing can easily go wrong, or you could get the wrong advice from someone else.
There’s really something to be said for experience and expertise here. Mr Blastit is certified applicator for both Pro Seal and Guard Industry products, meaning you can be sure we know everything about the product, application, and how to avoid any mishaps.
If it does go pear-shaped… are you going to be happy looking at it for the next few years? Or determined enough to give it another go if the application fails?
The easy solution: Call Mr Blastit
Before you start going down the rabbit hole of how to clean your pavers before sealing them, remember there’s a simpler option: Mr Blastit’s same-day cleaning and sealing.
Mr Blastit is a fully insured, family-owned and operated small business operating across Perth metro. areas, Pinjarra and Mandurah. We know how important your home is – and we treat it with care, offering professional and fast services with minimal disruption to your daily life.
No need to muck around with your neighbour’s old water blaster, or deal with harsh and potentially dangerous chemicals stripping off old product. Mr Blastit uses a high-pressure vacuum retrieval system and eco-friendly, Australian-made products that don’t put you, your family, or your garden at risk.
Do cleaning and sealing the easy way. Call Mr Blastit on 0419 350 332, try our free online estimate tool, or email us today for a free, no obligation quote.
