If you’ve recently installed a natural stone patio or are considering it, then you may be wondering. “Should I use sealer for my paving stones? Is it necessary?” After all, it is ‘natural stone’, does it really need anything to protect it from the elements like other patio materials.
In this article, we’re going to look at why natural stone does need a quality sealer and how you can choose the best one for you.
Why Should I Use Sealer for Paving Stones?
Protection from Stains. Sealer helps protect your paving stones against dirt, grime, and other stain-causing agents. By using a quality sealer, you’ll ensure that your paving stones look their best for far longer. And this is true whether your paving stones are used in an indoor or outdoor application.
Sealers penetrate deeply into the surface of your stone and keep contaminants from being absorbed. As long as any dirt remains on the surface of your stone, you’ll be able to wash (or pressure wash) it off. Unfortunately, if it moves more deeply into your stone, it can create permanent stains that are impossible to remove.
Protection from Vegetation. Have you ever seen a patio that’s dotted with weeds and other vegetation, peeking up from the paver joints? If you don’t use sealer for your paving stones, there’s a high likelihood that unwanted greenery will poke up between your pavers and leave you scrambling to get them removed – again and again.
You see, these plants don’t grow up from underneath. They’re caused by seeds that land in your paver joint sand. But when you use sealer for your paving stones, you lock that sand in place so seeds can’t get in and plants can’t grow. This keeps your pavers looking their best longer.
Protection from Movement. Without a high-quality sealer keeping your paver stones in place, there’s a good chance that you’ll see slight movements and shifts in your patio. The sand in your paver joints helps to stabilize your paving stones. However, without a sealer holding it there, your sand will eventually blow away, leaving your paver stones susceptible to unwanted movements.
How Do I Choose the Right Sealer for My Paving Stones?
When looking for a paving stone sealer, it’s a good idea to search for one that has a smaller molecular structure. The smaller the sealer’s molecules are, the deeper into your natural stone pavers it can penetrate. This ensures that your pavers and paver joints are protected for the maximum amount of time possible.
In addition to molecule size, you’ll also want to look for sealers that offer the finish you’re looking for. You can find sealers that leave everything from a high-gloss finish to a natural look that doesn’t change the appearance of your pavers at all. You can find both water-based and solvent-based sealers that will do the job, though we tend to recommend water-based options for a variety of reasons. If you’d like to look at some of the best paver sealer’s on the market click here fore more information.
