A paver patio, driveway, or other hardscaping project can be a great investment for your home. It can radically transform your property’s curb appeal, how you use your backyard, or the look and feel of your home.
But while high-quality pavers are built to last for decades, it’s important to seal your pavers to protect your investment. Sealing your pavers at the wrong time can cause some strange side effects, so it can be helpful to know what’s the best time of year to seal your pavers.
The Basics of Paver Sealing
Sealing pavers is a complex undertaking in its own right, and there are those who have written entire books to explain the process. The first critical lesson is knowing the different types of sealers and why each type should be used at specific times of the year.
The first sealer category is water- and solvent-based sealers. These two types of sealers fall under a similar category because they share several similarities.
They are:
- Easy to use
- Not affected by UV light
- Do not get worn or torn easily
However, their differences determine which of these two is most suitable for a project.
Solvent-based sealers last longer than water-based sealers, but their use requires critical consideration of time because they are sensitive to moisture. Water-based sealers have a better advantage because they are environmentally friendly and can be cleaned using water.
The second category of sealers is topical and penetrating sealers. Topical sealers are also called film-forming sealers. Using them provides various advantages, including a higher degree of stabilization to the joint sand. Penetrating sealers are also non-film forming, and they are preferred because they are invisible once they have been used to seal pavers.
The Ideal Time to Seal Pavers
Ideally, you should wait 15 to 30 days after installation before applying a paver sealer. However, waiting more than a month after could be detrimental due to the direct effects of external elements that can wash away the sand that holds pavers in place.
After about two weeks, you should make plans to seal the pavers. Laying down pavers in the first place requires time, given that you have a short period of time to decide when to seal them.
You can seal pavers any time of the year, meaning that every season is perfect for this task. Even so, this does require various considerations, including:
Sealing Pavers When the Temperatures Are High
Pavers can be installed during summer, but you should start work early in the morning or later in the evening when the temperatures are cooler. Sealing pavers when temperatures are too high can affect the quality of the work because sealers react badly to excess heat, preventing it from going between the pavers to seal every crack. You can tell the temperature is too high if the sealer forms bubbles or blisters.
Sealing Pavers During the Cold Weather
Paver sealers can be applied during cold weather, but it is a time that comes with challenges. Sealers become weakened by cold temperatures and can even change color when applied. The finished product can achieve an unexpectedly unpleasant look, which would result in a great deal of wasted time and money.
Paver Sealing During Autumn and Spring
Autumn falls between summer and winter, meaning it is neither cold nor hot. Spring is another season when cold weather abates and warmer weather appears. Sealing pavers during fall or spring is ideal because they are the two seasons with cooler temperatures.
These are the ideal seasons in which to seal pavers because the sealer penetrates the cracks of the pavers with no issues caused by external conditions. The only recommendation for this particular period is to watch out for excess moisture, which affects the choice of water- or solvent-based sealants.
Several considerations determine the most suitable paver sealer and the ideal time for your project. However, you do not need to limit yourself by waiting until spring and fall to construct your pavement. The experts at Viking Pavers will seal your pavers, even in summer or winter, by suggesting the appropriate sealant based on temperature and other external conditions.
