Paver Sealing in Bonita Springs That Actually Protects Your Work

Why Pavers in Bonita Springs Need to Be Sealed More Often Than You Think

Most people assume paver sealing is an every five or six years kind of thing, a one and done type of job. But not here. Bonita Springs is a coastal town, meaning salt air from the Gulf comes on shore every day and degrades sealants faster than homeowners expect. Couple that with a humidity level that stays above 75% for most of the year and a yearly rainfall amount of 50+ inches as reported by the NWS and that recipe for accelerated breakdown is complete. You add all that water to a sealant that has lost some of its integrity and it begins seeping down into the joints of your pavers. This is what we typically see when we arrive to do our paver sealing estimates:

• Algae and mold in the joints between pavers (most common for driveways that don't see a lot of sun and for pool decks where the sun doesn't hit directly
• Pavers with washed out joints from heavy summer storms
• Pavers with surfaces that are beginning to look faded or chalky
• Pavers moving, or sinking because water has moved beneath them from unprotected joints

For a standard property in Bonita Springs, we recommend resealing every 2 to 3 years. If it's a water front property, that time period drops to every 18 to 24 months. Our coastal properties get their fair share of salt air which contributes to this accelerated rate of degradation. We see this happen to homeowners almost every week. What most don't realize is that the damage can be done before they even know it. The weeds that grow up between the pavers, or the fact that the color of the pavers has become dull, are both indicators of a sealant that has been degrading for a while. So when your sealant is past the two year mark, your pavers are probably more exposed than you think. The sun, the salt, the moisture. It never stops here. The sooner you seal, the less work it is to prep the surface and replace joint sand down the line.

Signs Your Pavers Should be Sealed

Most of the people that contact us want their pavers to be sealed because they notice something wrong with their driveway or pool deck. The pavers might not look as vibrant as when they were installed or the weeds seem to grow in every single joint. Either way, it's about time the pavers get sealed. How do you know if your pavers need to be sealed in Bonita Springs?

• Color looks faded. Your pavers once looked vibrant but now they look bleached, dull or chalky. The sun (uv rays), the salt air or age (over 3 years) will begin to damage the top of your pavers.
• Weed growth between joints. When sand in the joints of a patio, walkway, or driveway is worn away or washed off, weeds and grass can grow right in. The presence of weeds is a telltale sign that pavers are not protected.
• Ant hills and sand displacement. Small piles of sand appearing in between paver stones indicate insects have been burrowing through the joints. Proper application of sealer helps lock the sand in place and keeps the insects from tunneling.
• Green or black staining. Algae and mold thrive in Southwest Florida humidity. When you notice dark streaking or a green film on the paver surface, it means moisture that shouldn't be there is being absorbed.
• Pavers shifting or wobbling. When sand has eroded from between pavers, the result may be shifting or wobbling. The pavers themselves may be in good shape, but they may be in need of sand replacement and sealant application to re-stabilize the whole unit.

We notice people in the Barefoot Beach area experience paver staining and fading more quickly than folks even 1 mile away. The salt air accelerates the aging of unprotected paver surfaces. This is why most waterfront and coastal homeowners in this area need paver sealing 18-24 months rather than the standard 2 to 3-year schedule.

Many people don't realize that freshly laid pavers should not be sealed immediately. They need a curing time of at least 30 days to allow any natural efflorescence to dissipate. Sealers applied to pavers too quickly can result in a haze-like effect being sealed below them that then needs to be removed entirely.

So, if your concrete patio or paver driveway has been out for a while and you see any of these signs, don't delay until damage has occurred. Sand loss causes shifting, and shifting eventually leads to cracking, which ultimately leads you to call in for paver repair and not sealing.

Unsure if you need paver sealing and/or repair? Give us a call at (239) 219-4701 to schedule a same-day estimate.

The Paver Sealing Process From Beginning to End

Many people think sealing pavers consists of a spray and wait. It doesn't, there is more to a professional installation, and doing it improperly will show up quickly in the Bonita Springs weather. Here is what our professional paver sealant installation service looks like:

1. Inspection of the surface. We inspect your entire driveway, walkway, patio, or pool deck for signs of cracking, shifting stones, sunken pavers, or weed growth. Any paver repair or restoration that is needed will be discussed before we proceed.
2. Power clean paver surfaces. We power clean the pavers to remove all dirt, algae, mold, and any old paver sealer residue that may have been applied previously. This process can take several hours depending on the area you are having cleaned. Pavers cannot be sealed until they are free of all grime, otherwise that grime gets sealed underneath.
3. Paver surfaces must be fully dry before sealing. The area must be completely dry to proper adhesion. In our Florida humidity, drying can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. Improperly drying paver surfaces before sealant application can result in a cloudy, milky look that then needs to be stripped down to the pavers and re-sealed.
4. Joint Sand Replacement. Many homeowners are unaware that the joint sand needs to be removed and replaced with new sand in between each paver stone. We brush new polymeric sand into all of your paver joints. This sand binds the pavers together, preventing movement and keeping unwanted residents like weeds and ants out. It's essential.
5. Sealer application. We roll or spray the sealer into smooth, even layers over your whole area. We typically apply two coats to residential jobs. We'll do it in sections so that it doesn't pool or blotch, a concern in some drainage-heavy zones around Pelican Landing pool decks.
6. Final review. After the sealer has cured, we'll inspect all edges, all joints, everything. If we don't like it, we take care of it.

Expect the sealing process to take two to three days, depending on the size of the job and weather. We're licensed and insured so you're protected from beginning to end.

The one step most people think isn't important is joint sand. That step is the difference between a job that lasts and a job that falls apart in six months. We see paver shifting all the time because the last crew that sealed those pavers didn't use joint sand.

Need to know if your pavers need sealing? Contact us at (239) 219-4701 and we can give you an estimate the same day.

Which Sealer Should I Use For My Pool Deck Or Driveway?

Not all sealers work the same way. A pool deck gets different abuse than your driveway so you need the right product. Here's what we evaluate with every paver sealing job here in Bonita Springs. Pool decks require a sealer that will not get slippery when wet. Non-negotiable. We use water-based acrylics with a non-slip additive on all pool and spa surfaces. They dry to a natural matte finish. They breathe in our humid weather, and they won't leave you sliding on the concrete after it rains. Driveways are a different story. You need something that can deal with the friction of tires, oil spots, and intense sun. That's usually a solvent-based acrylic or film-forming sealer.

How do you know what sealer is the best for your situation? That's why you hire us. We evaluate a few key factors before we pick a product:

• The paver type, be it brick, travertine, or concrete
• How much direct sun exposure the area receives throughout the day
• The location, is it near a salt-water pool, a salt-water estuary, or is the area constantly irrigated with fresh water?
• The finish you desire, you can choose anything between a high-gloss, wet look finish to a very natural, dry finish.

Waterfront homes along Estero Bay need a sealer that can withstand salt air corrosion. Salt destroys sealers very quickly. We've seen it peel within six months on coastal properties that used the wrong product. Most often, it's been a film-forming sealer not designed for marine exposure.

The sheen level is something people don't think about. A shiny dark paver driveway can become scorching under the Florida sun. We can show you samples on your current pavers before we start to show you the options available for your finish. The sealer you select can determine how long it will be until the pavers need re-sealed. For properties, this will generally be two or three years between applications. Coastal and waterfront properties in Bonita Springs may require this once every 18 months to two years. We take these factors into account before ever getting a can of sealer open. Need help determining which sealer is best for your situation? Contact us today at (239) 219-4701 for a same day quote.

The Best Time of Year to Seal your Pavers

We get this question almost on a daily basis. When you schedule your project matters a great deal. Bonita Springs has a subtropical climate with a rainy season lasting from June until October. Sealer requires dry weather to properly cure. If any significant amount of rain hits within 24 hours of the sealer application it could cause spots of the sealer, the sealer will begin to peel off the paver surface, and in some situations the sealer might just not stick at all. Our preferred paver sealing season is from November through May, when the humidity levels tend to be much lower and afternoon rainstorms are more rare.

Why the Dry Season is Best

During the cooler seasons of the year it can take less time to dry the pavers once cleaned. The paver surface will be fully dry allowing the sealer to adhere better. We will also have more predictable cure times. We can pressure wash your driveway and pool deck early in the day, allow it to dry, and then sealer your pavers the following day. Attempt that in August, and you're likely going to have an afternoon thunderstorm every day.

That said, we do work in the summer time. If your pavers look rough in July, don't wait until December. We are very particular on what our weather outlook looks like and do a lot of sealers of driveways and pool decks in the summer when the timing is perfect. You just need more careful coordination.

Here are some of the tell-tale signs your sealing season has arrived:

• The pavers look washed out or dusty when they are in direct sun
• Weed growth is breaking through the joints
• A layer of sand has eroded from between the pavers
• Your paver surface has a tendency to stay damp or is turning a greenish color from the algae buildup

If you notice this, time is of the essence. Paver surfaces in the humid, salt-heavy Southwest Florida environment wear out a lot faster than in more inland climates. If the property is not in the waterfront or coastal areas, then we recommend sealing the paver surfaces every two to three years. Waterfront homes may need to seal as frequently as every 18 to 24 months.

The worst thing to do is let the damage accumulate before scheduling your next sealing. You will end up paying much more in the long run if you repair or restore your pavers instead of sealing them on a regular basis. You should try to plan ahead for the sealing season, seal them during the drier seasons of the year, and your pavers should look great for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions