Which pavement sealer do you need for your paving? We’ve put together this article to help you decide.
Whether you’ve chosen crazy paving, traditional flagstones, stone sourced locally from Oxfordshire or imported from further afield, the priority is to ensure you enjoy your patio for years to come. Each stone is different and requires different care.
This handy guide will give you the right information for the right stone and conditions, so you can find the best sealant for your pavers and keep your patio just the way you want it.
See our full range of garden paving slabs.
Do I need to seal my patio?
The first thing to consider is whether or not your paving needs any sealant at all. This may come as a surprise to some.
Most people assume that for every type of paving there is a sealant that needs to be applied to protect it. But this isn’t the case. Many ancient stones have aged remarkably well over the centuries without the use of solvents or sealers.
Sealant vs. impregnator
In order to protect your patio the right way, most experts will advise you to use an impregnator—a product that soaks into the stone and conditions it from beneath the surface. If you want to protect the stone without changing the look, this is the option to go for.
Would you prefer your patio to have a glossy, shiny finish?
If the answer is yes, a sealant could be your best bet. Many sealants provide a cosmetic sheen without soaking into the stone.
Be aware that since sealants will come in for a fair amount of wear and tear they need to be reapplied every two or three years, so the size of your patio is something you might want to keep in mind in this respect.
What type of stone is your paving?
It’s important when working with paving to work with the type of natural stone you have, not against it.
A very porous stone such as sandstone or limestone will drink up and absorb anything that’s applied to it. You might find you will need to apply several coats of product to these attractive yet permeable types of stone if you have chosen them for your patio.
On the other hand, a dense, hard stone will absorb little, if any, of the pavement sealer you apply. Think of a hard patio stone choice such as granite or perhaps flint and you’ll get the idea.
If your patio is going to have a hard time absorbing an impregnator, sealant could be the way to go.
How to change the colour of a patio with pavement sealer
Another option you may not have considered is to apply a colour enhancer before using an impregnator or sealant. These come in a range of colours that can stain your patio stone to a wide variety of effects, from subtle to dramatic.
- Choose colour enhancer
- Apply to clean, dry paving stones
- Allow to completely dry
- Apply impregnator or sealant
Bear in mind that depending on the type of stone, the effects are difficult if not impossible to reverse, so take your time choosing and if possible test a small area or a sample piece of stone first.
See more tips for easily maintaining your garden patio.
What kind of conditions does your patio endure?
Think about where your patio is placed. Does it get covered in leaves? Is it constantly rained on or is it covered? Is it in full sun or partial shade? These are all factors to think about when choosing a treatment.
If your patio is vulnerable to UV bleaching from the sun or damp, opting for a sealant is often a good idea.
Otherwise, if you want the natural beauty of your patio stone to stay just as it is, you may find you don’t need to use any kind of product at all.
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