Sealants can take 4 to 12 hours to dry before you can run them over them, but they will continue to harden for up to 48 hours after application. Concrete sealed with an acrylic sealant should not be stepped on (except if a coating layer is applied), and should not be driven on or wet for at least 36 to 48 hours. It usually takes 24 to 48 hours for paving stone sealant to dry. However, if it's a particularly humid day, it could take a little longer.
It's best to wait until the sealant is completely dry before walking on it or using it again. Some paving stone installations seal pavers right away. While this is fine, it's best to wait approximately 60 to 90 days before applying sealant to pavers. The main reason for this is to allow efflorescence to reach the surface.
When you do, the pavers can be cleaned and sealed. If you really want to care for your property and ensure the longevity of your pavers, talk to the Enviro Clean & Capture team of experts for the best paving stone sealing Sydney can offer. The additional weight of cars and foot traffic can affect the sealant's ability to seal the paver, which otherwise feels dry to the touch. This will vary depending on the type of paving stone, but in some cases, pavers will increase in brightness.
Enviro Clean & Capture offers a free, no-obligation quote for paving stone sealing, so you can understand exactly how much it will cost depending on your particular situation. The summer months are ideal for applying a sealing coating, but be careful when sealing concrete or asphalt at extreme temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius or higher. If you pour water directly onto a sealed cobblestone surface, some of it will seep into the cracks and pores where the sealant was applied. Sealing is an effective way to protect pavers from the stress they suffer with general use and the elements.
They are designed to create a uniform color on paving stone surfaces that are surrounded by joints, but if you use an uneven amount of sealant, you can create a visible line between unpainted pavers. This process requires a chemical to impregnate and seal pavers and there are many different types of sealants to choose from. Paving stone sealants come in a variety of formulations, but the basic process for applying paving stone sealant is to clean the pavers, apply the sealant, and then clean or move any excess. We recommend that, as a general rule, most types of sealants be completely safe to step on after 12 hours, so if you can allow the paver to spend more time sealed, we recommend that you do so.
In general, paving stone sealants should be applied every 2 to 3 years, depending on how much traffic the pavers receive.
