A large condo had its pavers sealed a few years ago. The problem was that the pavers were not professionally cleaned before resealing. This problem is very common.

paver-before

The situation gets compounded by layers of sealer. Pavers should be sealed every two years to prevent fading and staining. However, prepping the surface is critical. Shortcuts can be taken, but eventually you will catch up. Sealing pavers should be performed by professionals for this very reason. National Sealing is the largest paver sealing company in Florida, with over two million square feet completed.

Prior to sealing, the pavers had to be stripped of any residual sealer. In addition, the entrance had very bad, black wear patterns from hot tires entering the building. The hot rubber had been embedded into the sealer and the pavers. This area was treated with very strong chemicals and professional equipment. However, when a surface is extremely neglected, stripping might be needed.

paver-after

Options for stripping are:

1. Chemical stripping: This can get messy and expensive, as once you start, you’re invested. The old sealer will turn white, and depending on the number of layers and the stripper’s effectiveness, it can take many attempts to reach the original surface.
2. Sandblasting: Also can be costly. This approach is typically a last resort, as the process creates a huge mess and can damage surrounding foliage.
3. We have a new process for achieving proven sandblasting results; however, we use specialty equipment that strips with water. We can reach up to 40,000 PSI with this equipment. This results in a new surface with no impact on the surrounding area, as it includes a vacuum recovery system that collects the material being stripped

The surface was effectively stripped, and then two layers of sealer were applied in the area where the hot tires contact.

For more information on sealing pavers, go to National Sealing