About Paver Sealing

EFFLORESCENCE:
According to the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, or “ICPI”, efflorescence is a naturally occurring process, where a white haze may appear on the surface of a brick, caused by lime or water-soluble calcium oxide that rises to the surface over time due to repeated saturation from rain, sprinklers or drainage flow. Efflorescence does not diminish the integrity of the bricks and will usually resolve itself with time and exposure to the elements. Properly sealing concrete brick pavers can either slow or stop completely the efflorescence process due to the moisture protection achieved by the sealing process.

DETERIORATION/DEGRADATION OF PAVERS:

Concrete consists of two components. Paste, which is a mixture of water and cement comprising typically 20 to 40 percent of the paver mixture, and Aggregate for the other 60 to 80 percent. Aggregate is classified as either fine aggregate, which is sandy, and coarse aggregate which is more gravelly.

The fine aggregate (sand) is tinted at the manufacturing plant, giving the brick pavers their color, while the larger pebbles are white & not tinted.

Volume of traffic, water and UV exposure as well as other natural factors and conditions may contribute to the erosion of the top layer of pavers, which can cause aggregate to show on the surface.

ANTS & INSECTS:
Sealing of pavers will not stop ants and burrowing insects from burrowing into sand joints, and we cannot give any warranty regarding these types of issues.

If having this issue, apply any insecticide or poison you prefer. This will not damage or harm the sealed paver system, nor will small holes made by ants or insects compromise its stability.

WEEDS AND MOLD: 

Weeds and mold will be removed at the time of sealing. It is not possible to guarantee that weeds and mold will be unable to grow from a sealed paver system. Sealing pavers can harden the sand between the joints and prevent some water from penetrating the surface, which can help to reduce growth, though this is not fully guaranteed.

STAINS: 

We do not guarantee the 100 percent removal of stains we attempt to treat. Some stains simply cannot be removed completely as they have permeated too deeply into the surface. In these cases it would be better to replace the affected bricks. Sealing pavers also does not guarantee that the bricks will not stain. If a contaminant is left on the surface long enough, it can break down the sealer and stain the porous surface. Usually, a sealed surface is easier to clean and remove stains from.

JOINT SAND: 

Sand can be eroded by traffic, weather, water drainage and other environmental factors. Other factors can include high and low areas of pavers, pavers being spaced more than ¼ of an inch apart, or shifting of pavers. We cannot be held liable for customer provided sand and requests to bring sand higher than the standard joint sand level.

Some loss of sand is expected during the life of the sealed surface. Unless there is an unusually large loss of sand, enough to cause pavers to shift and wobble, customers should not be concerned for minor aesthetic sand loss.

PAVERS WHITE & MILKY: 

Our sealer is a breathable water based sealant. The only scenarios that would cause this sealant to turn white are if the sealer was applied over another topical or film forming sealant, or if the pavers lie on a heavily moisture ridden substratum due to improper drainage or pavers being installed over concrete.

Only proper drainage will correct this problem.

STRIPPING PAVERS:

When taking on a job to strip sealant, our goal is to strip 90 percent of the old sealant. Sometimes it is possible to remove 100 percent of the sealant, but there are some cases when we are only able to remove 50 percent of the sealant. When contracting us, the customer understands they are paying for our labor, effort, materials and time involved in the project.If the customer is not satisfied with the stripping results and would like us to stop the project after the stripping attempt, the customer is responsible for 75 percent of the total job cost. Once the sealer has been mixed or begun to have been applied to the hardscape surface after stripping, the customer understands that they are responsible for 100 percent of the project cost.

SHEEN, SHINE & DEPTH OF COLOR: 

There is no way to guarantee any exact or particular aesthetic. The varying porosity and inconsistencies between individual pavers, and even on the same paver will affect the end result. We cannot guarantee that your pavers will hold a high shine or any shine at all. We do offer an additive high gloss coating, which will increase the shine in 99 percent of cases, though we cannot guarantee the final appearance. The service will include an additional cost to the customer.

TIRE MARKS:
We cannot provide a guarantee or warranty  that your sealed surface will not become stained by tire marks. Most tires contain a compound called plasticizer, which is made to slightly melt from heat friction to increase traction. It is possible for this rubber to transfer onto some sealer paver surfaces. We are not liable for any tire marks that appear on your sealed surface.  It is recommended that for the first 10 days, you do not make any sharp or stiff turns on newly sealed driveways. Do not pivot or turn your front tires on your sealed driveway pavers without the wheels rolling in motion for 10 days after the surface has been sealed.

PLANTLIFE:

The company takes due precaution to protect surrounding plant life from our cleaning solutions. In some cases, plants can be damaged if the soil comes into contact with our solutions. Usually these plants will regrow fuller than before, but please keep us informed with the issue. If you experience loss or damage to foliage surrounding the job site, water those areas directly and generously for the next 10 days.