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No Sealer
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Just like paints at the hardware store, sealers have
different finishes. Some will be invisible and not change the appearance of the
paver surface. Others will put a shine much like a semi-gloss paint or produce
a high gloss finish like a freshly waxed car.
The glossier sealers may be the
option for certain styles.
Much like finish, today’s sealers can also enhance or darken
the color of the paving stones. There are some water-based products in the
market that can enhance the color, but to really darken the finish often
requires a solvent-based sealer. Do not confuse color enhancing with finish.
Some will darken
the color with no sheen, while others
may not darken the color but put a high
gloss on the surface.
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Solvent Based Wet Sealer |
Sealers can also add a layer of stain resistance to the
pavers. They often prevent stains from being able to quickly penetrate into the
stone and give you time to treat it to minimize its effect on the pavers. Different sealers have different levels of resistance and
some actually keep the stain on the surface so it can be wiped up easily.
Sealers typically do more than just seal the pavers. They
also stabilize the joint sand by binding the sand particles together. Some
paver shapes with larger false or wide joints may require the use of a
stabilizer to keep the sand in the joint.The stabilized sand prevents seeds from germinating, insects
from burrowing and from eroding out of the joint on a slope or near a pool.
Higher quality paving stone sealers are engineered to
penetrate into the paver so that the surface will not become slippery when wet.A higher price tag is not an indication of quality, and it
is important to look at the life expectancy of the sealer. Lower quality
sealers may need to be reapplied more frequently and be more costly in the long
term.Gather as much information about the sealer you plan to use
so that expectations do not exceed its capabilities.
Call Greenstone at 678-763-6001 with any questions regarding sealer and a representative will get you the information you need. www.greenstoneproducts.com