Do your pavers need sealing?
How to tell if Central Florida pavers need sealing, what sealing actually does, natural vs wet look finishes, the best time of year to do it, and how to keep pavers clean between seals. · 3 minute read
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The short answer
Sealing is optional, but in Central Florida it pays for itself. A sealer locks the joint sand in, slows weeds and ants, keeps oil and rust from soaking in, and brings the color back. If water soaks straight into your pavers, the joints are washing out, or weeds are coming up between the stones, they are due.
Signs your pavers need sealing
Faded or chalky color, sand missing from the joints, weeds and ant hills in the cracks, green or black growth in the shady spots, and stains that come back days after you hose them off. The water test is the quickest check: if a splash of water soaks in and darkens the paver, there is no seal left.
What a proper seal job includes
A deep clean with a surface cleaner and a mildew treatment, joints cleared out, fresh silica sand swept in and packed, and sealer applied only once the pavers are fully dry. Skip any of those steps and the job does not last. Our paver sealing cost guide covers what to ask before you book.
Natural look or wet look
A natural finish keeps the paver looking like it did new and is the right pick for pool decks and walkways because it keeps its grip. A wet look deepens the color and adds shine, which most people want on a driveway or front entry. Either one is a matter of taste; the prep underneath is what makes it last.
Best time of year to seal
Fall through spring is easiest in Central Florida: lower humidity and fewer afternoon storms mean the pavers dry out faster before sealing. Summer works too, we just plan around the rain and may need a second day so nothing gets sealed damp.
Keeping pavers clean between seals
Sweep or blow them off weekly, rinse sprinkler overspray and rust spots before they set, and wipe oil drips up with dish soap or cat litter the same day; see our oil stain guide. A light clean between seals keeps them looking good, and a Care Plan puts the clean and the reseal on a schedule.
Where we seal pavers
We clean and seal pavers across Seminole, Orange, Osceola and Volusia counties, including Lake Mary, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Altamonte Springs, Deltona and St. Cloud. Text a photo of the pavers and your address to (321) 450-4586 and we will tell you if they need sealing and quote it, or see our paver cleaning and sealing page.
Questions people ask about this.
How do I know if my pavers are already sealed?
Pour a little water on a dry paver. If it beads up or sits on top, the sealer is still working. If it soaks in and the paver darkens right away, the seal is worn out.
Can you seal pavers the same day you clean them?
Not safely. Pavers have to be completely dry before sealer goes on, or moisture gets trapped and the sealer turns white and hazy. In Florida that usually means coming back another day.
Will sealing make my pool deck slippery?
It can if the wrong sealer is used. Pool decks get a natural finish sealer, not a high gloss wet look, so they keep their grip.
Do new pavers need to be sealed right away?
Usually not. Most installers suggest waiting a few months so any white efflorescence can work its way out first. Sealing over it locks it in.
Want us to take a look?
Text a photo of the roof, wall or driveway with your address and we will tell you what it needs and quote it, fast during office hours and always within one business day.