Whereas the majority of sealers leave a mid to high-gloss finish, the Pro-Kleen PatioSeal barely alters the appearance of the stones. This makes it one of the best patio sealers on the market if you want to achieve a matt look on your patio. Again, with a gloss look, you may need to coat twice at the start – but application resilience remains the same. Application range: 5°c – 20°c. In colder conditions the drying time may be extended, do not walk upon or apply further coats until the sealer is completely dry. Coverage: It is essential to work with a sealer that is created specifically for the type of surface you are dealing with. This will ensure that the surface is fully protected and you get good value for money. Always look at the product description to understand which surfaces are compatible with the sealant. Choose carefully for Indian stone because not all sealants give a good finish on this material. Area of coverage Sealers that are mixed with polyurethane resin are best for a long-lasting, high-gloss finish . Acrylic is a common alternative to polyurethane. These may need reapplying more often, but are generally less expensive to buy.

In areas vulnerable to moss or algae, which include north facing, shady areas, underneath hanging baskets and overhanging trees, these should be treated occasionally with fungicidal wash. An annual treatment of the paving with fungicidal wash and gentle power washing is recommended in most cases.

Buying The Right Sealant For Paving Stones

However, with that said, I know plenty of people that have used this to great effect on sandstone with just a couple of coats but it should be made very very clear, you will lose a bit of the lovely vibrant colour you have. However, we’d recommend water paving sealant last out of the three main sealant types. That’s because you do not get the same adhesion quality (as it’s not solvent-based). As a temporary measure, yes, water sealant will help fight against sand loss. However, you’ll generally need to reapply sealer every year. There are a number of different factors that are going to influence how long a wet look sealer is going to last. Generally speaking, your wet look sealer could last as long as five years. However, there are some circumstances whereby you are advised to re-apply the sealer every couple of months. This is because of the many different factors that play a role. This includes the following… Water-based sealant products are likely to appeal to anyone sealing paving with the environment in mind – there’s zero glue involved. Water-based paving sealant is also expected to be very cheap and cheerful, mainly thanks to the cost of the material involved in production.

This is the most important step in my mind – if you don’t clean well you’ll trap in the dirt and produce a poor overall finish- the best way to get dirt and stains that are stubborn out is a big powerful petrol pressure washer. That’s what I do: Clean down your patio properly with a petrol pressure washer if you have one On the whole, experts and manufacturers recommend an acrylic paving sealer for pattern imprinted concrete. As there is colour in the mix, you may need a specialist sealer to protect this surface fully.

The Benefits

PatioSeal creates a layer over the stones that makes them easier to clean, and it can help repel dirt, water, and oil. If you like to have BBQs on your patio during summer, but hate the messy grease stains that they leave behind, the surface should get much fewer stains after applying this sealer. Essential limestone sealer satin finish – Best suited to internal and external limestone surfaces. Also effective on sandstone and slate. Sand the joints – brush jointing sand into all of the joints – don’t rush this job and take care to apply sand evenly

There’s a big big difference between a wet look and matt and some in between as well. You’ve got wet high gloss, silky semi gloss, matt, and those that don’t change the look at all (specially designed for stunning natural stone). Sometimes a sealer can significantly change the look – for example a wet look on stone doesn’t do it for me. The drier matt look is the better looking for my money – basically it is there protecting and stopping dirt ingress but has very minimal impact on the look of your stone. Sometimes you cant beat what you’ve already got: A wet look patio sealer would not look good so good on natural stone In terms of conditions, most sealers shouldn’t be applied if either the air or surface temperature is below 5°C. You should also avoid applying the sealer if temperatures are above 30°C. Choose the application method for the sealant depending on product’s recommendations – ideally use a roller or sprayer, but have a paintbrush on hand to smooth out any pools of liquid Non-slip– It is also important to make sure that you choose a non-slip sealer. Your sealer is going to enhance your surfaces by a considerable degree. It will provide a glossy and wet look. However, just because it provides a wet look does not mean that it should be slippery. Slippery surfaces represent a massive safety hazard. A lot of accidents have happened because people have chosen slippery sealers. For those with sensitivity to chemical smells, you do not have to worry because it does not have the common solvent smell. We love that it is ideal for treating different surfaces from Indian stove patio to concrete driveways so if you have a mixture of materials on your patio or driveways, for example, you can buy just the one sealant.

It comes as 2 x 5 L bottles, which, according to the manufacturer, is sufficient to cover 100 m ² (each bottle covers 50 m²). However, in reality it is unlikely to achieve such expansive coverage. The more coats of gloss sealer that are applied, the glossier it will be. Most products recommend using two to three coats of sealer. One coat may not be enough to create a durable seal. When the time comes, you want to make sure you have a decent run of dry weather. Almost all mishaps occur when you don’t have bone dry conditions. So you’ll want to hit this when it makes sense – some jobs such as the weed removal and cleaning can be done in advance. Remove any weeds and use ant repeller if necessary Above all, don’t go ahead with any patio or paving sealers until you read the bottle. All pavers agree on this! How Many Litres Will I Need?

Selecting a patio sealer is not hard work. All you have to remember is the type of surface you are working with and the area you need to cover plus the finished look. The rest you can figure out as you go. If you own a flagstone patio then you probably want to treat it with a good patio sealer. This product ensures the long-term durability of the flagstones while minimising maintenance, making it a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to maintain their patio paving. Preparing the Patio

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Rycal for me has a decent balance between cost and performance Sika and Everbuild. If you don’t want to shell out for the top notch product ergo Smartseal, this is going to do a pretty decent job at half the money. But as always, you get what you pay for in this world and with Everbuild being less money now I find this a tough one to buy. Deep clean the patio approximately one week before applying the sealer. This means power washing the slabs, clearing all dirt, and weeding.