Brick pavers are strong. They can last for many years. They also tend to remain without moving, even when you don’t seal brick pavers. Brick pavers maintain their existence for many years but their appearance may suffer because of it.

Brick paver surfaces remain unprotected against damage when you do not perform the sealing process. Your pavers will persist for ten years without change in their location, yet their appearance may become undesirable.

The process of omitting sealing produces several detrimental effects on brick pavers.

The Color Will Fade

New brick pavers present themselves with attractive color variations. Reds, browns, tans, and grays—they all pop at first. However, time reveals that the sun will fade away those initial colors.

Hours of exposure to UV rays lead to the bleaching of brick pavers. Weathering action throughout each day results in gradual color dimming of the pavers. Most brick pavers manage to survive several years, but they lose their original vibrancy and start appearing drained or exhausted.

Thus, brick paver sealing operates as an effective barrier against UV radiations. The absence of sealant results in nearly certain fading of the material.

Stains Will Soak In

Besides, brick pavers are porous. That means they absorb liquids just like a sponge.

For example, a tiny bit of grease usually falls during a typical BBQ event. No matter what fluid gets spilled on the pavers, it will penetrate rapidly. Porous brick material allows materials such as grass or leaves to permeate through its structure until they eventually turn into stains.

Water from rainfall fails to eliminate these discolorations. The paver surface absorbs natural stains along with dirt because water transports materials into deeper areas.

The presence of surface sealing would keep liquids from penetrating the bricks. The stains become simple to eliminate because of how the brick surface interacts with water. But unsealed? The stains have the potential to stay forever on the surface.

Joint Sand Will Wash Out

Look between your brick pavers. See that sand? That’s joint sand. The sand plays a vital role in maintaining brick paver stability.

Water combined with pressure from hosed water and walking feet pierces away the sand from between your pavers as time progresses.

Thus, the pavers require more maintenance since unsealed pavers present higher risks for permanent stains.

The sand loss creates vacancies through which debris starts to accumulate. Different combinations of mulch, dirt, and grass clippings settle within the gaps of patio surfaces. Eventually, that turns into soil. And what grows in soil? Weeds. Lots of weeds.

Weed and Moss Growth

Consequently, after joint sand disappears and the spaces become filled with organic soil particles this creates the ultimate living space for weeds along with moss growth.

A few small green plants emerge between the bricks. At first, it’s just a few. The area will continue spreading if no intervention takes place.

Moreover, prolonged neglect will grow weeds in brick paver joints. Heavy weeds will eventually force the paving stones to separate from each other.

Additionally, moss is another issue. The environment of shady and moist areas supports the growth of this plant species. Moss will invade your pavers when they remain constantly wet or live under tree cover.

The messy appearance of the surface, along with dangerous slippery conditions, results from this.

Risk of Salt Damage in Winter

Are you occupied in a place where winter dominates the yearly season? During winter months most people apply salt treatments to their driveway and walkways to prevent ice formation.

Furthermore, unsealed pavers absorb water. Water containing a salt solution penetrates the material once it mixes. During temperature drops, the salty water inside will freeze.

The freezing temperature drives water molecules to expand. Internal pressure builds up on the pavers because of the expanding substances. Exposure to such conditions leads to elements breaking apart and exposing the inner materials.

However, sealed pavers maintain better resistance against taking in salty water. The protective coating helps reduce the total amount of damage to the pavers.

Loss of Structure Over Time

After your brick pavers survive intact, multiple other damage mechanisms can accumulate throughout time.

Weeds grow within the sandy joints after they disappear, while the surface develops unevenness.

In addition, some paving stones will experience either position displacement or sinking effects. This can create tripping hazards. Such conditions make the entire zone appear neglected throughout the area.

Repairing the damage becomes more complex than performing the initial sealing process.

Can I Wait to Seal Brick Pavers?

Yes, you can wait. Waiting too long before the sealer application brings greater potential risks for your pavers.

Sealing brick pavers should take place while they are totally clean and dry after the completion of installation.

The waiting period has no impact on already installed pavers as long as they exist for multiple years.

Plus, a proper cleaning needs to be performed before proceeding with the sealing process. Joint sand reapplication, pressure washing, stain removal and weed elimination form the core of essential preparation work before sealing occurs.

Then, you can apply the protective layers after your pavers have dried completely while keeping them attractive for multiple years.

What Does Sealing Do?

Sealing your brick pavers gives them a protective layer.

So, here’s what sealing helps with:

• Prevents color fading from UV rays
  
• Stops liquids and stains from soaking in
  
• Locks in joint sand
  
• Makes it harder for weeds to grow
  
• Protects from winter salt damage
  
• Makes cleaning easier
  

Plus, sealed pavers often look more vibrant. Some sealers even give a slight glossy finish.

Seal Brick Pavers: A Smart Investment

Paver insurance comes in the form of sealing. It’s not always cheap upfront. You will end up saving money after investing in paver sealing.

However, the lack of sealer might force you to perform repeated sanding procedures, additional leveling work and replacement of pavers. You will devote additional hours to weeding along with stain removal tasks.

And if you ever plan to sell your home, sealed pavers give your yard or driveway that “well-cared-for” look.

Final Thoughts: Seal Brick Pavers

You don’t have to seal brick pavers. They’ll still last a long time without it. But if you care about how they look, feel, and function, sealing is worth it.

The process of sealing provides excellent results for anyone who wants their pavers to appear and perform excellently.

Nonetheless, your lack of implementation of a sealing process leads to fading colors along with stains and enables weed growth and winter-related destruction. Your space will need additional time to clean, and you will require more maintenance.

To achieve years of beautiful and durable pavers, you should not avoid using a sealer.

So, contact Paver Protector today for sealing and brick paver restoration services!