Sealing is the single most cost-effective thing you can do to protect a paver installation, and it’s the step homeowners are most likely to skip or forget about years down the line. At Gilbert Pavers, we provide professional paver sealing throughout Gilbert, AZ for patios, driveways, walkways, and pool decks — protecting your investment, deepening color, and extending the life of the surface by years.
What Sealing Actually Does
A lot of homeowners assume sealing is purely cosmetic, but the protective function matters just as much as the appearance boost. A quality sealer does several things at once:
- Locks the joint sand in place, preventing it from washing out during heavy rain or being displaced by foot and vehicle traffic
- Reduces water absorption into the paver material itself, which is a major factor in freeze-thaw damage during winter
- Inhibits weed growth by limiting how easily seeds can take root in the joints
- Blocks stains from oil, grease, tree sap, and other common outdoor substances from soaking into the paver surface
- Slows efflorescence, the chalky white mineral residue that can develop on unsealed pavers over time
- Enhances and deepens the paver’s natural color, which fades from consistent UV exposure over the years
Why Sealing Matters More in This Climate
Gilbert, AZ sees a real mix of conditions that make sealing especially worthwhile — humid, high-UV summers that fade unsealed pavers faster than drier climates, combined with winter freeze-thaw cycles that exploit any unsealed, water-absorbent surface. Add in the region’s heavy spring rainfall, which is exactly the kind of moisture exposure that erodes unsealed joint sand over time, and you’ve got a strong case for treating sealing as routine maintenance rather than an optional upgrade.
Unsealed paver surfaces in this climate typically show noticeably more joint sand loss, weed growth, and color fading within just a few years compared to sealed surfaces, which is why we recommend it as part of ongoing care for any paver hardscape — not just new installations.
Sealer Types We Use
Different paver applications call for different sealer formulations, and we select based on where the pavers are and how they’re used:
Wet-look sealers enhance color saturation significantly and give the surface a rich, glossy appearance — popular for patios and pool decks where homeowners want maximum visual impact.
Natural-look (matte) sealers provide the same protective benefits without altering the paver’s original appearance, a good fit for homeowners who prefer their pavers to look untouched.
Penetrating sealers absorb into the paver material itself rather than forming a surface film, offering strong protection against water absorption with minimal change to appearance or texture — often our recommendation for driveways, where surface film sealers can wear from tire traffic faster.
Non-slip additive sealers incorporate a texturizing agent into the sealer, adding traction, which we recommend specifically for pool decks and any surface that regularly gets wet underfoot.
We’ll walk you through which option fits your specific surface and how you use it, since the right choice for a driveway is often not the right choice for a pool deck.
Our Sealing Process
- Surface cleaning, using pressure washing and, where needed, a dedicated paver cleaner to remove dirt, algae, efflorescence, and old sealer residue before anything new goes down
- Joint sand inspection and repair, topping off any joints where sand has washed out or eroded, since sealing over compromised joints locks in a problem rather than fixing it
- Drying period, allowing the surface to fully dry before application — critical for sealer adhesion and one of the most commonly skipped steps in DIY sealing attempts
- Sealer application, applied evenly using professional-grade sprayers or rollers depending on the sealer type and surface
- Cure time, keeping the surface clear of foot and vehicle traffic for the recommended window to allow proper curing
- Final inspection, checking for even coverage and addressing any missed spots before considering the job complete
How Often Pavers Need Resealing
Most paver surfaces benefit from resealing every two to three years, though this varies based on sealer type, sun exposure, and how much traffic the surface sees. Driveways and pool decks, given their heavier use and direct exposure to tire wear or pool chemicals, sometimes need attention slightly sooner than a lower-traffic garden walkway. We’re happy to take a look at any existing sealed surface and give you an honest read on whether it’s due.
New Installations vs. Existing Pavers
If you’ve just had a new patio, driveway, or walkway installed, there’s typically a waiting period before initial sealing — freshly laid pavers and joint sand need time to settle and any residual efflorescence needs to work its way out first. We’ll walk you through the right timeline as part of any new installation, and we also provide standalone sealing service for existing paver surfaces that were installed years ago and have never been sealed, or haven’t been resealed in a while.
Protect What You’ve Already Built
Sealing is a relatively small investment compared to the cost of a full paver installation, but it has an outsized effect on how long that installation lasts and how good it continues to look. If your pavers are showing faded color, weed growth in the joints, or it’s simply been a few years since the last sealing, now is a good time to have it addressed.
Contact Gilbert Pavers to schedule a sealing service for your patio, driveway, walkway, or pool deck. Reach out today to protect your investment before the next season of weather takes its toll.