The Best Paving Sealer and How to Use it 

Use a Paving Sealer to Protect Paving

When it comes to home renovations or installations, it’s important to choose the right products and tools for the job. DIY paving projects can quickly become disastrous and costly by using a cheap or unsuitable paving sealer. To achieve results even our flooring specialists can’t fault, we recommend using Stoneshield Paving Sealer Brick and Stone™ and following the instructions below. 

Stoneshield Paving Sealer Brick and Stone

Installing Brick and Stone Paving

When laying brick and stone tiles or paving, you should always use tile adhesive. Using a notched trowel, glue should be put on the floor at least 5 mm thick. Before putting the paver down, a light coating of tile adhesive should be put on the back. Before tapping with a rubber mallet, you should twist the paving brick or stone into the wet tile adhesive to get rid of any trapped air. The only thing you should use is a white rubber mallet. Black rubber could leave a mark on porous paving tiles that won’t come off.

Applying and Cleaning Grout 

For grouting between paving bricks and tiles, it is best to use a 50/50 mix of cement and clean yellow plaster sand. Don’t add bonding liquids to the grout unless you will be able to properly clean excess grout from paving as soon as it has been applied. Care should be taken when using prepackaged grout, as it has plasticisers, latex resins, and pigments that could stain surfaces if they aren’t cleaned up right away.

You should only grout small areas at a time, and you should clean up any extra grout on the tile surface before the grout hardens. To help clean paving bricks and stones, Stoneshield Grout-Lift™ should be added to cleaning water. If the grout on the tile surface has dried out, it can cause picture framing and big stains. If you want to use Stoneshield Grout-Lift™ on cement-based paving you should be extra careful. You should always test cleaning products and sealers on a small section of paving before full application.  

Acid-based cleaners like Stoneshield Grout-Lift™ and Stoneshield Brick & Masonry Cleaner™  can be used to remove grout and cement residues from paving bricks and stones. After cleaning with an acid-based cleaner, you should use Stoneshield Deep-Clean™ to neutralise the surface and prevent sealer failure.

Why Do You Need to Use a Paving Sealer?

Natural stone, terracotta, cement, and clay tiles are natural materials that were mined, shaped, or pressed. Paving needs to be sealed to:

• Makes the tile or stone less porous, which makes it less likely to stain.
• Sealing keeps acids like wine, coffee, and vinegar, from damaging paving.  
• Make the surface stronger and less likely to wear down.
• Sealing natural stone, terracotta, and other materials often makes them look better.

The Best Paving Sealer for Brick and Stone Pavers   

Sealers are meant to protect the tile or surface they are put on. Depending on the type of floor or tile, different kinds of protection are needed. 

Some surfaces don’t need a film-forming sealer because they only need to be protected from stains or have their colour brought out because the oxides have worn away or been bleached. In this case, you should use a penetrating repellent sealer. Some surfaces need to be protected from both wear and tear and stains. In this case, a sealer made of resin is needed. 

Stoneshield Paving Sealer Brick and Stone™

The Stoneshield Paving Sealer Brick and Stone™ is a sealer with a natural look and is made of a water-based modified acrylic resin. It has no sheen and no surface film finish. It has a light finish that makes the colour look better and protects against rain, moisture, and general dirt. It also makes it easier to clean. For use both inside and outside. Can be used on natural or cement-based brick and stone paving.

Stoneshield Quarri-Seal Matt™

Stoneshield Quarri-Seal Matt™ is a high-quality, solvent-based resin sealer that won’t turn yellow and gives surfaces a satin finish, better stain resistance, and better protection. A penetrating sealer that brings out the colour and gives the surface a ‘wet look’. For use both inside and outside. Can be used on natural or cement-based brick and stone paving.

Stoneshield Colour-Enhancer™

Water-based penetrating water repellent sealer with a natural look, no sheen, and no surface film. Designed to protect against rain, moisture, general airborne dirt, pollution, mould, and mildew. It can be used inside and outside. Can be used on natural or cement-based brick and stone paving.

Read all product instructions carefully before use, and apply as instructed. You can find all the products mentioned in this article at flooring specialist, FloorsHQ. If you need help choosing the best paving sealer for your paving project, you can reach a member of their stellar team here.