Will sealing my travertine pavers make them slippery?

Not exactly! We hear from a lot of customers that they have held off on getting their travertine surfaces sealed because of the fear of the surface becoming slippery. These customers especially become concerned when it comes to sealing their travertine pool deck. Unlike solvent sealers, which sit on top of the travertine, we use a water based sealer that penetrates deep down into the travertine pores. Because of this, the travertine will not have a slippery coat sitting on its surface. If you’re still a little weary of your travertine being slick, there is always the option of incorporating an anti-slip/grit additive into the sealer. This additive is a thin grit that is sprayed within our sealer and will aid in preventing a surface from becoming slippery. 

What makes Polymeric Sand different from Regular Sand?

Our Polymeric Sand is a mixture of specifically calibrated sand and sophisticated intelligent polymers. When the polymers come into contact with water, a reaction occurs, causing the polymers to bind to the sand and surrounding substrate, acting much like grout does for tile.

We apply the polymeric sand dry, then wet it in with water to “activate” it. This allows the sand and polymers to harden to each other, and also harden to the pavers. We also soak our first coat of sealer into the sand, making it extremely hard.

Good quality polymeric sand is a permanent solution for paver and tile joints. Polymeric sands stop the growth of weeds in the cracks. It is also extremely resistant to algae and mold; the mold and algae will grow on top of the sand but find it impossible to pierce into the sand itself. Once fully cured and activated, ants and other insects and animals find it impossible to eat through polymeric sand. Polymeric sand is the best solution for long term permanent joint stabilization. It is flexible, allowing for some movement over time, helping it resist cracking and “chunking out”. It can be used on pavers or on travertine tile. Our polymeric sand, unlike regular joint sand, comes in various colors, making it much more appealing to the eye.

Will sealing my stamped concrete make the surface slippery?

Most oftentimes, yes. Depending on the amount of texture your stamped concrete has, there is a pretty good chance that adding sealer alone will make the surface slick. With that being said, we have an anti-slip additive that we can add to our sealer to combat this problem. The additive is mixed in and sprayed out with our sealer, and goes down on the surface as a fine grit. You would never know it was even down. 

Do you offer a warranty with your sealing jobs?

We give at least a 2 year warranty with all our sealing, meaning your surface will remain sealed and protected from the elements for at least 2 years. We also guarantee that our sealer will never turn white, yellow, haze, discolor in any way, flake, chip, peel, etc for the life of your surface. We essentially give a lifetime warranty stating that our sealer will never fail; the sealer will only slowly fade away over time, allowing us to reapply more sealer in the future, after only a simple cleaning.  (Dirt will still collect on top of the pavers. You should be proactive when it comes to rinsing your pavers clean of any dirt or stains that may collect on the surface.) 

If you feel the pavers/surface have not remained sealed within the 2 year warranty period, you may give us a call and a technician will come out to investigate any issues you may have.

Why has my paver surface turned white after previously being sealed?

It’s unfortunate, but fairly common for a customer to notice a white milky appearance on the surface of their pavers after they’ve been sealed by sub-par company. Solvent based sealers are most commonly responsible for this cloudiness. Unlike water based sealers, which penetrate deep into the pores of the pavers, solvent sealers are thick and sit on top of the paver surface. These sealers block out water from penetrating the surface, but unfortunately also block moisture from being able to leave the surface. For this reason, the pavers will appear milky white as moisture continues to be trapped underneath the sealer. 

Other reasons why a surface may appear to have a cloudy appearance is usually related to poor sealing techniques. For instance, sealer should never be applied with a paint roller, but rather sprayed. Using a roller to apply sealer will only leave visible lines up and down your surface. Also, once a surface is sealed, it needs appropriate time to cure. If rain comes down on the surface before it has fully cured, the sealer that was just applied will begin to cloud up. The good news is, we can fix all these problems!

How long should I wait to get my newly installed pavers sealed?

We highly recommend waiting at least 30-60 days to get a newly installed surface sealed. New pavers need time to breathe. If not given this time to adapt to environmental elements, a hazy material known as efflorescence will get trapped underneath the sealer. Efflorescence appears when salts from new pavers rise up to the surface. While it’s not uncommon, it is important to let rain and moisture bring out these salts before a surface is sealed. 

Is your company licensed and insured?

Absolutely! If you require proof of our licenses or insurance, please do not hesitate to ask. We can email copies right over to you. 

How long does the sealing process usually take?

We generally strive to complete jobs in 2 days. This of course depends on the weather as well as the square footage of the surface. It is not uncommon for jobs needing polymeric sand to take a little longer, as we have to wait until the surface is completely dry to brush in the sand. This usually only becomes an issue at homes with covered porches, or screened in pool decks that do not receive a lot of direct sunlight. To help combat these problems, we have several techniques and pieces of special equipment.