Paver Sealing in Lake Asbury, FL

Yes, for most driveways and patios. A sealed surface keeps its sand, fades more slowly and lets oil and dirt sit on top. In Lake Asbury's fast-draining sand, keeping the joints full is a big reason to do it. Wet-look sealer shows scuffs sooner. Which finish fits is a question for the contractor. On a driveway that gets full sun, the color holds longer once the sealer is on, and a sealed surface is easier to wash the next time. Pavers installed in the last few months are the exception and may need to wait.

One Jacksonville company says pros do both. Spraying lays an even coat, and back-rolling pushes sealer down into the joints and stops puddles. A roller on its own can leave lap marks, while a sprayer on its own can lay on too much. Ask which method the contractor will use on your pavers.

Budget about $1.75 to $3.25 per square foot to clean, sand and seal, as Northeast Florida companies commonly publish. Where a Lake Asbury job lands depends on size, stains and old sealer. Ask each bid to list the area and the sealer brand. Pricing per foot usually drops when the driveway and patio are done together. Stripping an old coat that has turned white or flaking costs more, and the contractor should say so before work starts. Strip-and-reseal costs more if the old coat has failed.

Published figures for coat life run two to five years. A Jacksonville company figures full-sun drives at 18 to 24 months and shaded walks at 24 to 36. Weeds, chalky color or sand in the gutter mean it is time to ask. Fall and spring are named as good seasons to seal by one Jacksonville guide. A splash of water tells the story: beading means the coat is working, and soaking in means it is worn.

Prep, more than product, makes up the price. A company says each hour of sealing follows two to three hours of prep. Smaller jobs cost more per square foot, and failed sealer must be stripped first. A fair quote explains each stage of the work. Washing, re-sanding and waiting for the surface to dry cannot be rushed, which is why a careful job takes more than one visit.

They can be. Pavers can be lifted and reset if a spot settles, and sealer helps hold the sand in sandy ground. The tradeoff is upkeep: joints need sand and the surface needs a new coat every few years. Sealing before sunken spots are reset only locks them in, so repairs come first. Edges and base matter too, so a driveway laid on a weak base can sink or shift no matter how well it is sealed.

Wait at least 30 to 60 days, according to one Jacksonville company. A St. Johns County company says about 90 days. Waiting lets trapped moisture escape and lets white chalk, called efflorescence, come to the surface to be treated. A contractor can look at your driveway and tell you whether it is ready. Moisture trapped under a new coat is one of the more common sealing failures. Edenbrooke by Lennar is an active-adult community for buyers 55 and older, and an HOA there may add its own rules.

It can, but only as far as your declaration or published guidelines say. Florida law limits an association's review of appearance changes to what those documents state or reasonably imply. A high-gloss finish is the likelier one to draw a question from the board. Ask for your declaration's rules in writing before you choose a finish. Ask your board for the written rules before you pick a finish, so the coat does not have to be redone.