Paving Sealer Facts

Hopefully the following facts on paving sealers in general and particularly our paving sealers will help you with your product and supplier selection.

Sealers Direct solvent based Premium Paving Sealer range is formulated with:

The best high performance, pure co-polymer acrylic resin solids, suspended in a unique blend of the highest quality organic solvents. (No fillers, thickeners or extenders)

Minimum 25% high solids pure resin content.
Tough and durable
One or two coat application
Non yellowing
100 % UV stable
Bonds and stabilises jointing sand in Block Paving
Depending on application requirement, can be thinned on site by contractors.

 

FAQs

Can you supply other sealer/ products not on your list?

What does solids mean?

What does Low, Medium or High solid mean?

Is solids content most important?

I’ve seen some sealer described as “acrylic co-polymer in virgin xylene” what does this mean?

What coverage should I get from 25 ltrs of sealer?

How do I apply paving sealer?

Which are better, Acrylic or Polyurethane sealers?

What will happen if I get caught out by the rain or damp after I’ve just sealed my paving?

What’s a bloom?

How do I rectify a bloom?

 

Can you supply other sealer/ products not on your list?

Yes we can.

These products are made to order, minimum quantities apply.

For example:  Low solids paving sealer, Medium solids paving sealer

Alternatively, if you only require a few drums it would be more efficient to purchase our Premium Ultra paving sealer and a drum of SD thinners and thin the sealer as required on site.

Polyurethane sealers

Mould release agents

If you have a requirement please drop us a line or call.

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What does solids mean?

Solids - is an alternative description for resin within the product.

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What does Low, Medium or High solid mean?

This description gives you an indication of the resin content within the sealer.

Higher the resin content = the more resin left on the paving = the more the paving is sealed

Most paving sealers that are available through Builders Merchants, DIY warehouses and some Websites are very low solids.

The basic fact to remember when buying paving sealer is that whoever you’re buying from, if their sealer has a GOOD SOLIDS CONTENT they will make sure you know.

Low solids                         around 10% solids content (poor)
Medium solids                     around 16% solids content (could be better)
High solids                         around 25% solids content (good)
Ultra high solids                  around 30% solids content (very good)

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Is solids content most important?

Solids content should be a main consideration along with choice of resin, quality and performance.

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I’ve seen some sealer described as “acrylic co-polymer in virgin xylene” what does this mean?

If this represents all the raw materials in the product then it’s a basic paving sealer, and with no indication of solids content you could be paying over the top for an inferior LOW SOLIDS sealer.

For example:

A well known low solids paving sealer that you can buy from most DIY stores and websites costs £22.00 - £25.00 per 5 ltr. This is equivalent to £110.00 - £125.00 for 25ltr; compare this to our Premium Paving Sealer (high solids) at £80.00 or our Premium Ultra high solids at £89.00 and you can see why it makes sense to purchase from Sealers Direct.

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What coverage should I get from 25 ltrs (1 drum) of sealer?

This is a bit of a grey area as some surfaces are more porous than others; for example, block paving is more porous than printed concrete, so block paving will take more product per square metre.

The application method also makes a difference, you may find that rolling or brushing makes the product go further than spraying.

There is also a difference between the correct coverage and making the sealer spread as far as possible, the more you spread the product, then the less product you will end up with on each square metre and the less each square metre is sealed.

You won’t save money by making the sealer spread as far as possible.

Coverage rates should only be taken as a guide but 50 – 80 sq mtr per 25 ltr, 1 drum is realistic. This is based on either 1 heavy coat or 2 light coats.

You should be very suspect if quoted coverage rates exceed 100 sq mtr per 25 ltr (1 drum), or 20 sq mtr per 5 ltr.

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How do I apply paving sealer?

You can apply paving sealer by:

Course droplet low level pressure sprayer
Roller
Broom
Brush

Most contractors these days will use a sealer sprayer that is made specifically for the job.             
Garden chemical sprayers are NOT right for the job as they block up quickly and produce a conical spray pattern most of the time.
The ideal spray pattern should be a fan jet.

Sealers Direct display 2 sprayers on our equipments page that are suitable.

If you opt for one of the other methods, you need to get a rectangular paint bucket (£5.00) from B & Q or similar, a long handled roller, broom or large brush, half fill the bucket with product and start applying the product.

Tip: Don’t seal yourself into a corner and follow all instructions on product.

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Which are better, Acrylic or Polyurethane sealers?

You have to consider if you’re comparing like for like.

LOW solids Polyurethane next to a quality HIGH solids acrylic is not like for like so is not comparable.

The true answer is that they are both good and are suited to different applications.

You also have to consider the use of the surface to be sealed, ease of application, applicators skill and experience level.

Application Guide:

High solid Acrylic paving sealers:

Block paved driveways, printed concrete, patio slabs and paths etc.
Easily applied by sealer sprayer, roller, broom or brush.  

Easy to rectify in terms of time and cost if caught out by rain or damp.

Usually less expensive than Polyurethane

Polyurethane paving sealers:

Used more commercially for heavy traffic areas, excellent chemical resistance.

Not easy to rectify if caught out by rain or damp, expensive and time consuming.

Usually more expensive to buy.

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What will happen if I get caught out by the rain or damp after I’ve just sealed my paving?

The sealer will probably bloom.

Sealers Direct Premium range is specially formulated to resist blooming if possible.

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What’s a bloom?

A bloom in the sealer can take the appearance of a milky or silvery cloud effect and may be apparent in patches, spots or across the whole area.

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How do I rectify a bloom?

Acrylic sealers:

Brush or spray specified solvent (SD thinners) to effected areas only.
Repeat if necessary, allow to dry.

Polyurethane:

Not as simple, thinners will have no effect.

Surface will have to be mechanically abraded (grit blasted) or stripped with Nitric acid then cleaned and resealed.

 

We hope this information helps, for any further advice please drop us a line at

admin@sealersdirect.co.uk

or

Call 01202 620377 (in the office) 07899 748333 (out of the office)

           
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