Home/Hardscaping/Paver Sealing
HardscapingPaver Sealing & Protection
in Ottawa
Your interlock driveway or patio was a significant investment. A professional sealant protects it from UV fading, oil stains, moss, and Ottawa's relentless freeze-thaw cycles — keeping it looking new for years.
Unsealed pavers age faster than you'd think.
Concrete pavers are porous. Without a sealant, they absorb everything Ottawa throws at them — road salt in winter, UV radiation all summer, oil drips from vehicles, moss spores in spring. Over 3–5 years, an unsealed interlock driveway loses its original colour, develops a dull grey patina, and stains from things as simple as a dropped maple key or a barbecue grease drip.
A quality sealant absorbs into the paver surface and creates a breathable barrier. Water vapour still escapes — so the paver doesn't trap moisture and spall — but liquid water, oil, salt, and UV radiation are blocked at the surface. The colour deepens to a rich, wet-look finish, and the surface becomes dramatically easier to clean.
For a newly installed interlock surface, sealing locks in the fresh colour from day one. For an existing driveway or patio, a deep clean followed by sealing can restore the original look and pause further degradation. Either way, sealing extends the life of your paver investment by years.
What sealing actually does for your pavers.
UV & Colour Protection
Blocks ultraviolet radiation that bleaches paver pigment over time. Sealed pavers hold their original colour 3–5x longer than unsealed. The finish can be natural matte or enhanced wet-look — your choice.
Stain Resistance
Oil, grease, rust, leaf tannins, bird droppings — all sit on the sealed surface instead of soaking in. Most stains wipe off with soap and water. Without sealant, those same stains penetrate and become permanent.
Freeze-Thaw Defence
Sealed pavers absorb less water. Less water inside the paver means less expansion during freeze cycles — the #1 cause of surface spalling in Ottawa winters. One sealant application typically protects for 3–5 years.
Moss & Mildew Barrier
Sealant fills the microscopic pores where moss spores latch on and grow. Sealed surfaces stay cleaner longer and need less frequent pressure washing. Moss that does land washes off with a garden hose.
Joint Sand Retention
Sealant stabilizes the surface of polymeric sand joints, reducing washout from rain and snowmelt. Combined with proper polymeric sand, a sealed surface can go 8–12 years between re-sanding.
Easier Snow Removal
Snow and ice release more cleanly from a sealed surface. Less freeze-bonding means less scraping, less salt needed, and less abrasion on the paver surface over the winter.
Clean first, seal second. Always.
Deep Clean
We don't seal over dirt. Hot-water pressure washing strips embedded grime, moss, and oil stains. The surface must be completely clean and bone-dry before sealant touches it — we typically schedule cleaning and sealing on separate days to guarantee this.
Joint Check & Re-Sand
We inspect all joints for sand loss while the surface is clean. If joints need fresh polymeric sand, we do it before sealing — sealing locks the sand in permanently. If your sand is still solid, we proceed directly to sealant.
Spray-Apply Sealant
We use a commercial pump sprayer for even coverage, working one section at a time. Two thin coats, not one thick one — the first coat seals the pores, the second locks the finish. We tape off adjacent surfaces and mask landscaping so only the pavers get treated.
New Installation?
Seal within the first 1–3 months after installation. This locks in the fresh paver colour before UV and weathering have a chance to fade it. The pavers must be fully cured and the polymeric sand must be fully set — we coordinate timing with your installation crew.
Existing Surface?
Deep clean first, seal second. We strip years of embedded grime with hot-water pressure washing, let the surface dry completely, then apply sealant. The result isn't just protection — it's a dramatic visual transformation. Most clients say their 5-year-old driveway looks brand new again.
Common questions about paver sealing.
How long does paver sealer last?+
3–5 years under normal Ottawa conditions. Heavy-traffic driveways may need re-sealing closer to the 3-year mark. Patios and walkways with lighter use can go 5+ years. We track your seal date and can send a reminder when it's time for a refresh.
Will sealing make my pavers slippery?+
No. We use a penetrating, breathable sealant — not a surface coating. It absorbs into the paver, it doesn't sit on top. The surface texture doesn't change. If you specifically want a gloss finish, there are wet-look options available, but even those maintain the natural grip of the paver.
Can you seal pavers that have already faded?+
Yes — and this is one of the most satisfying transformations we do. We deep-clean the surface first to remove oxidation and embedded dirt, which already restores much of the original colour. Then the sealant deepens the tone further. It won't make a 10-year-old paver match a brand-new one, but the improvement is dramatic.
Should I seal my interlock before or after winter?+
Spring or early summer is ideal — the surface is dry, temperatures are moderate, and the sealant cures optimally. Fall sealing works too but requires a dry window of at least 48 hours. We don't seal in winter or when overnight temperatures drop below 5°C — the sealant won't cure properly.
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Lock in your paver colour before it fades.
Free on-site assessment. We'll evaluate your pavers and recommend exactly what they need — cleaning, sanding, sealing, or all three.