Paver sealing locks the jointing sand in place, blocks weeds and ants from working up between the joints, and brings back color that plain pressure washing fades right back out within a season. Fort Lauderdale Pressure Washing cleans first, lets the pavers dry, then seals — sealing over pavers that haven't been properly cleaned just traps the grime underneath the coating.
Sealing only works if what's underneath it is clean. Sealer bonds to the paver surface — dirt, algae film, or efflorescence trapped under a fresh coat doesn't go away, it just gets locked in place under a shiny top layer, which is worse than leaving the pavers unsealed. That's why this is treated as a sequence, not one visit: wash, let the surface dry fully, then seal.
The upside of doing it properly is real. Joint sand stays where it's packed instead of washing out through cracks and gaps, which is what lets weeds and ants find a way in over time. Sealed pavers also hold their color longer against sun fading, and a wet-look or matte finish sealer changes how much the color reads once it's down — worth deciding on before the crew shows up, since it's not something to redo cheaply. Fort Lauderdale Pressure Washing is rated 5.0 from 13 Google reviews for jobs handled this way.
Why can't sealing happen in the same visit as cleaning?
Pavers need to be fully dry before sealer is applied, and pressure-washed concrete and stone hold moisture longer than people expect — surface-dry isn't the same as dry all the way through the joints. Fort Lauderdale Pressure Washing is based in Wilton Manors and books cleaning and sealing as two separate appointments so the sealer actually bonds instead of trapping moisture under the coating. Sealing over pavers that are still damp is the single most common reason a sealer job looks cloudy or starts peeling within the first year.
What does sealing actually stop from happening?
Three things, mainly, and they compound on each other if none of them get addressed — a joint that loses its sand is also the joint a weed finds first.
- Joint sand washing out through gaps during heavy rain
- Weeds and ants working up through loosened joints
- Color fading unevenly where foot traffic wears the surface
How long after cleaning can the sealer go on?
The pavers have to be completely dry through the joints, not just dry on the surface — which is why cleaning and sealing are booked as two separate visits rather than back-to-back on the same day.
Does sealing change how the pavers look?
It can — sealers come in finishes from a natural matte to a noticeably wet, glossy look, and the finish you pick changes how saturated the color reads once it's down. Decide before the crew arrives; it's not a quick redo.
Do I need to reseal every year?
There's no set interval — it depends on foot traffic, direct sun exposure, and how the joints are holding up. Watch for sand visibly washing out of the joints or color looking flat; that's the signal, not a calendar date.
Do you handle paver sealing outside Fort Lauderdale?
Yes — Fort Lauderdale Pressure Washing covers Fort Lauderdale and 20 other service areas from its base in Wilton Manors.