Do you know how to clean and seal driveways and patio stones? Let the professionals at Gappsi show you the process!
Gappsi cleaning and sealing season for driveways and patio stones has started! Our first driveway is located in Dix Hills NY. Over 10 years ago Gappsi installed this granite paver driveway and now we are cleaning and sealing it.
STEP #1 Cleaning Driveways and Patio Stones
First, we clean the granite pavers and remove most of the sand in between the joints. Our new surface cleaners are also extractors. We wash the surface of the pavers and also remove the old polymeric sand. Also, the debris that has collected underneath the joints is washed out.
This year Gappsi added a new pressure washing system. The machine is a high volume low-pressure hot water system. The pressure washing system can go to 250 degrees Fahrenheit in hot water. It also comes with a soft wash system for areas where we don’t need pressure.
Our team started the process of cleaning the pavers. The driveway floor was pretty dirty so we completed a few passes starting with a turbo nozzle. The initial process is to clean the stones, and then remove the old polymeric sand in between the joints. This allows the new sand to be put in between the joints. We are using 200 degrees Fahrenheit of hot water.
STEP # 2 Removing Sand and Debris From Driveways and Patio Stones
In the second step, we will clean the entire area with the extractor surface cleaner that will remove any sitting material in between the stone joints.
STEP #3 Applying New Polymeric Sand
The third step in sealing the pavers is filling the joint space with new polymeric sand. We are using white beige silica sand. This sand will absorb the sealer and get extremely hard; harder than polymeric sand. Using a vibratory compactor specifically made to vibrate sand into the joints. The Poly sand must be vibrated into the joint, as we want the sand as tight as possible in the paver joint. The rollers have white rubber rollers specifically made for these kinds of applications and will not scratch or mark the stones.
STEP #4 Sealing the Driveway Pavers and Patio Stones
Step #4 is the process of applying the sealer. We mix urethane sealer part A and part B in combination with water in a two-to-one solution. We apply the sealer through sprayers flooding the joints. This allows the sealer to penetrate the sand and absorb it deep down to get hard. Using a blower to move the extra sealer around, we prevent it from settling on top of the stones and further draining into the sand. Since these are granite pavers, they won’t absorb much of the sealer, but the sand will get very very hard.
Which Sealer is Right For Your Stones?
Gappsi uses several types of sealers different for each stone type from granite to marble, travertine, or concrete pavers. In addition, there are color enhancers or natural look sealers. We apply the proper sealer to the different types of stone surfaces or materials based on what is needed. Each stone absorbs differently and each application is different. Whether there is a top coating sealer or a penetrating sealer depends on the customer selection. Also, we offer suggestions for the type of material we are protecting or enhancing.
STEP #5 Slip Resistant System Application
Step #5 After the team has completed sealing the entire driveway we apply an anti-slip resistance that will be the final process adding one more coat. This application is applied with a floor mop while the sealer is wet. The two coats bond together and it adds texture to the surface preventing it from getting slippery.
The sealing process takes 2 to 3 days to complete allowing time to dry. We allow the sealer to harden and keep the cars off the paver for about a week. The driveway was designed with granite pavers that are an inch and a quarter thick. The sealer needs to be hardened a little longer as a result of the paver size. The sand in between the joints has absorbed all the sealer and it became very hard. The color of the driveway looks like the first day the pavers were installed. The sealer enhancer used brings back the natural original color of the stones. It does not have a shiny look, it is more of a color enhancer. We also used slip resistance mixed with the sealer, this gives better traction when walking on the stones.
This is the latest sealing project done by Gappsi. The original granite installation Gappsi completed was over 10 years ago and the stones were selected from the Gappsi Natural Stone and Porcelain Collection showroom.
Gappsi provides restoration, cleaning, and sealing of all types of stones and surfaces installed on patios, driveways, and walkways installed outdoors as well as indoors.
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We serve all of Nassau and Suffolk County Long Island NY, in all the following towns:
NASSAU COUNTY LONG ISLAND
Town of Hempstead Atlantic Beach Baldwin Bellerose Terrace Bellmore Bethpage Cedarhurst East Meadow East Rockaway Elmont Floral Park Franklin Square Freeport Garden City Hempstead Hewlett Inwood Island Park Lawrence Levittown Lynbrook Malverne Merrick Mineola New Hyde Park North Lynbrook North Valley Stream North Woodmere Oceanside Point Lookout Rockville Centre Roosevelt Seaford South Hempstead Uniondale Valley Stream Wantagh West Hempstead Woodmere Town of North Hempstead Albertson Carle Place Floral Park Glenwood Landing Great Neck Greenvale Kings Point Manhasset Mineola New Hyde Park North New Hyde Park Old Westbury Port Washington Roslyn Roslyn Heights Sands Point Westbury Williston Park Town of Oyster Bay Bayville Bethpage Brookville East Norwich Farmingdale Glen Head Glenwood Landing Greenvale Hicksville Jericho Locust Valley Massapequa Massapequa Park Mill Neck Old Bethpage Old Westbury Oyster Bay Plainview Sea Cliff Syosset Woodbury City of Glen Cove City of Long Beach.
SUFFOLK COUNTY LONG ISLAND
Town of Babylon Amityville Babylon Copiague Deer Park Lindenhurst North Amityville North Babylon West Babylon Wyandanch Town of Brookhaven Bellport Blue Point Brookhaven Calverton Centereach Center Moriches Coram East Moriches East Patchogue Eastport East Setauket Farmingville Holbrook Holtsville Lake Grove Manorville Mastic Mastic Beach Medford Middle Island Miller Place Moriches Mount Sinai North Patchogue Patchogue Port Jefferson Port Jefferson Station Ridge Rocky Point Ronkonkoma Selden Shirley Shoreham Sound Beach Stony Brook Upton Wading River Yaphank Town of East Hampton Amagansett East Hampton Montauk Sag Harbor Wainscott Town of Huntington Centerport Cold Spring Harbor
Commack East Northport Greenlawn Huntington Huntington Station Lloyd Harbor Melville Northport Town of Islip Bayport Bay Shore Bohemia Brentwood Brightwaters Central Islip East Islip Great River Hauppauge Holbrook Holtsville Islandia Islip Islip Terrace Oakdale Ocean Beach Ronkonkoma Sayville West Islip West Sayville Town of Riverhead Aquebogue Calverton Jamesport Laurel Manorville Riverhead South Jamesport Wading River Town of Shelter Island Shelter Island Shelter Island Heights Town of Smithtown Commack Hauppauge Kings Park Nesconset Saint James Smithtown Town of Southampton Bridgehampton Eastport East Quogue Hampton Bays Quogue Remsenburg Sagaponack Sag Harbor Southampton Speonk Water Mill Westhampton Westhampton Beach Town of Southold Cutchogue East Marion Fishers Island Greenport Laurel Mattituck New Suffolk Orient Peconic Southold
When it comes to the outdoor areas on your property it is important to clean and seal pavers. You may have paver stones installed on features such as driveways, walkways, pathways, etc. These paving stones are incredibly hardy and resilient and can last for many years with basic maintenance. However, the areas are constantly exposed to climatic changes as well as the sun’s rays.
Concrete products are corrosive to citric acid in rain. The salt and ice melters that are used during the winter along with everyday wear from walking and driving on them cause them to break down unless protected.
Natural Stone Sealers