How Much Does it Cost to Seal a Paver Patio?

A brick paver patio is a beautiful addition to any home’s outdoor space. While there are many different types of outdoor patios, paver patios seem to be very popular choices due to their beauty, timelessness, and classy look. However, how much does it cost to seal a paver patio?

A rough estimate for the cost of sealing a paver patio is $.90 to $2 per square foot of paved patio. A small 8′ x 10′ (80 square feet) paver patio will cost between $72 and $160, while a medium-sized 12′ x 12′ (144 square feet) paver patio will cost between $129.6 and $188. Lastly, a large-sized 20′ x 20′ (400 square feet) paver patio will cost between $360 and $800.

This article will discuss the cost of sealing a paver patio by outlining the various factors that will affect the cost of this maintenance project. By the end, you will better understand how to seal your paver patio and how much it should cost you.

What is a Paver Patio?

A paver patio is normally made out of brick but can just as easily be made out of stone slabs. The patio is created by interlocking the stones or bricks with one another to make a patterned surface. When stones are used for a paver patio, they are normally manufactured to mimic the feel and look of bricks.

Due to their unique structure, paver patios are known for their durability. While concrete slabs can crack under pressure and due to changes in temperature, interlocking paving stones with some small slits between them are better able to stand up to these conditions.

The slits between the stones give the patio structure some flexibility to contract and expand with temperature changes, making paver patios at least four times stronger than concrete slab patios.

One of the biggest advantages of a paver patio, other than its proven durability, is the fact that water can easily drain through the slits between the pavers. Unlike in a concrete patio, where water tends to collect in pools, run-off rainwater can drain through these gaps in a paver patio and become absorbed into the ground, where it can nourish the soil.

Should I Seal My Paver Patio?

If you have a paver patio made from brick, stone, or even concrete blocks, you should certainly get it sealed. The first and most important reason for getting your paver patio sealed is that these materials are porous no matter what material you choose, brick, stone, or concrete.

Over time, unsealed pavers collect moisture through their pores, which in turn causes cracks upon freezing in the winter months. When you seal your pavers, the sealant works its way into the pores, thereby preventing any moisture from collecting within the pavers.

However, this is just one of the many reasons why you should seal your paver patio. Brick and natural stone pavers are highly susceptible to the elements. Over time they can become stained by rust or dust, fade in color due to UV radiation from the sun, or grow mildew. Hence, sealing your pavers helps to stave off the multiple forces of nature that are trying to damage them.

Moreover, sealant helps to bolster the appearance of your pavers by preserving their beauty for a longer period. Depending on the type of sealant you use, you will achieve a long-lasting glossy finish that highlights the natural hues of your pavers.

How Much Does it Cost to Seal a Paver Patio?

Although the overall cost of sealing a paver patio depends largely on several variables, we can give you a rough estimate of the cost before diving into how these variables affect the overall cost.

A rough estimate for the cost of sealing a paver patio is $.90 to $2 per square foot of paved patio. Therefore, a small 8′ x 10′ (80 square feet) paver patio will cost between $72 and $160. Meanwhile, a medium-sized 12′ x 12′ (144 square feet) paver patio will cost between $129.6 and $188. Lastly, a large-sized 20′ x 20′ (400 square feet) paver patio will cost between $360 and $800.

You may have noticed that even for a paver patio of a particular size, the price range for getting pavers sealed is quite large. This large range is due to the different variables that must be factored into the cost of sealing a paver patio to get a more accurate estimate.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Sealing a Paver Patio

Below are some of the most critical factors that affect the cost of sealing a paver patio.

1. Paver Patio’s Location

Although it may not seem like a contributing factor to the cost, the location of your paver patio is a variable that affects the overall cost of sealing. If the paver patio is in front of your house, the trailer can be parked close by on the street, thereby reducing labor costs.

Moreover, whether or not there is easy access to water near your paver patio is also a factor contributing to sealing costs. If the landscapers you hire have to bring their own water supply to use, this will ramp up the project’s cost.

If, however, you can provide the landscapers with sufficient water supply from your home, this will substantially reduce the cost per square foot of sealing your paver patio.

2. Pavers’ Material

The type of material you have chosen to pave your patio with is also a variable that contributes to the overall cost of sealing your paver patio. Two main types of brick are used to pave a patio: clay and concrete. Further, the cost of sealing either kind of paver is different as they require different cleaning and sealing methods.

Other variables also affect sealing costs within the material categories of clay and concrete. Brick pavers can be tumbled, textured, wet cast, or flat, and depending on which one of these categories your paver patio falls into, you will be paying a different amount for the sealing project.

3. Pavers’ Porousness

Not all pavers are made equal, especially with regards to porousness. Moreover, the longer you have had your paver patio installed and the longer you’ve left them unsealed, the more the porosity of the individual pavers will diminish.

The porousness of your pavers will directly affect the cost per square foot of sealing your paver patio. If your pavers lack porosity, either due to being well maintained or new, you will need to use less sealant.

However, suppose your pavers are highly porous due to the material used and the prolonged weathering effects. In that case, you will need to use much more sealant, thereby driving up the per square foot cost of sealing your paver patio.

4. Paver Area’s Size

The size of your paver patio will play a large role in determining how much sealing your paver will cost. The larger your patio, the more sealant you will have to use, which will bump up the overall cost. However, having a large paver patio is not all bad news. Just like buying in bulk, installers will likely lower the price per square foot if you need to seal a large paved area.

5. Width of Paver Joint

The spaces, slits, or joints between individual pavers house sand make the paver patio more durable and flexible. While narrow joints save money by reducing the quantity of sand required, they also make sweeping the sander inside the joints much more difficult.

On the other hand, wide joints between your pavers will require a lot more polymeric sand, which will drive up your costs. In fact, wider joints may require a different type of sand altogether, which will likely ramp up your costs upon installation.

Notably, sealing a paver patio with wide joints is more costly than one with narrow joints. Pavers with wide joints in between them require more sealant to saturate the joints completely to remain harder and more durable for a longer period.

Types of Paver Sealants

There are essentially two different types of sealants for pavers. One is film-forming (gloss or semi-gloss finish), and the other is non-film forming (matte finish).

Film-forming sealants tend to offer the best protection to your pavers by creating a physical barrier on their surface. However, they do not provide the classy matte finish or long sealant lifespan of non-film-forming sealants.

For film-forming sealants, the physical barrier will eventually show direct signs of wear, which indicates that you need to get your pavers re-sealed. On the other hand, for non-film-forming sealants, a significant color change, especially during heavy rain, is the indication that your pavers need re-sealing.

Final Words

If you have a paver patio in your home’s outdoor space, you will need to hire someone to apply sealant typically every 3 to 5 years. While the cost to seal a paver patio varies depending on several factors, you should expect to pay between $0.9 and $2 per square foot.

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