How to Seal Pavers: A Step-by-Step DIY Guide

Pavers take a beating. Sun fades their color, rain drives grime into the surface, foot traffic dulls them, and weeds and ants push up through the joints. Sealing is the easiest way to protect all that work and keep a patio, walkway, or pool deck looking new. Best of all, sealing pavers is a weekend DIY job most homeowners can handle with a few basic tools. This guide walks through exactly how to seal pavers step by step — when to do it, what you need, and how to lay down an even, long-lasting finish with a paver sealer like McKinnon Crystal Coat.

Why Seal Your Pavers?

A good paver sealer does a lot of quiet work:

• Protects the color. A UV-stable sealer helps shield pavers from the sun so the color holds up instead of fading and graying out.
• Repels stains and moisture. Crystal Coat penetrates the paver and forms a locked-in bond, so spilled food, oil, and water are far easier to clean up before they soak in.
• Helps lock joint sand in place. Sealing stabilizes the sand between your pavers, which cuts down on washout, weeds, and ant hills. (More on that in our guide to paver sealer and sand lock.)
• Less cleaning, less maintenance. A sealed surface sheds dirt and resists wear, so routine upkeep drops off.
• Your choice of finish. Crystal Coat leaves a semi-gloss, wet-look sheen that deepens and enriches the paver color — or you can keep things more natural with a lighter application.

With proper prep and the occasional reseal, a quality paver sealer keeps that finish working for years.

What You’ll Need to Seal Pavers

Gather everything before you start so you can work in one clean pass:

• Paver sealer — Crystal Coat Paver Sealer (see the coverage math below to size it)
• A low-pressure pump sprayer for the main field, plus a 3/8" nap roller or brush for edges and tight spots
• Stiff-bristle push broom
• Paver or concrete cleaner (or a mild degreaser) and a garden hose or pressure washer
• Joint sand — polymeric or standard joint sand, if your joints need topping up
• Painter’s tape and plastic sheeting to protect siding, edging, and plantings
• Gloves, safety glasses, and a knee pad

When to Seal Pavers

Timing matters as much as technique:

• Let new pavers cure first. Fresh pavers can release efflorescence (a white, powdery haze) as they cure. Give them time to weather — often about 30 to 60 days — and check the paver manufacturer’s guidance before sealing.
• Pick dry weather. The pavers must be completely dry, with no rain in the forecast for at least 24 hours before and after. Sealing damp pavers traps moisture and causes a cloudy finish.
• Aim for a mild day. Most acrylic sealers go down best on a dry, moderate day — roughly 50 to 90°F — and out of blazing direct sun, which can make the sealer flash off too fast.
• Give yourself a weekend. Cleaning and drying take up day one; sealing and curing take day two.

How to Seal Pavers, Step by Step

1. Clear and clean the surface. Remove furniture, planters, and grill. Sweep off debris, then wash the pavers with a cleaner and a hose or pressure washer to lift dirt, grime, and old stains. Pull any weeds and treat the joints.

2. Let the pavers dry completely. This is the step people rush. After washing, give the pavers a full 24 hours (longer in humid weather) so they are bone dry all the way through. Sealing over trapped moisture is the number-one cause of a hazy finish.

3. Re-sand the joints if needed. Sweep fresh joint sand into any low or washed-out joints and compact it just below the paver surface. Sealing over properly filled joints is what locks that sand in place. Our sand lock guide covers this in detail.

4. Mask and protect. Tape off adjacent walls, edging, downspouts, and any plantings you don’t want overspray on.

5. Test a small area first. Apply sealer to an out-of-the-way paver and let it dry to confirm you like the color and sheen before committing to the whole surface.

6. Apply the first coat — thin and even. Working in manageable sections, apply a thin, uniform coat with the pump sprayer. Back-roll or brush out any puddles right away so the sealer soaks in evenly instead of pooling in low spots.

7. Apply the second coat. Once the first coat has set to the touch per the product directions, apply a second thin coat in a crosshatch direction (perpendicular to the first) to even out coverage and build the finish.

8. Let it cure. Keep foot traffic, pets, and furniture off the surface while the sealer cures. Light foot traffic is usually fine within about 24 hours; wait longer before returning heavy furniture — and longer still before driving on a sealed paver driveway. Follow the product’s cure times.

How Much Paver Sealer Do You Need?

Crystal Coat covers roughly 150 to 300 square feet per gallon, depending on how porous and textured your pavers are — older or rougher pavers drink more. Plan for two coats, and buy a little extra so you don’t run dry mid-project.

As a rough example, a 300-square-foot patio sealed with two coats needs about 2 to 3 gallons. Crystal Coat comes in three sizes (pricing verified live on 2026-08-04):

Prices are current as of publication — check the product page for today’s pricing and to match the size to your square footage.

Wet-Look or Natural Finish?

Crystal Coat is a single-component, cross-linking acrylic sealer that penetrates the paver and leaves a semi-gloss, wet-look sheen. That wet look deepens the color and gives pavers a rich, just-rained-on appearance — great for driveways, patios, and pool decks where you want the color to pop. Apply it a little lighter if you prefer a more subtle finish. For the full rundown on how the sealer works and where it fits, see our Crystal Coat paver sealer guide.

How Often Should You Reseal Pavers?

Sealer wears with sun and traffic, so plan to reseal periodically — many homeowners redo their pavers every 2 to 3 years, sooner on high-traffic driveways and sun-baked surfaces, longer on shaded, low-use areas. An easy tell: when the wet-look sheen starts to dull and water stops beading, it’s time for a fresh coat. Resealing is quick because the prep is lighter — just clean, dry, and recoat.

Common Paver-Sealing Mistakes to Avoid

• Sealing damp pavers. Trapped moisture leaves a white, cloudy haze. When in doubt, wait another day.
• Laying it on too thick. Heavy, puddled coats stay tacky and can haze. Two thin coats always beat one thick one.
• Skipping the joint sand. Sealing over empty joints wastes the sealer’s best trick — locking that sand down.
• Working in direct hot sun. The sealer can flash off before it soaks in. Seal in the shade or on an overcast day.
• Not testing first. Always confirm the color and sheen on a small area before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does paver sealer last?

With proper application, expect roughly 2 to 3 years before a driveway or busy patio needs resealing — longer on shaded, low-traffic areas. When water stops beading and the sheen dulls, it’s time to recoat.

Do I need to sand the joints before sealing?

If your joints are low or have washed out, top them up with joint sand first. Sealing over filled joints is what stabilizes the sand and helps keep weeds and washout down.

How long before I can walk on sealed pavers?

Light foot traffic is usually fine after about 24 hours, but keep heavy furniture and vehicles off longer. Always follow the cure times on the product label.

Will sealing make my pavers slippery?

A wet-look sealer can feel slightly slick when wet, especially on pool decks and steps. If slip resistance is a concern, apply a lighter coat or ask about an anti-slip additive.

Can I seal old pavers?

Yes. As long as they’re clean, dry, and structurally sound, older pavers seal beautifully — and a fresh coat often brings faded color right back to life.

Ready to Seal Your Pavers?

Sealing pavers is one of the highest-return weekend projects you can tackle — a little prep and two thin coats protect the surface and refresh the color for years. Start with a quality paver sealer built for the job: Crystal Coat Paver Sealer. Questions about sizing or surface prep? Call McKinnon Materials at 888-849-0588 — we’re happy to help you get it right the first time.