It is fine to seal your new natural stone or concrete paving (porcelain does not need sealing) straight after laying the paving providing you use an impregnator sealer such as the Pavetuf range available on our website. Impregnator sealers are water-based and breathable so they allow the paving mortar under the slabs to continue to dry even after the sealer has been applied. They work will invisibly filling the tiny capillaries within the stone to reduce the risk of stains penetrating through into the stone. With this type of sealer, it is necessary to use two coats, applied wet on wet. This often requires applying the sealant with a spray or roller over a small section and then whilst it remains wet, apply the second coat. Do not allow the first coat to dry before applying the second coat. The Pavetuf sealant range is available in satin and invisible options depending upon your preferences. The other benefit to this type of sealer is that it gradually weathers away over a long period of time (often around 8 years) and does not require removal prior to resealing.

If you have opted for a different type of sealant, refer to the manufacturer's instructions, however as a guide, many of the older types of polymer based sealants require the paving to have been laid and allowed to thoroughly dry for around six months before application. This is as a result of the mortar often producing a white powdery film on the surface of the stone (efflorescence) which, although part of the natural drying process, will be locked in when using a polymer based sealant as this is not breathable and therefore, will not allow the moisture and salts to escape. This type of sealer creates a film on the surface of the stone. Often it is more problematic when it comes to removing this type of sealer as it wears away unevenly leaving patchy sections and requires chemical or mechanical removal once it has reached the end of its protection period.

It is not essential to seal your paving and it will not prevent it from staining altogether, however sealing generally means the paving will be easier to maintain as any soiling is less likely to penetrate into the stone. If preferred, you can leave sealing until a later stage, but if you choose to do this, it will be necessary to thoroughly clean the paving first using a product such as Pavetuf Deep Clean to ensure the surface is clean prior to sealing.

If using Pavetuf Jointing Compound, it is recommended you use this prior to sealing.