Leave to dry thoroughly for at least a week before continuing, you want any sand in the joints to be dry before you continue. Choose the application method for the sealant depending on product’s recommendations – ideally use a roller or sprayer, but have a paintbrush on hand to smooth out any pools of liquid

After final coat, make sure patio will be protected from rain for several hours. Ideally leave 24 hours of no rain and no traffic on the surface to ensure a full cure. Sealers that are mixed with polyurethane resin are best for a long-lasting, high-gloss finish . Acrylic is a common alternative to polyurethane. These may need reapplying more often, but are generally less expensive to buy.

My Top Recommended Patio Sealers

If your patio is starting to look a little dull and tired, patio sealer can give it a new lease of life, adding a gloss or matt finish to the stones and improving the richness of their colour. Offering good value for money, this Everbuild 405 Path & Patio Seal comes with enough product to coat a large patio at least twice (if not three times). After application it is important that the stone surface is kept completely dry through the curing process, up to 72 hours. Any moisture or water left on the surface within this time may result in the sealer drying inconsistent showing hard to remove white patches The best patio sealers for creating a matt finish are ‘impregnating’ sealers that seal the holes in the porous patio material instead of adding a protective layer over the top. Solvent Based vs Non-Solvent Based The following information will help you make an informed decision when looking for a patio sealer, as well as give you tips on how to use it.

PatioSeal creates a layer over the stones that makes them easier to clean, and it can help repel dirt, water, and oil. If you like to have BBQs on your patio during summer, but hate the messy grease stains that they leave behind, the surface should get much fewer stains after applying this sealer. To seal the patio without changing the appearance of the stones, you might want to look for an ‘impregnating sealer’ . These are absorbed into the porous stones instead of sitting on top of them. In terms of conditions, most sealers shouldn’t be applied if either the air or surface temperature is below 5°C. You should also avoid applying the sealer if temperatures are above 30°C.Solvent sealers with polyurethane create a particularly tough seal. It’s a good choice to go for if you want an extremely high gloss finish, as the gloss doesn’t dull easily over time. It comes as 2 x 5 L bottles, which, according to the manufacturer, is sufficient to cover 100 m ² (each bottle covers 50 m²). However, in reality it is unlikely to achieve such expansive coverage. To give yourself the best chance of successfully applying patio sealer, you need to choose the right time of year as well as a dry weather window.

One of the best sealants to buy on a budget, the Bond It Patio Paving Sealer comes in a 5 L bottle and brings out the natural colour of paving stones without breaking the bank. Application can be done with a paintbrush or roller, and it spreads on easily. As with the majority of these products, if the sealer is allowed to pool during application, it will leave white marks when it rains – so beware! During application, the acrylic-based sealer shouldn’t be allowed to pool, as this can lead to white spots and marks remaining visible once it dries. If spraying on an uneven surface, it can be more difficult to ensure no puddles form, and a brush may be required as well as a sprayer. It can be used in bathrooms and kitchens with stone or slate floors, as well as on concrete, slate, patios and other porous surfaces. The finished effect looks as though the stone is damp, which brings out richer tones and colours. Apply two to three coats (depending on instructions) and leave sufficient time to dry between coats.Can be more suitable for indoor use, or just more pleasant to apply in general, as there’s less smell