Natural stones like porcelain, Yorkstone, and limestone are beautiful and durable additions to any outdoor space. They provide a timeless aesthetic that can enhance the charm of your garden or patio. However, just like any outdoor feature, they can start to show signs of wear and tear over time due to constant exposure to the elements and foot traffic.
To keep your stones looking their best, you’ll need to keep to a sealing routine to preserve their beauty. Resealing helps protect the surface of your stones from staining, weather damage, and general wear, ensuring they maintain their appearance and longevity. However, depending on what paving you have laid, it may need sealing more regularly than other stones, or even not at all!
At Bridge Street Stone, we've put together this guide to help you determine if your natural stone paving needs resealing, and if so, when to get the job done!
The perfect environment for stone sealing
For the best results, you need to pick the ideal day to seal your stones. It needs to be mild and dry, so anywhere from 10°C to 30°C should work just fine. With autumn just around the corner, now's a great time to get it done before winter since it's not too hot and not too cold, both of which will affect the way your sealant dries. If it's quite warm out, wait until your stones are out of direct sunlight. This way, the sun won't make your sealant dry too quickly, leaving your stone patchy and uneven. And of course, check the weather forecast to make sure you’re not expecting any rain for at least a couple days to give the sealant a chance to properly dry down.
What kinds of paving need sealing?
Most stones need sealing to keep them looking their best for as long as possible. This goes for Indian Sandstone paving and limestone paving especially, since both of these stones are porous. Sealing prevents any weather damage and also stops moisture, stains, and algae from growing on their surface. Yorkstone paving also needs to be sealed because it’s also porous, and not doing so can potentially cause damage to the stone’s surface over time. Porcelain paving however, is the exception to this rule and does not usually need to be sealed. There are exceptions to this rule, so always speak to your paving provider and follow their direction for the best outcomes. Typically though, these stones are naturally robust and durable.
Is it time to reseal your paving?
How often you need to seal your stones depends on the type of stone and the environment they're in. Generally, stones like limestone, Yorkstone, and porcelain should be sealed every 1 to 3 years. However, if they're in high-traffic areas or exposed to harsh weather, you might need to seal them more frequently. Keep an eye out for signs of wear, like fading or water soaking in, to know when it’s time to reseal.
If you need any assistance on deciding whether it’s time to reseal your paving, our team is always on hand! You can get in touch with us by giving us a call at 01282 860571 or sending an email to salesoffice@stonepaving.co.uk and we’ll be happy to assist you!