Does Wet Look Sealer Make Pavers Slippery?

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Before applying wet look sealer to your pavers, it is important to know if this kind of sealer makes them slippery. We've conducted thorough research on wet look paver sealants, and here's everything you need to know.

A wet look sealer will not make your pavers slippery. It only creates a wet and glossy look but it doesn't make the surface wet, so you won't have to worry about slipping on your pavers when you use it. A safer way to ensure this is by applying an anti-slip additive onto your pavers.

As a homeowner, it's perfectly understandable that you value the safety of your family as well as your own. There are several kinds of wet paver sealers, each of them has there own advantages. We are here to help you know more about the different types of wet sealers.

Wet Look Paver Sealers

People often wonder if wet look sealers make pavers slippery. These sealants only look wet and glossy but they are not slippery, especially when applied properly. It's advisable to hire professionals to apply this kind of sealant because they have the skills and experience to do so correctly.

Pavers need to be sealed. These sealants are made to support and steady the joints. They also offer protection against harsh weather conditions, dirt, and debris.

Different brands of sealants have distinct uses. Some are weather-resistant, some prevent algae, molds, and mildew. Others are non-toxic and safe for the environment.

Most wet paver sealers are solvent-based penetrating substances. These sealants are not designed to make pavers look shiny. As the name suggests, wet paver sealers have that glossy and wet look that enhances their appearance. These sealers give your pavers an aesthetically pleasing look and offer extra protection at the same time.

Best Wet Paver Sealants

1. MasonrySaver Decorative Concrete Sealer

MasonrySaver Sealer is a water-based sealant that's environmentally friendly, and it is by far the best wet paver sealer on the market. It is a non-yellowing acrylic polymer that is made for properly cured stamped concrete pavers.

It protects concrete from deterioration and discoloration caused by scraping and exposure to UV light. Keep in mind that this sealer can also be applied on surfaces that have previously been sealed with water and solvent-based sealers without causing any issues.

When it comes to giving your pavers a wet look, it does darken the surface but it is not as effective as solvent-based sealers. The pavers' glossy and wet look starts fading after around 2 years of applying this sealant.

Check out MasonrySaver sealer on Amazon.

2. Surebond SB-6000 Wet Look Sealer

Surebond SB-6000 Sealer seals and enriches the natural colors of pavers with an elegant, wet appearance. This kind of sealant is breathable and it will also prevent efflorescence, making it possible to apply this sealant immediately after installing your pavers.

This sealer has freeze-thaw resistance, and it boosts durability while also providing protection against acid, salt, and stains. It is also water-based which makes it non-toxic.

SB-6000 offers a better job in darkening brick pavers and giving them a rich wet look. Keep in mind that it has a milky white color when applied and gets crystal clear when it dries. It's also not designed to make your pavers have a shiny look.

It is the best sealant if you prefer a wet look for your pavers with little to no gloss. One drawback of using SB-6000 is that it is more expensive than most other sealant brands.

Check out the Surebond SB-6000 on Amazon.

3. Supreme Shield SB-600 Wet Look Sealer

The major difference between the other sealers is that Supreme Shield SB-600 is a solvent-based penetrating sealer. Keep in mind that solvent-based sealants are toxic. When applied, this sealant releases toxins into the atmosphere.

Supreme Shield SB is built for stamped concrete, concrete pavers, and other concrete surfaces. Applying this sealant enhances the natural color of your pavers and gives them a wet look without the shiny and plastic appearance that traditional film-forming sealants have.

The biggest advantage of using this sealer is that it gives the richest wet look among the aforementioned sealants. Once applied, the pavers are protected against oil and staining. Efflorescence and yellowing are only visible after 2 years.

Check out the Supreme Shield SB 600 on Amazon.

How To Apply Wet Look Paver Sealers

If you want to use a wet look sealant on your pavers to give your patio, driveway, or walkway a new look, you may be thinking of ways to apply it. Applying paver sealers is not that hard if you have some pointers on how to do it.

Before applying sealers, you may want to wait for at least 30 to 90 days until your pavers are already dry.

Find out more about this topic by reading our article on the length of time you need to wait before sealing your pavers.

Before starting your project, make sure that you have every material you need. This includes a wet look sealant, rubber gloves for safety purposes, and a garden hose with a spray nozzle.

To avoid any future problems, make sure that there is no foot traffic for at least 24 hours before applying the sealant to your pavers.

This is because you will have to clean your pavers and remove any debris, dust, molds, and weeds to guarantee that the sealant works properly.

Use long, even, and consistent strokes when applying your wet look paver sealer to ensure that you don't miss any parts of your pavers. Do this gently so that all the areas are covered - this will result in less work for you.

After the wet look sealant has been applied, it requires approximately 6 hours for it to cure - this depends on which sealer you used. Experts recommend waiting for at least a day before you can step on freshly-sealed pavers.

Also, it's best to wait at least 3 days before driving or placing heavy materials on them such as pots, tables, and chairs. By doing this, you can avoid damaging freshly-sealed pavers.

Clean your pavers thoroughly

As mentioned earlier, it is important to clean your pavers to remove any stains, debris, or mold. You will also have to uproot the weeds in between the paving joints. By doing all these, you can avoid debris from being trapped underneath your sealant.

There are various methods and materials you can use to clean your pavers. If you want less extensive work, you can use a pressure washer, However, you must be careful with this because it can damage your pavers.

Read our article on whether you can pressure wash pavers to find out more about this topic.

You can also use other chemicals and substances to clean your pavers. Make sure to let them dry before applying the sealant.

Sand the joints in between your pavers

Once you are finished cleaning your pavers, the next thing you have to do is to put sand in the joints. Make sure not to use sand that is too fine and too round because it will not allow the sealer to flow into the joints.

Pour the sand carefully into the joints. Sweep the surface to remove any excess sand.

Apply the wet look sealant on your pavers

There are two materials you can use to seal your pavers: rollers or sprayers. It's better to use sprayers rather than rollers because using the latter is makes the surface uneven. In addition, the biggest downside to using rollers is that the rollers can remove the joint sand, and spread it over the surface. Using sprayers will ensure a more even application.

Check out this sprayer on Amazon.

A reasonable situation to use rollers is when your sealants are too thick, Otherwise, using a sprayer is more advisable. If you use water-based sealants, it's best to use a spray sealer.

How Do You Stop Your Pavers From Being Slippery?

If you are still worried that your pavers will get slippery when you use wet paver sealers, you can apply an anti-skid additive that you can mix in with the sealant before it dries.

Aside from this, there are also other ways to stop your pavers from being slippery. The first thing you have to do is to clean the pavers and remove anything that can make them slippery such as moss and mildew. You can also apply a surface treatment to lessen the slipperiness of your pavers.

In Closing

Now that you know all about wet look sealers, we hope this information will help you decide which sealant you can use to achieve the best look for your pavers.