Driveway sealing and re-sanding in Teesside

What sealing actually does

A sealer on block paving does three jobs at once. It hardens the jointing sand, so the blocks stay locked and the sand resists washing out in heavy rain. It slows organic growth: weeds struggle to root in hardened joints, and algae finds less purchase on a sealed face. And it makes the surface less porous, so oil, leaves and rust sit on top where they can be treated, instead of soaking in.

What sealing does not do is rescue a poor clean. Sealer locks in whatever is underneath it, so it only ever goes on a drive that has been properly cleaned, treated and fully dried.

The re-sanding that comes first

Every block paving clean blasts out some of the kiln-dried jointing sand, and re-sanding is not optional: without it the blocks shift, the edges spread and weeds move straight back in. Once the paving is dry, fresh kiln-dried sand is brushed across the surface, worked into the joints and compacted. Sealing, where chosen, goes on top of that.

Prices across Teesside

Sealing block paving adds £5 to £8/m² depending on the sealer and coat count, so a typical two-car drive adds £200 to £400 on top of the clean. Imprinted concrete re-sealing runs £4 to £7/m². Both need two dry days, which on Teesside makes it a spring-to-autumn job.

Matt, silk or wet-look

Sealants come in finishes. Matt is invisible once cured and suits drives where you want protection without a change of look. Silk adds a light sheen that lifts the block colour. Wet-look gives the saturated, just-rained appearance that shows off brindle and charcoal mixes at their best. None affects performance, only appearance, and samples on an inconspicuous corner are a reasonable thing to ask for before committing.

Re-sealing imprinted concrete

On imprinted concrete the sealer is not an extra, it is the surface. Once water stops beading, the colour coat is exposed to UV and wear, and re-sealing every three to five years is basic maintenance. The surface is cleaned, allowed to dry bone-dry, and two coats of a compatible sealer go on. Bloom risk, the milky moisture patches under sealer, is avoided by strict dry-weather working. The sealing guide weighs up when it is worth the spend.