Patio and block-paving sealant question

We’ve had the patio jetwashed. He’s coming back on Tues to do the block-paved drive too, and then to apply (by roller) https://www.screwfix.com/p/thompsons-one-coat-patio-block-paving-seal-clear-5ltr/63998#product_additional_details_container to the by-then dry patio. I’m OK with that, seems fine in principle.

My question is around the same stuff on the block paving. Clearly it’ll need to dry first, so maybe a day or two later. But should the paving be sanded first, or after? It’s not entirely clear from the instructions on the tin. My man-logic says to sand afterwards, otherwise the application process will just re-spread sand all over the blocks. Any useful experiences?

(I don’t really need “It’s snake oil, don’t bother” cos SWMBO has already decreed its happening, and it was bought with the balance left over on a discount card. So it was sort of free, effectively 😄)

Edit – sorry about the url, dunno why that doesn’t work

If it is the same stuff as Thompson Waterseal, just spray/brush it onto the clean surface you want to waterproof and leave it to dry. After that you can do what you like with the sand.

Don’t seal it.  Once the sealant finish starts to go.. it looks way worse and is then a right pita to remove / re do.

Chemicals, always with the chemicals

I wouldn’t want to apply that personally. It sounds ghastly from the safety data.

Whether it works I have no idea

I wouldn’t want to apply that personally. It sounds ghastly from the safety data.

My thoughts too, but it ain’t my decision. Which is partially why I’m p*ssing about on a nice sunny afternoon moving planters off the front drive ‘n’ such like, instead of out on the bike. FFS

I applied polyurethane coat to our block patio one year, made no difference whatsoever to how dirty it got over winter. Total waste of time / effort.

I appreciate that you don’t have any choice. I’ve tried that and similar products twice, mainly to try to seal the top surface of the sand and stop weeds getting in. It looks good initially, but after about 6 months you might as well not have bothered, except the pavers are a bit darker. If you’ve done the whole drive, the darker colour isn’t an issue, but if you did part as a test, you then have to clean it off to get them matching again.

Regarding weeds, cleaning out the old sand and putting clean new sand in didn’t work either, looking at my paving now, the only way to keep weeds out is to keep walking over the area.

If you want to inject a modicum of enjoyment into patio and block paving maintenance in particular, get a gas lance or better still a thermic lance and blitz the weeds now and again while supping a brew. Surprisingly therapeutic.

Once you get on top of the weeds it’s fairly painless. Plus I get to use up the near empty gas canisters in my camping box

Ps I was joking about the thermic lance.

If you want to inject a modicum of enjoyment into patio and block paving maintenance in particular, get a gas lance or better still a thermic lance and blitz the weeds now and again while supping a brew.

If you’ve got the means to make a brew….. just pouring boiling water on weeds will kill them

I used a product called smart seal on my block pave drive and it’s kept it looking really good for a few years now but really it does need doing again

I made the mistake of sanding and then applying the sealant with a roller that dragged some of the sand out of the joints and it then lay sealed on top of the blocks

Next time I do it I’m going to sand first but spray the sealant instead of roller.

Go to pavingexpert.com and read about sealants.