How to Seal Engraved Brick Pavers

Sealing engraved brick pavers is easy, yet it requires special sealer applicator to ensure thin coverage on engraved areas. Here's how to seal brick pavers from start to finish..

Tools and Materials

• Detergent
• Oxygen Bleach
• Stiff Floor Brush
• Acetone Stripper
• Garden Hose
• Joint Stabilizing Sealer (or Penetrating Sealer)
• Mask
• Masking Tape
• Long-Handled Paint Roller
• Micro-fiber Applicator

Step 1 – Clean the Bricks

Vacuum off dirt and debris, and remove weeds.

Brick pavers are usually installed in an interlocking way, with joint sand underneath the bricks that serves as a material that holds the bricks together. With this, do not use a power washer to wash the surface of the brick paver. A simple garden hose will do. The pressure from the power washer can wash away the sand underneath the bricks and you might have to replace the washed sand (which means extra work) to level the surface.

Create a soap solution with water and detergent in 50:50 parts. Add oxygen bleach on the solution to help kill algae, molds and other living organisms that are living and thriving on the surface of the bricks. Brush the floor with a stiff floor brush until the surface is free from dirt, oil and stains. Rinse with water. Allow to dry completely. If the brick paver is new, you may proceed to Step 3. If there is old sealer on the surface, continue with the steps below.

Step 2 – More Surface Prepping

Purchase acetone stripper and apply it on the surface with a paintbrush or roller brush. Let it stay for 5 minutes and then brush the surface with a stiff floor brush. Rinse the surface to wash away the chemical residue and peeled old sealer. Allow to dry thoroughly before sanding the surface with medium grit sandpaper block. Vacuum the entire area again to remove sanding remains.

Step 3 – Seal

Get the micro-fiber applicator and the sealer and then put on your mask. Begin applying sealer on the engraved areas first. Micro-fiber applicator is the perfect tool to use when applying sealers on engraved areas wherein the aim is to achieve a very thin coat. Allow to dry for 2 to 4 hours. While the engraved areas are drying, you may begin applying sealer on non-engraved areas immediately.

Get the paint roller and spread a medium to thick coat on non-engraved areas. Roll the sealer in one direction only. This is to prevent the roller from lifting the joint sand, which usually happens when you roll on and off a paint roller on brick stones atop joint sand. Allow to dry for 2 to 4 hours.

Apply a second coat on the engraved areas using the micro-fiber applicator again, and on the non-engraved areas using the paint roller. Allow to dry for 2 to 4 hours if you plant to add another coat. Allow to dry for 48 hours before resuming the regular traffic flow in the area.