How to Seal Clay Pavers in 2024
Tips and advice on the Best Clay Paver Sealers
Clay pavers have been used in hardscape designs for many years. They can transform a garden path, driveway, sidewalk, or patio into an elegant surface. Left to the elements, clay pavers will weather over time. Moisture and ultraviolet rays are the two worst enemies of clay pavers.
Clay pavers can be sealed to delay the effects of weathering and enhance their beauty. The pavers should first be cleaned using a pressure washer. Remove any dirt, grime, moss, or weeds growing between the pavers. Be sure to wear personal protection equipment, especially safety glasses. Pressure washing pavers is messy, and flying debris is common. Once the pavers are clean, allow them to dry for a day or two. Install new joint sand if necessary.
Not all paver sealers will work on clay pavers. Use a siloxane-based sealer like SuperSeal M or Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent to provide protection but not change the appearance of the bricks. Stay away from shiny paver sealers, as they do not seal evenly and will result in a blotchy finish. You can use a “wet look” sealer that will enhance the color as long as it does not create a gloss. Surebond SB-6000 would be a good example.
When sealing clay pavers use a quality pump sprayer. A brush or roller can be used but a pump sprayer is best. Seal all the clay pavers and all the sand joints as well. This helps lock the whole clay paver system together by solidifying the sand. Locking moisture out and deterring weeds and moss from growing is the key to keeping your clay paver areas looking good.
All types of clay paver designs can be sealed to increase their longevity and help keep a clean appearance. Whether it is a paver patio, landscape wall, driveway, or sidewalk, sealed clay pavers will last for a while without weathering. Protect your clay paver investment and perform regular maintenance as needed, and you will enjoy them for many years.
Feel free to ask a question on sealing Clay Pavers in the comment area below.
In the above narrative you say it’s OK to use the SB 6000 wet look sealer to enhance the colors on clay brick pavers. Below in the questions you say you can not use a wet look sealer. Please advise which is correct. Thanks
SEK/Surebond states SB-6000 can be used on clay pavers.
I have clay paver patio resanded last month with polymeric sand. Looking to stabilize the sand joints and ideally to enhance color. Can I use SB 1300 and the top with SB 600 as it mentions in the specs? We are from a northern climate.
No, just use the SB-600. No need for the SB-1300.
What about SB 8700?
Yes.
Hi,
I am looking to seal a clay brick patio. Which sealer would you recommend to seal the brick and harden the joint sand to prevent weeds.
https://www.brickpaversealer.com/sb-1300
Our veteran memorial in Sun City Center has about 6500 clay pavers installed. Of those 6500 pavers right now about 1200 are veteran laser engraved bricks. We continue to sell and install engraved bricks at the memorial. When we receive engraved bricks from the engraver I simply remove an un-engraved brick and replace it with an engraved brick. All of the clay bricks need to be cleaned and sealed and sanded. My concern is if that is done can I continue to replace the un-engraved pavers with an engraved paver. Also, the engraved pavers CANNOT be cleaned with a power washer. I must use a The engraving company recommends cleaning with Techniseal Organic Stain Remover , or 2010 All Surface Cleaner by Enviro Klean or a similar product and a recommended water based sealer (clay bricks) – ProSoCo Consolideck Saltguard WB. Can you please advise me how to proceed regarding sanding, cleaning , and sealing. Thank you.
Clean with their suggested cleaners and then seal with Super Seal-M
https://www.brickpaversealer.com/m-non-gloss
Do the Superseal M or the Masonry saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent actually bond the sand to the CLAY BLOCK
to give a solid surface impervious to weed growth i.e no fissure between block and sand.
Thank you
No, neither of these sealers will harden the sand. No sealer will bond the sand to clay blocks.
I relaid my 20-year-old patio with existing concrete holland pavers and sprayed and back rolled Surebond 1300 to seal the patio and stabilize the sand joints. My pavers are now somewhat blotchy, it is just random dark spots like after a rain when they dry unevenly. Should I have acid-washed the pavers before sealing? Can this be fixed?
That looks like you had moisture trapped in the pavers when you applied the sealer. It cannot be “fixed” but it should go away over time.
Thank You
I’ve got 10 to15 year old clay pavers around a salt water pool. I’ve got to pull up one side, along the new fence & redo the paver base, reset pavers & then do joints. What is a good sealer to do whole area?
You need a non-gloss and non-wet look sealer for clay pavers. Try this: https://www.brickpaversealer.com/m-non-gloss
Thank you
Can these clay bricks be sealed once cleaned please.someone sealed once before and it all peeled of and foamed up when it rains.
As long as you remove all the previous sealer, then yes.
What with? as I was told not to have it sealed after the last company sealed it and it all peeled of ?what would cause this to happen thanks
Use a siloxane-based sealer like SuperSeal M or Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent that will provide protection but will not change the appearance of the bricks.
They used the wrong type of sealer.
Thanks
Installing clay pavers on a project. Client is concerned about using polymeric sand. Paver supplier suggested using jointing sand and SB 1300 to stabilize joint sand. Is this ok to do?
Yes. https://www.brickpaversealer.com/sb-1300
If you could help . I have a Blockleys clay paved drive way which has never been sealed after cleaning I intend to resand and seal the blocks could you pleaserecommend a suitable sealer ? .
Many thanks Mr Davies
You cannot use a wet look or gloss sealer for clay pavers, it will be very blotchty.
What about a tinted sealer?
No.
Does this also properly seal the sand that is used between the clay bricks? What sort of sand do you recommend? I am repairing/refilling seams between my bricks and thsi is not a new job/installation, so am not blowing out all existing material ebtween the bricks.
No, the sealers mentioned above will not harden sand. You could try polymeric sand for this.
We have brick pavers for flooring inside our home. They are set on durarock. They were sealed and then grouted, cleaned and resealed for finishing. The sealer does not fill the porous surface. We want a finish to smooth the surface that has low gloss and high gloss options. What do you recommend?
There is not a coating that we know that will do this.
Thank you
I’m wondering what the best way is to seal clay pavers. I’ve already tried a couple of times with no luck.
My first attempt was to wash them with diluted muriatic acid and re-seal
with a water based sealer ( I don’t remember what I used). They looked
good for awhile but within six months they were faded again.
My second attempt was to remove the old sealer and try etching a little
more without gouging the pavers using a wet sandblaster. It seemed to
work. I ended up with a uniform dull finish. Then I sealed with HGX
Paver Sealer (solvent-based high gloss). I had the same result. It
looked great for awhile but was dull after about 6 months.
I’m attaching a photo.
Wet look and gloss sealers do not work well on Clay pavers and we do not suggest using these types of sealers on them. Wet look and gloss sealers are for concrete pavers.
Photo attached
Are you asking about the white? That is not mold or mildew but either efflorescence salts or calcium deposits leaching from the bricks. A sealer will not prevent to stop this.
No – these bricks are clean. The white is old morter. These are reclaimed. The picture is just for reference so you can see the type of brick I’m trying to protect.
To seal from mildew/mold, try this sealer: https://www.brickpaversealer.com/m-non-gloss
Looking for a sealer recommendation for the clay pavers shown in the attached photo. These are reclaimed Georgia brick – over 100 years old. After a few rains they start to develop mold on them I’m trying to print that from happening. Do you have a recommendation?
Troy
prevent that from happening.
PLEASE ADVISE contracter used polymeric sand in 1/2” joints and it rained , sand came out of joints and stuck to surface of old distressed clay bricks . More polymeric sand was applied to joints but now I need to clean bricks seal and stabilize joints, what stabilizer joint product should I use in joints to protect and hold polymeric sand.
What sealer should I use Super Seal M or Masonary saver heavy duty water repellant
Can I also use SB-6000 on top of bricks and polymeric sand joints for wet look ?
You must remove all the poly sand that is stuck to the top of the bricks first. Once you prep correctly, reapply the poly sand correctly, you can then use the Surebond SB-1300. A wet look sealer will not work for clay bricks.
well noted on Surebond SB 1300 thank you!
Pls help to advise on sealer
Do you recomend Super sealer M or Masonry saver heavy duty water repellant?
Also pls. help to advise on stabilizer joint product
Thank you for your help,
Debra
The SB-1300 is a sealer and joint stabilizer, you cannot apply another sealer on top of it nor would it be needed.
What is a good sealer for this pour is used brick patio
https://www.brickpaversealer.com/m-non-gloss
Just removed all old joint sand and replaced it with Alliance G2. There’s residual polymerized sand in the surface of the clay bricks, making the surface gritty. Any suggestions re how this can be removed without disturbing the new joints?
You would need to ask Alliance on this one.
how can you tell the differance between clay and concrete pavers, do not know what sealer to use
Post a picture.
How long will it last in Arizona hot sun
Which sealer?
We have a clay brick pathway we’re looking to stabilize and seal (in the process of evening-out sunken bricks with new sand). What would you recommend? Most of the pathway is shaded the vast majority of the time, and we do live in an area that gets snow in the winter. Thanks!!
Look at this product to seal: https://www.brickpaversealer.com/m-non-gloss
Thanks so much for the quick reply! Does this also stabilize?
No, it does not stabilize the sand.
I have a clay paver drive way, but there is always rures amrk amd dirt on it as we drive over it, what can I do to illuminate this
You can seal them with this. https://www.brickpaversealer.com/m-non-gloss
What is best sealer remover for white on pavers on the acrylic sealer I just used
Please post a picture and what sealer brand did you use?
We have what I’ve been told is called Mexican Clay brick on our patio. It seems dull already… I’m getting mixed advice on should we seal?
Wet look sealers that enhance the color will, unfortunately, not work well for clay pavers. Dries very blotchy. Wet look sealers do work very well for concrete pavers.
should I seal the clay pavers before or after the polymer sand is applied … or both before and after? I am concerned about the dust from the sand getting into the pores of the bricks.
I installed clay pavers last summer. Since then, they have lost their luster and appear dull and blotchy. I did not seal them. When they are wet they look great. Any suggestions?
H Roger, try the Surebond SB-6000.
You can seal them but as the article states, you should not use a filming or shiny type sealer.
I have been told by a reputable brick company that you should not seal clay pavers as it will cause them to effloress. Is that correct or can you seal clay pavers. If you can seal them, what do you recommend? Is the same process used that is used to seal concrete pavers?