So, how do you seal a patio laid with natural stone?
This article explains how to seal a natural stone patio with one of the three main products you could choose.
The sealer you ultimately select will be decided by the following factors.
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- Whether you wish to retain a totally unaltered appearance.
- Do you wish to colour enhance the surface?
- Is a sheen required or not?
- The type of stone.
We will also recommend which natural stone sealer is most appropriate based on the type of stone.
You can click through to the specific product pages by clicking the product titles highlighted in blue at the foot of the page.
1. Sealing with Floorseal Natural Stone Sealer Breathe.
This breathable impregnator can be applied to any porous natural stone, clay-based tile, concrete, or porous pointing material. It is water based, low odour, and dries rapidly. Apply twice, ‘wet on wet’ approximately 40 minutes, to an hour apart.
Apply to any new or older existing porous natural stone patio or paver.
Natural Stone Sealer Breathe is fully breathable, so suitable for any situation where moisture vapour transmission is required. Or equally, any application where you do not wish to alter the appearance of the surface in any way.
This product does not alter the appearance of natural stone, visually it will remain exactly as it was prior to sealing. For that reason, it must be described as matt finish. This product could also be described as ‘no finish’ as the sealing polymers become meshed into the pores of the stone, they do not form a film, lacquer or surface coating.
It is not a surface sealant so will not create a sheen. Therefore, it is the most natural way to seal any natural stone – the product is –
- Water-based.
- Low odour.
- Solvent free (no VOCs are contained within the product)
- Rapid drying.
- A natural unaltered matt finish.
- Fully breathable.
- Suitable for newly laid patios where moisture vapour transfer is still occurring.
- Does not alter surface colour or sheen.
- Does not form a surface skin or coating.
The types of stone this sealer is best suited for are:-
- Raj sandstone.
- Mint fossil sandstone.
- York sandstone.
- Rainbow sandstone.
- Any sandstone where an unaltered appearance is paramount.
- Kandla grey sandstone and plain grey sandstones which cannot be colour enhanced.
- Slate where a totally unaltered finish is required.
- Limestone.
- Concretes.
- Honed porous granite.
- Natural stone where altering appearance is not required.
- Natural stone where breathability is required.
- Any porous newly laid patios where moisture vapour transfer is still occurring.
Apply this product twice, approximately an hour apart removing any excess after each application. To achieve a consistent finish with ease, we recommend using a pump sprayer as this covers well regardless of texture and will give you the best coverage rates.
1 litre covers approximately 8m2, the 2nd consecutive application will cover approximately 16m2.
2. Sealing with Floorseal Natural Stone Colour Enhancer.
This colour enhancing impregnator can be applied to any porous natural stone, clay-based tile, or paver. It can also be applied to any porous pointing or jointing material.
It is water-based, low odour, and dries rapidly. Apply twice, ‘wet on wet’ approximately 40 minutes, to an hour apart.
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Natural Stone Colour Enhancer is similar to Natural Stone Sealer Breathe. It is a fully breathable matt finish sealer, but in addition to this, it will slightly deepen the colour of the stone.
The effect is a little like slightly dampening with water but without a sheen or visible lacquer/coating.
This product seals the stone but also leaves the surface with a totally natural matt, but subtle colour enhanced finish. The sealer does not form a skin, lacquer or surface coating.
Therefore, this sealer is a natural way to seal any porous stone and enhance the natural colours and hues. This product is:-
- Water-based.
- Low odour.
- Solvent free (no VOCs are contained within the product)
- Rapid drying.
- A subtle colour enhanced natural matt finish.
- Fully breathable.
- Suitable for newly laid patios where moisture vapour transfer is still occurring.
- Does not create a sheen.
- Does not form a surface skin or coating.
The types of stone this sealer is best suited for are natural stone which can be colour enhanced:-
- Raj sandstone.
- Mint fossil sandstone.
- Rainbow sandstone.
- Colourful Indian sandstones.
- York sandstone.
- Any sandstone with natural earthy colour.
- Slate – where slight colour enhancement is desirable.
- Clay-based block paver & bricks.
- Pale limestone.
- *Grey or black limestone.
- Natural stone where breathability is required.
- Any porous newly laid patios where moisture vapour transfer is still occurring.
Apply Natural Stone Colour Enhancer twice, approximately an hour apart removing any excess after each application. We recommend using a pump sprayer for optimal coverage and a nice even distribution.
1 litre covers approximately 8m2, the 2nd consecutive application will cover approximately 16m2.
*To seal and fully colour enhance faded black or grey limestones please use Floorseal Black Limestone Restorer. This sealer will deepen the colour of black or grey limestone to its maximum depth of colour.
3. Sealing with Natural Stone Sealer Wet Look.
Natural Stone Sealer Wet Look is a topical sealer which dries on the surface to create a sheen.
This wet look patio sealer will also slightly deepen surface colours.
It is water-based, low odour, and dries rapidly. Apply the first coat followed by the 2nd approximately 60-90 minutes later.
Only apply two thin coats with a microfibre flat mop, this ensures no puddling or pooling can occur.
Natural Stone Sealer Wet Look is a topical sealer which creates a sheen and slightly deepens colour.
This natural stone sealer is:-
- Water-based.
- Low odour.
- Solvent free. (no VOCs are contained in the product)
- Rapid drying.
- A topical sealer with a sheen.
- Semi-breathable.
- Does form a surface skin or coating.
The types of material this sealer is best suited for are very porous surfaces:-
- Indian sandstone.
- Colourful sandstones.
- York stone.
- Clay-based block paver & bricks.
- Porous concretes.
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Apply Natural Stone Sealer Wet Look in two thin coats, approximately 60-90 minutes apart.
1 litre covers approximately 20m2 per coat, please allow for two coats.
In conclusion
Natural Stone Sealer Breathe – A breathable sealer which resists water & oil-based staining & inhibits organic growth. It will not change the appearance of the surface it is applied to. Once sealed the surface still retains a totally unaltered matt finish. Resists water & oil-based staining and inhibits organic growth.
Suitable for sealing any porous natural stone like sandstone, slate & limestone and clay-based tile, block paving and concrete. Recommended for Kandla Grey or plain grey sawn sandstones.
Natural Stone Colour Enhancer – A breathable sealer which resists water & oil-based staining & inhibits organic growth. Similar to Natural Stone Sealer Breathe but deepens colour to create a subtle colour enhanced natural matt finish. Resists water & oil-based staining and inhibits organic growth.
Suitable for sealing porous natural stone like sandstone, slate & limestone and clay-based tile, block paving and concrete. Ideal for colourful sandstones like raj, mint fossil & rainbow. Also clay-based block pavers, slate & limestone.
Natural Stone Sealer Wet Look – A semi breathable topical sealer which creates a sheen and slightly deepens colour. Resists water & oil-based staining and inhibits organic growth.
What is the best sealer for sealing natural stone?
So in answer to the question of how to seal a natural patio, we have shown that there is a range of sealants that will do the job. Whilst we think there is no ‘best’ sealer the products we think are most suitable are sub-surface breathable sealers.
The reason we recommend this group of sealers is because, particularly on external stone, they leave a natural matt finish which cannot trap moisture. The two products we recommend are:-
Natural Stone Sealer Breathe this sealer resists water & oil-based staining. It is not visible on the surface as a sheen or lacquer and allows vapour transmission. There is absolutely no alteration of colour or visible sheen to the stone, it is fully breathable and can be applied to any natural porous stone or clay-based material.
Natural Stone Colour Enhancer which works in the same way as Natural Stone Sealer Breathe. But this sealer also slightly enhances colour in an understated natural way. The product is both a sealer and a subtle colour enhancer which picks out natural colour. The sealer is again not visible on the surface as a sheen or lacquer, it is also fully breathable. It can be applied to any porous natural stone or clay based material.
Please note for black limestones which have faded, have been acid damaged or simply require maximum depth of colour please use Floorseal Black Limestone Restorer. This product can also be used on faded or worn slates, it is both a sealer and a very powerful colour enhancer. It is, however, not recommended for sandstone without prior consultation with Floorseal.
Further information
Please Click Here to view our products & accessories for cleaning and sealing natural stone. This includes all of our handy ‘how to’ guides for cleaning and sealing interior and exterior natural stone.
The information contained within this article is not exhaustive. If you need further information please contact Floorseal on (01484) 861461 or email us Info@floorseal.co.uk our web address is www.floorseal.co.uk
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor
