Why Textured Pavers Require Back-Blowing After Sealing

Textured pavers are not sealed the same way as smooth surfaces. Their pits and low areas can hold more product than the raised portions. If too much sealer is applied and left to collect, the result can be shiny pockets, an uneven finish or cloudy white areas later.

Why over-application creates problems

Sealer should penetrate and protect the paver, but it should not pool. Deep texture can make pooled product difficult to notice while the application is wet. As the material cures, those areas may remain noticeably glossier than the surrounding surface.

The back-blowing technique

After the sealer has had a few minutes to penetrate, an experienced applicator can use a blower to back-blow the surface. The air moves accumulated sealer out of the pits and redistributes it across the paver. This helps create a more uniform finish and reduces the risk of trapped excess product turning cloudy or white.

Experience matters

The right amount of sealer, waiting time and blower technique depend on the paver texture, porosity, temperature and weather. This is why real field experience matters more than simply following a generic application rate.

See this technique on a real Mandarin project

We used this process while completing a 5,000-square-foot driveway, pool deck, walkway and rear patio project for the Perez family in Mandarin, Jacksonville.

View the complete Perez family project →