A 2021 Guide to the Best Patio Sealer

If your patio is looking worn and tired, or maybe you are starting to see some gaps in the joints on your patio – then chances are you need to invest in a patio sealer! Replacing or patching up your patio can be an expensive and time consuming job – not only that but it is near impossible to get your patio looking like it did the first time round. We also hate how inconvenient, and sometimes dangerous, it can be when your patio flags or stones start to move when they are stepped on! Whether you have a perfect, newly laid patio area, or an older patio that is needing some work, a patio sealer can help! 

Patio sealers work in various ways to help you achieve the best value for money and the best quality from your patio. The first thing that they do is create an almost water resistant seal over the flags or stones themselves. This helps to prevent water and mould from developing in the porous gaps in your stone, which will help to ensure your flags do not crack and chip in cold, wet weather, but will also help to stop your patio developing a green or dirty coloured tinge! But this isn’t just what patio sealers are there for, many will also help to repair and seal the sand in the joints of your patio! This helps to create a more stable, secure and also attractive finish to your patio! Over time, you will find that the joints of your patio start to break away, move and disintegrate, but the best patio sealers will work to “reset” the sand so that your patio has less movement and a more uniform finish once again! 

We understand that there are MANY different patio sealers out there and it can be difficult to know which is going to be right for you, the patio itself and your garden as a whole. But, that is why we are here to help! We have found all the best patio sealers around so that you can find one that will be right for you! Our Buyer’s Guide is also there to help you know what you should be looking for when buying! 

Best Pick – Ronseal Patio & Block Paving Seal

Last update on 2024-12-12 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

In A Hurry?

The best time to apply a patio sealer after laying a new patio is after around 8 weeks – so if you are getting close to your designated date, or maybe your patio has been laid for years but is starting to look rather tired. Whatever your reason, here are some of the main things you need to look out for when purchasing a patio sealer. 

Which Patio Sealer Do I Need?

Without a doubt, the first thing that you need to look for is which patio sealer is going to be compatible and effective with your patio. Patios are made out of all different types of materials and for a long time, people with natural materials, such as indian paving, believed that they couldn’t even USE a patio sealer! But, this is just not the case! There is always going to be a type of patio sealer that you can use, it is just about finding the right one! 

• Block paving sealer – As most patio areas are made using standard block paving we thought this one should go first! Block paving sealer is going to be able to work with any type of standard, concrete block paving. It will help to seal the many gaps that form in these types of slabs and will even enhance the colour of the paving to help it to look fresh and new! 
• Natural Stone Sealers – As we mentioned above, it doesn’t matter if you have a patio that has been made from natural stone such as indian sandstone or slate, you are still going to be able to use a patio sealer to protect it like it deserves (if anything this is even more important as natural material materials tend to be more expensive!). Make sure to purchase a patio sealer compatible with natural materials, you will also usually need to opt for one that isn’t going to impact on the colour of your patio. 
• Driveway patio sealers – If you are using paving slabs or any other patio material to create a driveway, then there will be special patio sealers that you can choose from to allow for this. These are designed to specifically target the sand between the gaps in your patio to allow for more stability and less movement when heavy cars are parked on the drive. They also provide a strong sealant to the patio itself to avoid marks forming from the car driving on and off! 

Is My Patio Sealer Good Value For Money? 

One of the main things we get asked is how to know if you are getting good value for money when purchasing your patio sealer! There are two main ways that you can decide this yourself – by looking at the coverage you will achieve with one bottle and by looking at how durable and long lasting the seal will be! 

Some patio sealers need to be used from concentrate, so what you get is what you use, whereas others can be diluted which will potentially offer better value for money! Bottle sizes range from around 5L up to around 30L depending on the surface area that you are wanting to cover. The best patio sealers can usually cover around two metres squared per litre of solution. Remember to consider that some patio sealers are going to need two coats to complete a full seal, which is going to double the amount of sealer that you need to purchase. 

Once you have checked for this, look out for how long your patio sealer is estimated to last for before it is going to need resealing! Some will last up to a couple of years whereas others are only a few months! It is important to remember though, that how long your patio sealer lasts is largely dependent on how well you maintain it and what your patio is up against! If your patio is used as a driveway, or is positioned under a number of trees, then you will probably find discolouration starts to occur sooner than it would in a more advantageous location! 

Best Budget – LTP Ironwax Gloss Sealer 1 Litre

Last update on 2024-12-12 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

The Best Patio Sealers 

There are always going to be additional features that make certain patio sealers stand out from the rest! Here are those features that you need to be looking out for! 

• Application – It is definitely worth looking at how easy it is to apply your patio sealer! Some will actually come with rollers or brushes to make the process even easier, whereas others need to be sprayed on which will require you to have a spray gun to use! 
• Finish – All patio sealers are going to offer different finishes depending on what you are looking for. Most will offer either a matt or a gloss finish, which really comes down to personal preference. The gloss finish is going to help your patio stand out more, and arguably be easier to wipe down afterwards, but this does take away from the “natural” look that you may be going for! Some (usually gloss finishes) also offer colour enhancement to make the colours of your patio stand out even more. 
• Drying time – We would definitely recommend checking the drying time that comes with your patio sealer! Some will set within an hour, meaning that you are waiting for a relatively small amount of time to then use your patio, whereas others can take half a day or sometimes even more which can really cause a problem! 
• Non-toxic – We would recommend opting for a patio sealer that is non-toxic for anyone, but particularly those of you with pets or young children. 
• Grip – Some patio sealers are going to offer additional grip that is almost “built into” the sealant that forms on the surface. This is a perfect solution for anyone that has a particularly slippy driveway or path in winter! 

Best of the Rest

Last update on 2024-12-12 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Last update on 2024-12-12 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Last update on 2024-12-12 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it easy to apply a patio sealer? 

Yes! We have tried various patio sealers and they have all been nice and easy to apply! Some sealers even come with the tools to get the job done! You simply have to “paint” on the sealer to the patio surface, making sure to cover the joints as well as the flags and stones themselves, then wait for it to dry! 

How long do patio sealers last? 

On average, you will find that patio sealers will last for around 2 years providing they are well maintained in that time. This can range depending on where your patio is and what it is used for though – for example, a patio sealer on a drive may not last as long as a standard garden patio. 

How long does a patio sealer take to dry?

This will often depend on the sealer, the patio material and the weather conditions! Some take as little as 30 minutes whereas others can take up to 3 hours!