How Much Does It Cost to Seal and Clean Pavers? [2024 Data]

Average Cost to Seal Pavers and Clean Them

The average cost to hire a professional to clean and reseal your pavers is around $400, which assumes you have a typical patio that’s around 200 square feet.

You always need to clean your pavers before you seal them, as any dirt, moss, stains, efflorescence, or other debris left over when the sealant goes on can cause issues with bonding.

Cleaning Pavers

The cost to clean pavers is around $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot if you hire a professional.

Most of the time, you or your contractor will clean pavers by using a pressure washer. The average cost of pressure washing is anywhere from $250 to $300, though you can always rent one for a day at a lower cost. The average price to rent a pressure washer from your local home improvement store is around $50 for the day, which should be plenty of time to get the cleaning done.

If you maintain a pretty steady cleaning routine and keep your pavers spotless, you might be able to get any stains or caked-on dirt off without a pressure washer. If all you need is a paver-friendly cleaning solution and stiff-bristled broom, you might only pay $50 on average.

Sealing Pavers

Sealant prevents the pavers from eroding and creates a protective barrier to prevent stains and water damage. For a 5-gallon bucket of sealant, expect to pay around $200. A 5-gallon bucket will cover around 1,000 square feet, so you’re likely to have quite a lot leftover.

Some paver sealants come in 1-gallon jugs, which average around $40 and should cover about 200 square feet. We recommend you buy more than you need in case you need to do touch ups or a second coat.

How Much Does It Cost to Clean and Reseal Pavers per Square Foot?

In total, you should expect to pay around $2 per square foot to clean and seal pavers. The price may vary between $1 and $3 per square foot, depending on the sealant and method of cleaning.

Cleaning and Sealing Pavers Cost Breakdown

While putting a general price on cleaning and sealing is quite easy, there are a few nuisances to it you’ll need to consider. Also, it’s often better for a professional to reapply the sealant to ensure you don’t run into problems down the road, which then brings labor into the overall cost.

Materials

If your pavers are in rough shape, it’s best to give them as much TLC as possible to ensure they look brand-new again after you apply the sealant. This includes de-weeding, shining, and possibly even a small repair job.

Common material prices include:

• Herbicide: $20–$75

• Paver-safe cleaner: $15–$30

• Polymeric sand (for repairing pavers): $25–$30

• Sealant: $40–$200

• Pressure washer rental: $40–$100 per day

Labor

Hiring a concrete patio contractor near you to clean and reseal your pavers can save you money in the long run, despite needing to pay initially for the labor. The cost of labor will range anywhere from $100 to upwards of $500, depending on the amount of time and the size and scope of the project.

If you hire the paver contractor for the cleaning part of the process as well as the sealing, the state of your pavers will play a major role in your labor costs. More weeding, stain and efflorescence removal, and powerwashing the contractor needs to carry out, the longer it will take, and the more you’ll pay for labor. Paver repairs or replacements can also drive up labor costs.

Type of Sealer Costs

There are tons of paver sealers available, but they fall into two main categories: solvent-based sealers and water-based sealers.

Solvent-based sealers provide a high shine and are usually more durable, lasting for up to five years before requiring reapplication. They’re more affordable than water-based sealers, although there are some downsides, like reduced traction and issues with moisture due to a lack of breathability. Water-based sealers are usually a bit more expensive, and they require more work in some cases because some come in two parts and require that you mix them. While more expensive, they are usually breathable and penetrate the pavers for a better bond.

You can also choose between a matte finish and a glossy finish, the latter of which you’d more often see from a concrete floor finish. The finish has a minimal impact on your sealant price.

Cost to Seal Pavers Yourself

Photo: ronstik / Adobe Stock

The cost to clean and reseal pavers yourself is around $130, which includes two 1-gallon jugs of paver sealant at an average of $40 each, plus a power washer rental of $50 for one day.

We should note that you need to be thorough with the cleaning and sealing, as missing dirt or a section with the sealant can lead to further damage down the road. If you need to rent the power washer for an additional day, your average price will jump to about $180. And if you need to buy additional sealant to do spot touch-ups where you may have missed sections, you might need another $40 jug of sealant, bringing the total to $220.

Note: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be dangerous as they are highly flammable and can lead to short- and long-term adverse health effects, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It’s important to wear a respirator approved for working with sealers containing high levels of VOCs. Apply these sealers in a well-ventilated area and away from heat sources and open flames.

Cost to Clean and Seal Pavers Yourself vs. Hiring a Contractor

Cleaning and sealing concrete pavers as a DIY home improvement project will cost around $270 less than hiring a professional to do the work. The primary reason for the difference in cost is the labor.

Unfortunately, any mistakes in the cleaning and sealing process can be quite costly. Depending on the type of concrete sealant you use and the conditions in which you apply your sealant, you might have to scrape the sealant off, reclean, and reapply, which takes more time and drives up your material costs. Plus, a professional application is more likely to last longer before needing to be redone.

Hiring a professional might end up being more cost-effective if you don’t have experience with concrete sealing. The upfront cost will be higher, but your long-term costs could be lower, especially if you make mistakes in applying the sealant.

How to Save Money on Paver Sealing Costs

One way to save money when cleaning and resealing is to stay on top of cleaning pavers throughout their life span. Regularly look to remove dirt and grime by using a cleaner and stiff-bristle broom, especially after it rains or snows. This will help reduce the time it takes to clean in preparation for sealing the pavers.

Additionally, choose your sealant based on your needs, budget, and local climate. Whether you do the project yourself or hire a pro, a solvent-based sealant is going to be more affordable and will last longer before needing to be redone.

However, if you live in a humid area or where there is a high water table, a solvent-based sealant could cause issues with moisture getting trapped below the sealant, which looks unsightly. In that case, a water-based sealer will be more expensive upfront but will often save you from having to redo parts of the application, ultimately saving you money.

Matt Marandola contributed to this piece.