Sealing a Roof or Brick Pavers

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Brick pavers and cement tile roofs are very popular in South Florida. We are often called upon to prepare estimates for sealing a roof or brick pavers. Use this seal coating guide to understand your choices – find out which are a waste of money and which protect your investment and add beauty to your home or business.

Always make sure the contractor you hire is licensed, insured and bonded. Unlicensed contractors rarely have liability insurance are exempt from workers comp insurance and not bonded , and while they may be a few bucks cheaper it can end up costing you tens to hundreds of thousands in the long run. Without a license, proper insurance and bond,  you have no guarantee any potential grievance will be resolved. Worse, if serious injury occurs, the homeowner or business who hired the contractor is  liable. You can check the status of a contractor or business license in Florida by visiting the Contractors State License Board.

Sealing Brick Pavers

Seal coating brick pavers will improve the appearance of the the surface and protect it from dirt, oil and other stains and will increase its lifespan. To protect and sustain the lifespan of your brick pavers it’s imperative to maintain and protect your brick pavers.

If you’ve just installed brick pavers, or just properly pressure washed your brick pavers you should have them sealed. Pavers are held in place by a special kind of sand. Sealing your brick pavers will keep the sand joints in place, locking your bricks while providing a more stable surface. Seal coating  your pavers will also protect them from the harsh Florida sun, oil leaks, dirt, etc. Unsealed pavers erode, discolor, fade and display mold and mildew buildup.

Seal Coating Benefits Include:

  • Sealing brick pavers enhances the appeal by making the bricks color more intense.
  • Sealing brick pavers enhances the appeal by providing a slight gloss (wet look)
  • Sealing your pavers provides protection from stains and spills, like oil
  • Sealing your pavers provides protection from tire marks
  • Sealing locks holds the sand joints in place, locking the bricks in place
  • Sealing your pavers provides a waterproofed surface which is easier to keep clean
  • Sealing makes your pavers more resistant to elements

Sealing a Roof

We’re often asked to quote sealing a roof. Let’s dispel some myths. Sealing a roof is intended to extend the life of a roof and protect it from water penetration. But your roof tiles won’t be penetrated by water unless they’re cracked. Tiles are laid on a pitched (sloped) roof  allowing the water to run off the tile. Water runs from one tile tot he next until it enters the gutter. In addition, rain and sun will eventually wear off the seal coating away in approximately 2 years. If you’re promised more then this, ask for it in writing with a warranty to back it up.

Sealing a roof is often also sold as a way to reduce your electric bill. Roof sealing will not lower your power bill – a clean roof will. A dirty roof (black in color) will get hot, increase the temperature in your attic and cause your A/C to run more often, raising your electric bills.

Sealing a roof  will enhance the look of your roof tiles temporarily, but the harsh Florida weather will wear the coating off in no time and the roof sealer will flake and peel (which isn’t attractive at all!). Like your pavers that look great after a fresh coat of sealer, after 1 to 2 years, the pavers will need another coat to regain the “wet look”.  The same goes for your roof. And even though you sealed your roof tiles, they will still get dirty and attract mildew.

Sealing a roof can be very expensive and it is not a long term solution. Save your money! Fiddler Roof Cleaning offers quality paver sealing at competitive prices and roof cleaning that can be done from the ground using eco-friendly materials. Do this every 2 years and your roof will never get dirty. We guarantee this writing!

Some people think that is sealing cement roof tiles, they will gain many years of clean roof. The strong Florida sun and weather will wear of the sealer and after only 2 years, the surfaces will need to be sealed again, like the sealer on a paved driveway. Now, before applying a coat of sealer, the roofs must be completely mildew sanitized (apply bleach solution) and power wash with high pressure to remove any contaminates that might interfere with a good bond between coats. Apply a coat of sealer can cost up 5 times more than regular roof cleaning and it would not last more than 2 years since that new mildew will grow on the wear of sealer.

Save your money! One sealer application can buy you 5 roof cleanings.

Fiddler Roof Cleaning proudly introduces ECO-ROOF. An environmentally safe product that can be applied from the ground without walking on your roof. If applying every 2 years, your roof will never ever get dirty and that is a guaranty we provide. Learn more.