Patio sealer: the best patio sealers tested for price and durability

I decided to update this review because I used a new product recently on a clients patio. The Everbuild 405 Path and Patio Seal Paving Sealer is quite exceptional. I didn’t have to do anything fancy after we cleaned off the block paving, I simply went at it with a standard garden sprayer. You can use the link to grab one if necessary. We applied three coats. This product is so good at keeping moisture and dirt out that you lose a little of the aesthetics you get from a wet sandstone – you probably want to look for a drier look as the colours aren’t quite so vibrant but block block paving, patios, and concrete it’ll give the whole area a big lift.

However, with that said, I know plenty of people that have used this to great effect on sandstone with just a couple of coats but it should be made very very clear, you will lose a bit of the lovely vibrant colour you have.

To give you an idea when using this product, the patio we did was about 4m by 5m. So about 20m2 in total. We got round the patio three times with a pretty generous coating each time. Don’t try your luck with the weather. It needs to be bone dry. The drier the stone, the better the absorption of the sealant, that simple.

To avoid disappointing results do things right. Make sure your patio is cleaned and clear of dust. Make sure it’s completely free of weeds and you’ve used a pressure washer to blast any lichen and algae out of the pores of the stone – basically do the very best to clean it as anything not removed will never be as it’ll be sealed in! Use a quality weed killer and patio cleaner if necessary. Only then, once you’ve done the leg work is it time to apply the sealer. If you don’t follow these steps, all patio sealer will seem disappointing!

From a price point, hard wearing as it is, and ease of application I would say this is one of my top picks – many professionals use this.

Pros:

• Quality product at excellent money
• Professionals use this
• Excellent finish to patios

Cons:

• Some have weeds grow through

My first pick for silk (what I would call semi-gloss) finish is the Smartseal Block Paving Sealer – Silk Finish and it gives a nice wet ish look! The only product in my opinion that comes anywhere near it, is Everbuild and Sika. Naturally the Smartseal Block Paving Sealer – Matt Finish is another top notch product but for a different look. The only difference is the amount of sheen of course.

There is no doubt in my mind that if you like a silk finish, this is the best block paving sealer. You can really lift block paving with this:

As you can see this patio hasn’t really been looked after, and I’m not criticising, I’ve let mine get worse in patches before now, pre lockdown, running around busy all the time!

Your block paving can go from zero to hero over the course of a few days. This might well be exciting and inspiring to look at but one must consider there’s a fair amount of hard work to get from a to b.

You’ll need to de-weed and then use an ultra strong weed killer. I personally like Barclay Gallup when I really want to purge weeds hard. Then, get out your most powerful pressure washer and clean, clean away. Honestly, the hardest bit is the prep work. Once you have those steps sorted you get a roller and roll on SmartSeals miracle solution and you too will restore a five or ten year old grubby looking block paving to near new condition.

This formula also hardens sand so it’ll go a long way to keeping weeds at bay for a fair while. If you take the steps above and really put the leg work in you’ll give this amazing product a chance to work to its full potential.

There’s really nothing to say negatively about this product. I would love to bring some balance but it’s really top notch. You could argue it’s pricey, but let’s be honest, you get what you pay for and to me value is never expensive. You’ll get about 25m2 out of one 25 litre can per coat. You want to apply at least two coats. The second coat can be thinner but the hard work is the prep, you might as well give it a really deep sheen and as much chance of holding back any weed seeds as possible. The thicker the coating, the better the durability and deeper the sheen if you like a glossy look.

Do not forget, bone dry is your secret weapon for all block paving sealing. Clean your patio thoroughly and give it a week to dry out. This is a job for the middle of summer and cross your fingers we get a week without rain and plenty of sun so get your block paving sealer now and keep it ready for the right weather in the next couple of weeks.

Pros:

• Looks great
• Nice and silky
• Seals very well
• Easy to apply

Cons:

• Occasional unhappy customer!

The first thing that’ll throw you when you pop open the lid if a slightly milky colour, don’t panic, this is perfectly normal. It’s like PVA glue in the sense it drys clear but has a white milky look prior to setting.

Let’s be clear about something. Sika have made a name producing high quality products used commercially, everyday. In my professional life (away from the fun I have reviewing cool products I use), I use Sika products to stop water ingress. I also know people that swear by Sika 4A water stop in the building trade. So when you look at the price point here, and availability in 5 litres, this is a great choice if you want to seal the patio for sensible money.

For me, it has the distinct advantage of being pretty easily applied with a garden sprayer. Now, I know you find that a little contradictory because the ‘thicker’ the better so to speak, but a couple of coats really really does work with this product. And when I say work, I mean it’ll sheen nicely, not too glossy. I can see you processing the information right now “if I had Indian sandstone, I might only go with one coat to minimise the impact on appearance” you say to yourself, but durability and protection wise two is the way to go, cleaning stains out of stone is killer, so a little loss in aesthetics for a far easier clean is my preference. Cost wise, this is a great product and certainly the average review online would back this statement up.

It’ll help with mould and algae too. If you have that problem, take a look at my algae remover article. Never go into patio sealing half hearted. Almost every single negative review you will find online of my favourite picks will have a root cause problem, simply, a lack of preparation. Don’t be that 1%! Clean and clear weeds well. You will love the results.

You’ll get about 20m2 from a 5 litre container, that’s two coats so pretty similar to the Everbuild. It’ll dry off pretty quick in direct sunlight. Keep the kids and pets off for the day is my best advice, after that, you’ll be good to go.

Pros:

• This is a solvent-free formulation.
• It is non-flammable in nature.
• It produces very low odour.
• It is dustproof.
• It also helps to prevent the growth of fungus and mould.

Cons:

• More expensive than Everbuild

Smartseal Imprinted Concrete Sealer is designed specifically for concrete patios. Concrete imprinted patios will with no exaggeration, begin to look like new. The sealer itself is super easy to apply and it will

In terms of application, it’s really very easy. It goes without saying make sure the concrete is clean and dust free. You simply brush it on with a soft broom. Wait a couple of hours and you can walk on it. You want to make sure of two things, firstly, it’s a bone dry day and the concrete is bone dry too. Secondly, when you brush on a second coat, make sure that you can easily walk on the first coat without pulling it up. To be really sure, on a hot summers day, give it a good few hours in direct contact with sunlight and you’ll be ready to lay the second coat.

One thing to watch for, make sure if it’s a really hot day that you don’t mess about. As you brush it on, do so quickly and move on, if you try to brush into a patch you laid just before, you’ll potentially leave marks and not allow it to ‘settle’ so to speak. Apart from that you can’t go wrong. A handy tip that!

Then watch the magic. It is no exaggeration as I said before, to be amazed by the results of this product. It will make a ten year old install look like new. Very rarely do I use a product and feel overwhelmed by the results. This is a very rare product, Smartseal have really got this one in the bag. I don’t often include a picture, but you can expect results like these:

Being as potent and quality as it is, you want decent PPE. A good face mask will help with the smell.

Pros:

• Lovely wet look
• Well priced
• Easy to apply with a soft natural bristle broom.

Cons:

• A bit of a smell on application

Let’s assume you’ve got lovely Indian Sandstone and the colours are vibrant and beautiful – and you don’t want to lay on a sealer that gives a glossy effect – in a sense I agree – it can detract from the look considerably. The best options is Smartseal Natural Stone Sealer – the dry finish version.

Let’s be honest, this is an extremely expensive product so you’ve high hopes for a quality finish. Well here’s what you can expect from the manufacturer:

And yes it does what it says, the protection is definitely there – some people use this as a means to stop leaks on stone baths! No questioning the quality of the product against rain then!

It’s just a simple case of whether or not you can justify the cost – if you’ve spent big on the stone it might be that you really want to maintain the look – fine, use this then, if you were just curious and don’t mind losing a bit of aesthetic you can probably go and read the Sika or Everbuild review. Many have used those to great effect on their sandstone. Of course this is a bit subjective because everyone has a different idea about what looks good!

Pros:

• Keep your original natural stone colour
• Easy to apply
• Real protection

Cons:

• The price is the only drawback

This is basically exactly the same product as the Smartseal Block Paving Sealer – Silk Finish. The only difference is that it is matt. So if you like the dull look then pick this one. I couldn’t really leave it out as the products are sold separately and I didn’t want you to miss the chance of buying this amazing product just because you were looking for a matt finish.

If there’s anything to add to the review of it’s sister above, I would say make sure you have a face covering when applying it as it has an odour, and give it a couple of hours between coats if the weathers nice and hot. If it’s not a great day, you should wait for one and keep an eye on the weather forecast. Make sure it’s totally dry before applying the sealer and that there’s no rain forecast that day will save you from time wasted and material costs too. Pay attention to the instructions on drying times for your block paving after cleaning and you won’t go wrong.

The only other piece of advice I can offer is don’t try to muck about with a sprayer, buy a roller and go at it. You won’t need to spend that much time rolling and it’ll be a nice even finish.

This is yet another great patio sealer we have on our list. This product is designed to provide you with advanced protection for paving. With the use of this performance sealer, you can easily seal and protect against chemicals and dirt.

Not just that, but it is also meant to resist the penetration of fuels and oils. This means you can achieve complete protection from Ronseal, as you might expect for such a great name over the years.

The product contains an effective biocide which helps it to prevent the growth of moss and algae. Using this sealer you can both protect and improve the appearance of your patio.

The product has also received good reviews from the users. If you are looking for something that can give you maximum protection then this is the perfect fit for you. Also, the product is available at an affordable cost.

Pros:

• It is meant to provide you with advanced protection.
• It prevents the growth of algae and moss.
• It is resistant against penetration.
• It seals and protects against dirt and chemicals.

Cons:

• Need to use enough to get a wet look so some have had disappointing results

Rycal for me has a decent balance between cost and performance Sika and Everbuild. If you don’t want to shell out for the top notch product ergo Smartseal, this is going to do a pretty decent job at half the money. But as always, you get what you pay for in this world and with Everbuild being less money now I find this a tough one to buy.

With 4 plus star ratings online, this is one of the best sealers available on the list. This is a professional-grade product and is exactly what you need to protect your patios and other pathways on a budget. You’ll get about one good roller coat, covering around 40m2 well (not patchy). You can use a garden sprayer too but you won’t get quite so much cover.

This ready to use clear sealant have been the best-selling product. With the use of this product, you can add an attractive finish to your patio. It gives a gloss finish which is fine if you’re into that finish.

It spreads and dries easily, provides excellent resistance against rains and is also 100% UVA and fade resistant.

The best part is that it can be used for all types of blocks, flags, pattern imprint. It’s a great allrounder and will protect against spills and is pretty good at repelling moisture as well as helping to protect against weeds and mould.

Pros:

• This is a quality block and concrete sealer.
• It can be used for all types of blocks.
• It protects your blocks from damage.
• Ideal product on a budget.
• Prevents moss and weed growth.

Cons:

• Touch buy when Sika and Everbuild are same money.

Adseal is a quality product and I feel it needed including to bring a little balance given I have three Smartseal products on this review. They have a decent video to see you through the process which I agree with in principle:

If you like a ‘wet’ looking finish, want to get over 60m2 out of a big tin, and are looking for an easy to apply sealer then this one is a safe bet. Adseal is a commercial grade, high quality block paving sealer that’s now available direct to homes.

The product is designed to be used for all types of block paving, imprinted concrete and slabs. The best thing is that this sealant is easier to apply. You don’t have to struggle or put in much effort in the process. All you need is a roller, or spray or a brush to apply the sealant and then wait for the results.

The sealant is a solvent-based product and thus, it dries up quickly. It adds a tough and glossy finish which make your blocks look wet and bright again.

Pros:

• It is a quality product.
• It adds an excellent glossy finish.
• It is shipped for free.
• It dries quickly.
• It is easy to apply.

Cons:

• Some complaints of durability

Last but definitely not least, is Resiblock. Launched in 1993 in the UK, Resiblock happens to be one of the best products in the market for reliability and after sales care. It provides you with no oil stains guarantee.

The product provides you with a matt finish and can last up to 5 years, and it’s easy to apply but like all great patio sealing, much relies on preparation. You’ll need to follow the exact same steps noted in the SmartSeal review. Personally, for the cost, I prefer SmartSeal. This isn’t to say this isn’t a great product. Not at all, I feel this is exactly and every bit as good as SmartSeal but costs significantly more.

It can be rolled on easily and make no mistake, will produce brilliant results on your patio. The drying time is pretty standard and in keeping with the rest of the reviews here.

Pros:

• Prevents the growth of weeds.
• Prevents your patio from getting stained.
• Can last up to 5 years.

Cons:

• Way more expensive than an already quality SmartSeal

So, these are some of the best patio sealers available. With any of these products, you can easily keep your patio protected. Also, it helps you in improving your appearance.