Note: These Steps will work on Failed Brick Paver, Stamped Concrete, and Decorative Concrete Sealers.
Brick Paver Sealers are different than regular concrete sealers in that they:
- Darken the appearance by giving a “wet” look.
- Can give a gloss appearance that ranges between satin to high gloss.
- Helps solidify joint sand.
- Film on the surface somewhat instead of penetrating completely into the concrete.
Unfortunately, Brick Paver and Decorative Concrete Sealers sometimes fail by discoloring and turning milky white or yellow in color. Typically this happens for one of these reasons:
- Moisture was trapped under sealer.
- Efflorescence (white salt deposits) was not removed prior to sealer application.
- Sealer used was low grade causing the acrylic in the sealer to blush white from the sun. Please stay away from sealers sold at Big Box Stores!
- A buildup of too many coats through the years or excessive over application.
- Use of a polymeric sand. This is actually the fault of these types of sand. If you do not remove all the sand from the surface of the pavers, the sand can turn white under the paver sealer.
In many cases applying a solvent to the pavers will “reset” the sealer, making the white haze disappear. This usually works for trapped moisture and if you have sealer buildup. Unfortunately, if the white haze is from something else then you will need to strip off all of the old sealer and start over. This is not a fun process but it is better than replacing everything!
Please follow these steps to ensure success:
- You will need to buy a brick paver sealer stripper. They typically cover 100-200 square feet per gallon.
- Cover all delicate shrubs, vegetation, furniture, etc. with plastic sheeting. Tape plastic sheeting to home if near area to be cleaned.
- Use protective clothing, gloves, and eyewear. The use of a charcoal filter respirator is suggested.
- Using a paint try and paint roller, apply the paver sealer stripper in a section of about 100 square feet. This stripper is very thick and applies like a paste. *If you apply too much stripper at one time you will run the risk of it drying before you get a chance to pressure wash.
- Wait about 10 minutes after applying the stripper then pressure wash off the old sealer. This can be messy as the sealer “peels” off in white pieces. Best to push this into the grass or dirt areas.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 until completed.
- If needed spot strip any areas that did not come clean after the first attempt. If old sealer is excessively thick, you may need to repeat the entire process.
If you plan on resealing the pavers it is best to remove as much as possible of the old sealer. If you do not there is a strong chance that the “white haze” will come back in those areas.
The Brick Paver Sealers we sell are not prone to discoloring when used on concrete that is free of any old sealers. Main reason is that they are all “breathable” sealers which greatly reduces any chance of the dreaded “white haze”.
If you have any questions please ask below.
I purchased a previously owned home in South Florida 5 years ago. Both the lanai and driveway are made with brick pavers. I was told they were originally sealed with a water based sealer and I resealed both areas with a water based sealer 4 years ago. A year ago the driveway started to develop a milky look on the surface but the lanai did not get this way. Can the driveway water based sealer be stripped and then re-sealed with a solvent based sealer?
It should be able to be stripped. Reply back in the comments with some pics of the issues.
Sorry for the delayed response. Thanks in advance for your assistance. See attached photos.
Yes, you can strip this. Try this while pressure washing:
https://www.opwdecks.com/concrete-and-paver-sealer-stripper-5-gallon.htm
When done, use this last:
https://www.opwdecks.com/cleaner-degreaser.htm
When I have successfully performed the recommended steps, will I be able to reseal with a solvent based sealer or do I have to use a water based sealer again?
Yes.
I have stone pavers on my pool deck and driveway. The pool deck was initially sealed with a water base sealer. Then hired a independent guy that convinced me to lay solvent sealer instead. The deck got all haze up, so we stripped it all and applied Ure Seal H2O sealer.. Now my pool deck is all haze up worse than before however, the driveway has barely few spots.. A company want a charge me almost $5,000 just to do my pool deck.. I want to it myself… What kinda advice can you give me.
Use this product to strip with a pressure washer as well:https://www.opwdecks.com/concrete-and-paver-sealer-stripper-5-gallon.htm
Use this after to clean stripper residue:https://www.opwdecks.com/cleaner-degreaser.htm
I have stone pavers.. Not a concrete pavers??
Does not matter.
Will the SureStrip stripper work for water based sealer removal? Thanks!
If the old sealer is acrylic-based, then yes.
Have cement pavers on my lanai & sealer got on my lanai drain channel … how may I remove the sealer from the metal channel.
Try xylene solvent.
If you want to “reset” the sealer with solvent, how do you apply it? Do you apply it and let it evaporate or rinse it after a certain amount of time?
Just apply it with a pump sprayer to a clean and dry surface and then let it dry for an hour or two.
This is the picture
No idea. We do not use their products as they have poor results.
This is after I used bio strip from seal n lock. Does anyone know why it looks blotchy?
Pictures
Another picture
These are some pictures
Cannot tell. Picture is blurry.
The people doing my pavers applied a stripper then pressure clean pavers with lots of sealer buildup.. for the most part it was good but in our entrance lots of pavers have a lot of white haze which they did not have before.. what can I do?? Thanks!!!
Post some pictures in comment area.
How can i remove sealer to an interior exposed brick wall. Used Behr wet look recommended by my brother. Alot of the brick dried a lighter peach color. When they were wet when i cleaned them they were a beautiful brick red. My brother said the Behr should have made it look like it did when wet, a darker brick color. I want to see if there is a way to remove the sealer and try a differnt one. Can i sand it off with a wire disk attachment or sanding disk? I saw the comments about the stripper then power washing. But how when the wall is inside?
Only way to remove is to apply the stripper and pressure wash off. Nothing else will work.
I had this happen to some lawn edging blocks when I applied block sealer when wet some blocks look very dark blocks could the geofix patio joining compound have got under the paving sealer on the bricks ? Is it fixable I should add looks normal when dry
You would have to strip off the sealer.
Thanks can you buy a product to strip this off in the UK
No idea. We do not live there.
I applied the Behr Wet Seal to my pavers and they look like nothing happened. I applied 3 coats and I noticed at night there is a tiny shine but during the day it looks the same or worse than before (lighter or more pale). Can I just apply another sealant that has a higher gloss to get the look I am looking for?
No, you will need to strip off the Behr first: https://www.opwdecks.com/paver-sealer-stripper.htm
i sealed my brick on a deck with behr wet look water base sealer and the next day white blotches appeared
You will need to strip as the above article explains. The Behr sealer is a very poor brand, BTW.
Here are the pics
Here are the pics
I have a seven year old paving stone patio that had polymeric sand added and then sealed. It rained within two hours of applying a sealer. Now we have what looks to be sand deposits on the stones. Can’t tell if solvent or stripping is necessary. Can you help.
You will need to strip it all off and then use a cleaner after to remove the poly sand haze/dust.
We just sealed white/grey brick pavers with white grout with a concrete sealer, and as the sealer was drying it turned the the pavers and grout yellow in some spots! Is there anything we can do about this? If we try to remove the sealer will the yellow come off of the grout or are our bricks permanently damaged? Help
You would have to chemically strip it to fix it.
Why would this happen?
After sealing over Unilock and Polymeric sand, a candle wax like build up has formed over some of the sand lines. What is this and how can it be fixed?
Not sure. Best to ask Unilock for help.
Hi this is our new patio I’ve just sealed it and this has happened can you recommend anything to remove it please ?
https://www.opwdecks.com/paver-sealer-stripper.htm
Hi,
I applied Behr wet sealer to my patio pavers and quickly turned out to be a DIY nightmare. I tried to powerwash it off but it didn’t work Can this be stripped down? Any advice to remove this crap of a product and restore my pavers. I’m desperate and any help is much appreciated. Thank you.
Yes, you will have to strip it: https://www.opwdecks.com/paver-sealer-stripper.htm
Do you think it will return back to the original color?. Can you tell me how to apply the sealer? Roller? Sprayer? Do I wipe away the residue or power washer it?. Sorry for all of the questions. Thank you for your help.
Roll it on then pressure wash it off. It should remove it all.
How do I buy? Doesn’t seem to be available? Do you sell samples?
The stripper is unavailable for the time being but hopefully back in stock soon. No samples are available.
Is this available for order? How do I order? Can I try a sample?
You can order here: https://www.opwdecks.com/paver-sealer-stripper.htm
No samples are available.
I used the 10 year Behr sealer on my brick pavers it only lasted 1 year turned white I have pressure washed used stripper 3 times and I still have a mess very disappointed in behr product
Earlier this year we had pavers installed. When the dear lee was applied a white residue was left. We asked the contractor and he said that’s never happened to him before and he thinks the sealer didn’t have time to dry. Is this something that can be fixed? Today he tried to power wash it see last picture. He said he’s going to paint over the sealer with concrete paint. What do you suggest?
Don’t paint it. Try applying xylene to the steps and see if that fixes it.
Thank you for your response. I googled xylene and this is what I got. Looks like it can not be used in California. Is there something else you can recommend?
Maybe lacquer thinner.
I used a big box wet look sealer last summer on my brand new flagstone patio. It looked great for about 6 months and now is very dull. We had alot of rain, which caused mold/mildew buildup particularly in the joints. After powerwashing the mold and mildew away I noticed the sealer is peeling like old paint. What can I use to get this old sealer off and apply a new sealer that will also act as a mold and mildew protectant. I would prefer something that also has the wet look. Thank you.
Wet look sealers will not work for natural stone like flagstone. Blotchy and can lead to peeling. You would have to strip to remove: https://www.opwdecks.com/paver-sealer-stripper.htm
Thanks, what would I use after stripping to seal?
https://www.opwdecks.com/m-non-gloss.htm
I had pressure washed and sealed my pavers after a month it turned a white filmed.can this be taken off by another pressure wash.
No, no you need a stripper.
How to get Paver sand off of pavers and in the joints that hardened like a rock, looks like dried cement, tried chipping it away but doesn’t all come off
You will have to fully strip it all off.
Strip the hardened sand that dried like cement with what kind of solvent or stripper. Tried chipping it away but it doesn’t come off cleanly.
https://www.opwdecks.com/paver-sealer-stripper.htm
I applied one coat of sealer in am and came back in late afternoon with second coat and this hapoed. How do I resolve this problem? Thank you
Try using xylene on those spots.
Dear Sir/Madam, These pavers are about 20 years old and have excessive white haze and sealer residue. They have been pressure-cleaned and sealed 4-5 times, last time 2 years ago.
Do you recommend stepping them, or sandblasting?
I have a contractor telling me the must be sandblasted, but have seen postings saying don’t sandblasted aged pavers as that an create future problems/damage.
Also, can you recommend a stripper and sealer for this type of job?
Any suggestions on protecting pool water – is plastic covering taped around border needed?
I live in South Florida if that makes a difference.
Thank you in advance,
Ken
You will have to strip this: https://www.opwdecks.com/paver-sealer-stripper.htm
Once removed, reseal with the Super Seal 25 or Supreme Shield SB-600. The stripper cannot get in the pool. No easy way to protect.
Just applied first coat of sealer, after 40 minutes had light shower, few white spots appeared, Will they go when I apply second coat
Probably but that would depend on the sealer brand and type.
We purchased some pavers from one of the big box stores to make a patio and applied Valspar wet look sealer. We applied four coats as after the first couple of coats we couldn’t tell that any sealer was applied. The pavers
still have the dull color. What can I used to remove the sealer without damaging the pavers so I can reseal with another product?
We are currently out of paver stripper due to changes in laws in the USA as to what chemicals can be used. We are due to have our newer and improved version back in stock in March.
The sealers was applied when the weather was crappy!is there a chance it will be ok once it’s completely dry?
No, it doesn’t just go away.
I just had these pavers put it and now they have white stains on them which it believe is efflorescence. The contractor said he prepped the pavers before he sealed them but it doesn’t appear that way to me. What is your opinion? And how can I fix this ?
Did he already seal them? It does not look like efflorescence.
Yes
Looks like it is part of the brick. A wet look sealer probably would have darkened it up so much or all of it did not show.
The first picture shows right after the sealer was applied, looks great right? A couple of days later white started to come out and then just water from the pool started to stain the pavers. The contractor thinks it was so hot the day they applied that the sealer never fully cured. He wants to come back in the spring to apply an acetone. Do you think this will solve the problem, will it remove the stains? I live in Montreal Canada, our winters are pretty intense, will the cold make it worse?
Acetone will not fix this. Not sure what will.
I’ve recently peeled and sealed about 1800 square feet of brick pavers and doing this there was a 10 x 10 area that I missed when I was pulling the sealer off and sealed over that area not noticing it till now how do I get how do I read strip the pavers without damaging the pavers around it
Not possible to spot strip without having surrounding areas being stripped as well.
Will this work on brick around the pool? Is it safe? Thanks!
You cannot get this in the pool water.
Thanks. Is there anything that you can recommend to remove this? It looks terrible 🙁
Sorry but nothing we have will work and be safe that close to the water.
I have a flagstone patio which, over the years, I have sealed with the BEHR stone sealer from the big box store.
This year after the snow melted, we noted that the sealer was peeling up in many areas; in the areas that had not peeled up, the flagstone was quite dark.
We used the Klean Strip Stripper to try to remove the sealer and then used a power brush to brush off the dried stripper. The stone now appears milky white and hazy.
Thinking that the sealer was not fully removed, I put another coat of stripper on and removed it with a brush….however the stone remains white.
It has rained many times since however when the stone dries, it appears white and hazy.
I would really appreciate your advice
Apply this, let dwell for 10 minutes, the pressure wash off. It cannot dry: https://www.opwdecks.com/paver-sealer-stripper.htm
Final cleaning with this: https://www.opwdecks.com/cleaner-degreaser.htm
We have brick pavers in the kitchen that have turned yellow in the grout from years and years of cleaning the bricks with mop and glow!(previous owners) what stripper can I use inside the house?? Please help!
Sorry, but there is not a product that we sell that can be used inside a house.
Will this stripper kill nearby plants/shrubs?
You should cover nearby plants so they do not get damaged.
my patio sealer has blisterd all over what is the best way to get rid of it
Depends on the brand you used? Pictures would help as well.
The pic never posted
Looks like clay tiles.
Do you think this is a brick or a tile ?
We stripped twice and are left with the haze. We do not want to reseal but want to keep it natural looking .what can we do to remove this white haze?
If that is soap residue then try this to clean it off: https://www.opwdecks.com/cleaner-degreaser.htm
If it is still old sealer, you will need to continue to strip it off.
Hard to tell, but a little acetone tested on it cleaned it off like new. Is that ok to use? I assume these are brick pavers. They are like a tile. About 1.2 inch thick.
Sure if it removes it. Those are brick pavers.
I meant 1/2″ thick on my reply
What is the best brick Paver stripper
See this: https://www.opwdecks.com/paver-sealer-stripper.htm
Here is a picture to illustrate the issue
Is this the same solution for bricks on a house? I had my house repointed, then had a water proofer/sealer applied to the whole house. In several areas it has turned milky white on the bricks and mortar and looks horrible. If you wet it, it temporarily fades away, but then comes right back. Sounds like applying the solvent might solve the problem? Help please!
No this will not work as it is not the same issue. Your issue is completely different. Unfortunately, we do not have anything that will work for this.
I did the same thing to my house and I can’t find a product to remove the clear sealer I applied do you get yours off ?
I have not – but Maximum Strength Deck Stripper by Thompson’s was recommended. I am a little nervous to use it however, since it is not for masonry.
That will not work.
X what is the best product to use to strip the pavers
https://www.opwdecks.com/paver-sealer-stripper.htm
Hi I recently had our pavers sanded and sealed. At first it looked great. A few days later it looked terrible. Contractor said it is colder out so it should be better when it warms up. It will be 60 tomorrow. I am afraid that it was a temperature issue with the sealer or sand issue. First pic is the day sealer was applied second was a few days later. What do you think? Any advice would be appreciated
It will need to be stripped to fix. Looks like it could be sand stuck to the top of the surface under the sealer.
Moisture in sealed pavers, I don’t think this patio had enough time to dry after being wet. When we sealed with SRW low luster the pavers appeared dry but I think moisture was below. How can I fix this problem
It may just need another coat as tumbled pavers are very porous. Do a test spot.
Ok, I planned on another coat but I didn’t want to make it worse by putting more sealer on and further trapping in moisture. I’ve been in business 18 years, first time I have seen this and the first one where I didn’t personally put down the sealer. So I could just need another coat. Howevere it stays wet like this for days. We have had a lot of rain and the sprinklers are on a lot. The grass outside the area is soaked.
Applied Solvent sealer to pavers looked great . Half hour later unexpected Tian shower, now white spots everywhere? Suggestions
Apply this to fix: https://www.opwdecks.com/aromatic-100-solvent.htm
I have applied a patio sealer mixed with some patio powder dye it has dried but if I rub my hand across the slabs it comes off and also the black comes off onto my feet any suggestions please