Homeowner Shares Their Solution To Update Driveway Pavers On A Budget
Driveway pavers add serious curb appeal to your home. They're incredibly durable and are one of the popular driveway materials that are permeable. That means water can run through them and soak into the ground beneath, preventing puddling or large amounts of water runoff. However, because pavers are long-lasting, you may end up wanting to change up their look before it's time to replace them. That's how TikToker @kjg_home felt, leading her to try a budget-friendly paver makeover that's now held up for over 2 years. The inexpensive makeover in question? Applying a colored sealant.
A colored sealer is exactly what it sounds like: a product that seals and protects from stains while also boosting or changing the pavers' colors. Tinted sealers are available in formulas to restore sun-bleached pavers or in tints that can give pavers a whole new look. Since the cost of professionally installing a new paver driveway can range from $10 to $70 per square foot (not including removal of the old material), a tinted sealer is an attractive option for anyone looking for an inexpensive way to revamp their driveway.
The addition of inexpensive colored sealant transformed this driveway
Getting rid of in-good-conditions pavers seemed like a waste, so @kjg_home planned a £300 (roughly $400 USD) makeover that took 2 days to complete. The process was fairly simple. First, she power-washed the pavers and allowed plenty of time for them to dry. Then she applied three coats of the tinted sealer, using light gray on the main path and dark gray on the border. As a final step, she brushed some sand into the cracks between the pavers. After 2 years, she reports that her DIY makeover has held up beautifully.
@kjg_home Driveway Makeover! So almost 2 yrs ago I wanted to change up my driveway I wanted it to work better with the aesthetics of my house but had a quote to replace it, which would have cost over £10k!! The thing was, that the actual paving was in good condition but did need a good clean as it does every year. Like I said the paving was all good so it seemed stupid to spend that kind of money. So we did our research and found a coloured sealant specifically for this kind of thing. This is from @smartsealuk and you can get it in other colours too. The first time we did it, I did 3 coats and used a darker colour for the borders. Super easy to put on as you can see. The whole job took less than 2 days (half a day for pressure washing and making sure the floor is completely dry, the second day for 3 coats on a sunny warm day) Total price....£300! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 Now the question I get asked is-how has it held up??? Well every year I like to pressure wash my driveway anyway to clean moss and debris as it's a north facing driveway and for the first time this year some little chips have come away (if you have a south facing driveway this might not be needed) I have a tin that I keep and it costs around £100 but this will last 2x putting it on. So I have done one new coat this year to top it up and make it look new So it's since cost me £50 to top up in the 2 yrs I've had it. (May be different for you as the size of your driveway may differ) I personally think it was a brilliant solution to transform my driveway! #diyproject #drivewaycleaning #drivewaygoals #cleaninghack #diyhacks #exteriormakeover #drivewaymakeover .
If you're feeling inspired to tackle this project, there are a few things you need to know. First, not all sealers are made for all pavers. Choose one specifically formulated for your paver material (e.g., brick, concrete, or natural stone). You'll also want to focus on technique. The best way to apply paver sealer to your patio or driveway is to use a sprayer and a roller.
If your pavers are simply faded, you can opt for a color-enhancing sealer. However, if you want to completely change up the pavers' color, you'll need a tinted sealer or a bottle of paver colorant that you add to your sealer of choice. And don't forget about the finish. Sealers are available in a variety of finishes, which may include matte, low-gloss, satin, high-gloss, and wet-look. Each of these can significantly change the appearance of your driveway, but there are some downsides you need to know about wet-look paver sealers, so be sure you're confident in your choice before applying.