Return to the Gardening with Stone Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
would you seal flagstones?
| | |
Posted by poorowner Northern CA (My Page) on Fri, Jul 20, 07 at 14:44
| my contractor almsot finished the flag stone patio he said would pressure wash it and apply a sealer. That is if I want the "wet look"
The stones mortared down and grouted.
I don't mind the wet look but first of all I don't have much clue what sealer he will be using, then how would I maintain it later? Or should I leave it all natural?
So I want to know your opinions, if I call a sealer product place for their opinion of course they are going to try to sell me a sealer.
|
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
| My opinion: don't use it. My advice: don't use it. We are talking about natural stone and not concrete aren't we? |
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
| Hello.. it's natural flagstone with brick edge, some quartz in it makes a glitter to contrast with the dull look. should I let them pressure wash it though? My only gripe is the grout clean up was kind of sloppy and maybe a pressure washer would clean it up better. |
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
| What do you mean by your last sentence, if there are gobs of mortar on the stone a pressure washer won't take them off. How bad is it? |
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
| hmmm, I don't think I'd seal it. I've been building a stone retaining wall/flower bed and I thought about sealing it becase I really like the way it looks wet, but I have moss growing and don't want to mess that up... I probably didn't read this correctly, but you know the sealer won't get the sloppy concrete up, right? Pressure washing..I don't know. I'd THINK it would be okay, but maybe someone who knows more could chime in...again, I wouldn't want to pressure wash my wall because of the moss and plants, but you probably don't want moss growing on a patio. Please post a picture! Suzie |
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
| Hello, I don't have any pictures but the stones are very nice and mortared together. It does look better when wet, so I am thinking of sealing it because I have alot more landcaping to do and I always make the patio muddy.. and I also like to have dinner /BBQ outside so it would guard against spills etc. So far I found this solvent based sealers from Aldon, I am not associated with them just found their site very detailed. Has anyone used their product. |
Here is a link that might be useful: aldon website
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
| poorowner, did you ever seal the flagstone? If so, how do you like it? I've got the same question as my wife wants them sealed but I'm thinking no. Ours in in dirt, around a pool, and will have ground-cover between the stones. She thinks that by sealing it, we will always have the wet look, and also it will keep the white dust from perculating up. |
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
- Posted by lancer Mid Atlantic (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 29, 07 at 12:05
| I have a flagstone on cement slab patio that is about 2 years old. A contractor is recommending I seal the patio. What is the benefit of sealing a stone-on-cement patio? does it prevent water from seaping into mortar joints? Does that keep it protected during the winter freezing months? Thanks |
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
| Hello all, getting back to this topic. It has almost been a year I let the patio unsealed and all the efflorescence (white powdery built up) came out of the stones and looked terrible. Also the grout haze was bothering me from the beginning. Here are some pictures after I used an acid to wash and scrub every stone and brick. This reduced grout haze and removed efflorescene.. it's also a good prep before applying a sealer, which should prevent the efflorescene from coming back. It looks very clean after the acid wash and I can almost live with this look, here are some pictures before the sealer is applied. 
More pictures to come.. |
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
| Here is the patio after sealed with a solvent based sealer. I know some people might prefer unsealed but I feel this give a little boost of color and protection. (and, it is supposed to stop efflorescence) I think it needs to be redone every few years as nothing is made to endure the intense sun here. Any comments? 
|
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
| I have a question for Poorowner - which flastone did you use for your patio? The flagstone shown on the photos look great! I do prefer the sealed look. Thanks, |
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
| Hi.. unfortunately I don't know the name of the flagstone, I went to the landscape yard to pick out the batch for the contractor to use. But it's a colorful variety with alot of quartz (as you see the shine from the unsealed pictures those, from are the quartz). You should be able to find the same in your area. We like it alot, I was worried it was going to be too colorful but it's just what was needed as a focal point. |
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
- Posted by miae Seattle (My Page) on
Thu, Jul 3, 08 at 12:42
| I think it is Gold Rush Quartzite... Thank you for the quick response. |
RE: would you seal flagstones?
| | |
| What type/brand did you use? Did you do this yourself? If so, was it difficult? Looks Great! |
|
|
|
|
