Staining or dyeing block paving - Staining or dyeing block paving

[jonparker1]

My block paved driveway has been down for nearly 20 years and has lost some of it's original colour. I didn't realize how much of the colour had faded until i recently widened the driveway. The original colour of the blocks was charcoal, but when you see the old blocks next to the newly laid blocks they look a completely different colour and it spoils the look of the driveway. Is there any product that i can use to dye or stain the old blocks to match the newly laid charcoal ones ? or is there a good quality coloured sealer that i could use that will give me an even colour over the entire driveway. Thanks, Jon.

[DNgroundworks]

Not that i know of....the old blocks will have had the surface weathered away, can you see the aggregate coming through in the concrete of the block?

[jonparker1]

Yes, i can see the aggregate coming through the concrete.

[jonparker1]

I've just found a coloured sealer on the internet called Restore-a-drive by a company called Kinfisher

http://www.kingfisheruk.com/item_765a_restore-a-drive_coloured_sealer

Has anyone ever used this product and if so is it any good. I look forward to hearing your views.

[lutonlagerlout]

it looks and sounds like complete rubbish
your blocks have been bleached and abraded by the sun rain and cars
a rotary jetwasher and resanding will make it look better , bit of a makeover
but as with age reversal creams
they dont work!
the fact they mention geofix shoes a total lack of any paving knowledge
LLL

[cookiewales]

Hydrochloric acid will enhance the colour tones stonger the better but beware you need a pro you can try the of the shelf stuf not so strong try on one block . In the old days when they made concrete coloured bricks they dipped them in acid to enhance colour

[jonparker1]

Thank you for your comments. I was wondering if i could apply a coat of concrete dye to the blocks or even a coat of liquid motar dye and when that has dried add a top coat of good quality clear polyurathane sealer.

[cookiewales]

That's a big no no you will ruin it

[jonparker1]

Cookie, where can i find someone who can acid strip my driveway. I live in Welling in Kent.

[cookiewales]

Cookie, where can i find someone who can acid strip my driveway. I live in Welling in Kent.

Roger the cleaning specialist may be along to
Help the bq stuff you could do your self once tested

[jonparker1]

thanks Cookie. Can you recommend an off the shelf acid cleaner that i could buy from my local builders merchant or DIY superstore ?

[RAPressureWashing]

Hi Jon Parker
Even with an acid wash the blocks will not match up, as some are 20 years old and some are new, the old ones will have lost there face and the aggregate is most prob showing through and the new ones are nice and smooth, ageing/weathering, uv damage over 20 years will have taken it's toll.
You can rough up the surface of the new blocks but it won't match the old ones sorry.
How many new block have been laid? it might be worth moving them around with the old blocks so you don't have 2 different looking surfaces, can you post a photo on here or email me some of the paving.

[lutonlagerlout]

we did 1 recently and to get the extra width we used new blocks for the 200mm border and the old blocks were laid as the body but we managed to get the required 8 m2 extra and it doesnt look out of place
will get a pic when i can
cheers LLL