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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:50 pm
by Andrea
Firstly thank you for a great site! I read all your adivice for prep for driveways and patios so I was much more confident about the work being carried out and sort of knew what to look out for. Both are now complete and looking good.
Today the sales chap asked if I wanted sealant put on later this week. (He's doing my neighbours , so I know he's probably trying to get both jobs done at once, nice and easy for him). I told him I had read up on it (last night infact) and said I would rather wait for the efforesence to clear before this. He assures me that there will be no eff. and sealant will stop it. They use Picseal? but he couldn't tell me much more about it, whether it's oil/water repellant or an impregnator etc.
So, I just need a sanity check as my mind is almost made up with the help of your very extensive and common sense advice. Our driveway slopes and the chap pointed out the sand will run off in the wet so we'll have to replenish it unless it's sealed. (I didn't mention advice on bedding in period for topping-up in a few weeks).
Is there any reason applying a sealant within 3/4 days of laying the blocks would be good?
Thanks for any advice,
Andrea.
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:41 pm
by Pablo
Tell your salesman to come and have a chat with us it sounds like he needs some educating/a good kicking. Sealant will not prevent effo but it will make it 50 times worse if you get it. You're absolutely right about waiting for 3/4months just to be on the safe side. The sand will not wash out of your joints either thats another load of c#ap it will very quickly consolidate after a couple of showers. If your drive is very steep then you may require a joint stabilser but not a sealant. Stick to your guns salesmen will tell you anything to get money out of you.
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:06 pm
by msh paving
Picseal is not for concrete block paving full stop end off.
its is for pattern inprinted concrete only,if you seal over efforesence you will never get rid off it,
Pablo is exactilly right in his advice, tell him not to darken your door again MSH 
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:12 pm
by Andrea
Many thanks for your reassurance.
The driveway is not extremely steep, but I will consider the jont stabaliser.
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:56 pm
by msh paving
don't just put joint stabalisier on for the fun off it, wait to see if the sand keeps running out MSH
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:30 pm
by Rich H
Also eff can take quite a while to go through its cycle. If you get it, you'll know quite quickly. As stated above 3-4 months is typical but there are so many variables that it might be shorter or longer.
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:18 pm
by lutonlagerlout
the reason he wants to do it is that he probably gets a higher commission on extras
give it time as has been said
dont be hard sold because he wants to book his holiday
LLL
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 6:25 pm
by Andrea
msh paving wrote:Picseal is not for concrete block paving full stop end off.
its is for pattern inprinted concrete only,if you seal over efforesence you will never get rid off it,
Pablo is exactilly right in his advice, tell him not to darken your door again MSH
Not sure what he ended up using. I was out when he came to do the neighbours driveway. It was supposedly a matt finish, but it has darkened the colour. She's got formpave chartres range.
I've had a look of the formpave website for recommendations on sealant for the Royal Forest range, but no joy. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Andrea.
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:58 pm
by williams
i wish we could get formpave round here, they look like very nice blocks.
Theres a drive near me and i kid you not efflorescence is still there after ten years, i havent got a clue why??
I will never do sealing as theres too much to go wrong (eff being one of them, rain, running out of sealer etc etc) could very quickly ruin a nice driveway/patio
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 11:50 am
by Andrea
williams wrote:i wish we could get formpave round here, they look like very nice blocks.
Theres a drive near me and i kid you not efflorescence is still there after ten years, i havent got a clue why??
I will never do sealing as theres too much to go wrong (eff being one of them, rain, running out of sealer etc etc) could very quickly ruin a nice driveway/patio
Yes, thanks it seems a nice product, and the chaps who laid it did a good job. It's their boss who's a little supsect.
I'm not impressed with next doors finish. The boss/sales chap did the sealing, left sand everywhere and the blocks are darker. Less than 24hrs after 2nd coat, he let me put her car back on the drive and its raining today.
I've emailed formpave for sealant recommendations, but I may never get it done.