The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Mon May 09, 2005 1:02 pm**

Nearly 7 years after first approaching you for guidance on my patio, it's nearly finished. Not quite up to your standard or the design you came up with but nevertheless a great improvement.

So one last question (well that's before I start looking at the drive) Should I consider applying a proprietry patio sealant to the finished work I've used Marshall's Saxon Paving. I called there technical helpline and got an abrupt "We never recomend using sealants with any of our products". So as this is contrary to their catalogue I thought best to ask the Oracle.

Currentlyy I'm considerling 2 coates of Thompson's Patio Seala nd the flag colour is buff.

Your advice would be much appreciated

Thanx

Posted: **Mon May 09, 2005 6:15 pm**

Saxon (and other shot-textured pavings) are prone to colonisation by algae, but even so, I'd be very reluctant to use a sealant with them, especially so soon after they've been laid. You should give them at least 6 months before considering a sealant.

Secondly, I cannot recommend Thomson's Patio Seal for any sealing job. It's the most complained-about sealant I know. Only last night there was another post to the Brew Cabin about problems with it. I dislike it because it tries to be an all-purpose sealant, regardless of the type of paving being sealed, and I know form years of experience that pressed concrete needs a slightly different sealant to a textured concrete which needs a different sealant to clay pavers, which needs a different selant to stone flags.... Patio Seal is a Lowest Common Denominator - a glorified varnbish rather than a carefully considered penetrative sealant for a particular type of paving.

Patio Seal on shot-textured concrete looks (in my opinion) truly bloody awful. If you decide that you must use a sealant, I'd opt for summat that penetrates and has no visible effect on the paving.

Posted: **Mon May 09, 2005 6:26 pm**

Thanks

No ambiguity there

I'll leave them as they are

Pete

The Brew Cabin

Sealant and saxon flags - Sealant