Patio - is pointing/ resealing needed?

sec79

Hi, I moved into my house (new build) 8 years ago. The patio needs cleaning - on my list for this summer. My query is when I have done this (won't be using a pressure washer) will it need resanding, or repointing and then sealing please? If it needs repointing I will get a professional to do it. If it needs sealing is it advisable to get a professional to do this aswell please? Thank you in advance

stuart45

They look like they were butt jointed, which means without mortar in the joints, so you don't have to repoint them.

sec79

stuart45 said:

They look like they were butt jointed, which means without mortar in the joints, so you don't have to repoint them.

Would they need sand adding please and sealing? If yes is it advisable getting a professional to add the sealer, or is this something I would be able to do please? Thank you

Flugelhorn

I think you can just clean them

stuart45

Sealing is quite easy to do yourself. It's not really essential depending on the type of slabs. Some people would like the look of yours as they are. Same with sanding the joints, some just leave them.

Ectophile

Why would you want to seal paving slabs?

Bookworm105

how do you think anyone can point butt joints?

no idea what you mean by "going to clean but not pressure wash"
if you want those slabs returned to "bright" then i) pressure wash and ii) apply bleach (but not necessarily in that order)

the joints very obviously have zero "fill" in them and should therefore be left alone unless you intend to lift every slab and relay it anew (will require much work to rebed each slab to the relevant fall) with a gap sufficient to allow a "fill" to be used. (MADNESS)

Yes there is undoubtedly a risk that if you pressure wash you may remove whatever the slabs are currently bedded on and thus cause them to "rock", or you may not (if bedded on mortar)...?

do you actually know what "resealing" does? Have you seen any growth on the surface of the slabs thus indicating that "re-sealing" may have some (small) effect?

Slinky

We had our block paved drive sealed after it was pressure washed and resanded. Save yourself the money, it wasn't worth it. The sealant is expensive and it didn't make much difference for very long.

sec79

Ectophile said:

Why would you want to seal paving slabs?

I'm a DIY novice and didn't know
 if they needed sealing, so thought I'd post a question on this forum to get the answer.