Seal a new block drive?

Penny_Farthing_2

Hi
I've had a new block paving drive laid. It was a cheap and cheerful job. The guys who did it are now wanting to charge £160 to seal it. This wasn't mentioned at the start of the job but now they're saying the blocks could start to crumble after a while if it isn't sealed. I'm smelling a bit of the old bovine here so I wondered if anyone knows
1 will the blocks be less tough if I don't seal them?
2 will the couple of small puddles that appear in heavy rain but go very quickly when the rain stops be made worse if the drive is sealed?
3 can I just as easily do the job myself and what product should I use?

Thanks very much

1jim

we have block paved drive and its not sealed, had it done about 3yrs ago and not really noted any problems, the blocks have aged a bit but thats what I hoped so they are less "new" looking I wonder if the sealing would stop this?
I thought that once the kiln dried sand had been brushed into the gaps that was pretty much it?
We did need to lift some blocks last year when a mains water pipe burst and they went down again pretty well, I wonder what would hapen with the sealing if this was the case?
dont kow if thats much help as I havnt had it done and the builders who did it dint mention it at all, but as we havnt had it done I can say after 3or4yrs we havnt noticed any crumbling or problems

Penny_Farthing_2

Thanks Jim. I'm still a bit stuck on this issue though.

wallbash

Our block paving been down well over 10 years, might be 15
Never sealed

Every 5 years I might throw some of that kiln dried sand down , thats it.

securityman

All you need to know about hard landscaping.
Great site for block paving
http://www.pavingexpert.com

Penny_Farthing_2

Thanks for your replies everyone.

woodbutcher_2

You can seal block pave drives but you don't have to.Certainly wouldn't pay £160 for the privelege.

Incisor

Penny_Farthing wrote: »

Hi
I've had a new block paving drive laid. It was a cheap and cheerful job. The guys who did it are now wanting to charge £160 to seal it. This wasn't mentioned at the start of the job but now they're saying the blocks could start to crumble after a while if it isn't sealed. I'm smelling a bit of the old bovine here so I wondered if anyone knows ....

I would just have them back for my own amusement and ask how long they expect them to last without being sealed, and if it is too short, I'd tell them that I would be after them if it was that poor a job.

It doesn't need sealing. It might just start looking poor after a few years if you do sealit, worse than not sealing it.

BTB1_2

Firstly...Block paving should not be sealed until it has had time to fully bed in and acclimatise (this includes any signs of efflorescence going). Usually 2-3 months.

Secondly....Save yourself around £120 from that quote by going to B&Q and buying a couple of tins of Block Paving Sealant and apply it yourself by brush or roller. Takes no time at all.

As others have said, unless the sealant used is one of the mega expensive types you may as well leave them as they are.

adandem

We had ours sealed at our last house and regretted it. The drive looked permanently wet and it became quite slippy in the rain. It looked artificial and looked terrible as the seal wore off.

Penny_Farthing_2

Thanks again. I did think it sounded odd - yes -why wasn't it mentioned before the work started if it was such an important part of the job? Think I will say thanks but no thanks.