Nocatee is a different kind of job than most of what we do, and it comes down to one thing: the houses are new.
Most of this community has gone up over the last fifteen years or so, which means a huge number of driveways, walkways, and pool decks out here are hitting the age where they need to be sealed for the very first time. If your home is three to eight years old and nobody has ever sealed your pavers, you’re in the window where sealing does the most good — and where waiting starts to cost you.
We work throughout Nocatee, including Crosswater, Willowbend, and Siena.
Never-Sealed Pavers Get Three Coats, Not Two
This matters and most homeowners don’t know it.
Brand-new brick pavers that have never been sealed are thirsty. The first coat soaks in and largely disappears. Our standard on most jobs is two coats of our premium two-part water-base urethane, but on new brick pavers that have never been sealed we go to three. Skipping that third coat is why some first-time seal jobs look patchy or dull within a year — the pavers drank the sealer and there wasn’t enough left on top to do the work.
(Travertine is the exception — it stays at two coats regardless.)
Why Sealing New Pavers Is Worth It
The argument people make against sealing a new driveway is that it still looks fine. That’s exactly the point. Sealing a paver that hasn’t started breaking down yet is preventive — you’re keeping the surface intact rather than trying to rescue it later.
What happens to unsealed pavers in this climate is predictable. The smooth top layer starts to decay. You begin seeing little white aggregate stones coming through the surface. Color fades from UV. Joint sand washes out in the summer storms, weeds and ants move into the empty joints, and eventually the pavers lose the support that keeps them locked together and start to shift.
Every one of those is slower and cheaper to prevent than to fix.
Settling on Newer Construction
The other thing we see a lot of in newer neighborhoods is settling — and it’s not a sign anybody did shoddy work. Ground moves after construction. Backfill compacts. Northeast Florida sits on sand, and after a couple of heavy rainy seasons a driveway that went in perfectly flat can develop low spots or a lip where the apron meets the street.
If pavers have already dropped, rocked, or lifted, that’s paver repair rather than sealing. We pull the affected area, correct the base, relay the pavers, then re-sand and seal. We’ll tell you at the estimate which one you’re actually looking at — we’re not going to seal over a problem that needs fixing underneath.
Joint Sand: We Don’t Use Polymeric
We use silica paver joint sand, not polymeric. Done properly and sealed over, it sets up just as hard as polymeric — often harder — without the failure modes polymeric is known for, and it’s far less of a headache when it’s time to reseal down the road.
It comes in tan, black, brown, and grey, so you can match your pavers or deliberately contrast them. On newer homes where the paver color is still strong, a contrasting joint sand can sharpen the whole look considerably.
Our Process
Inspection and assessment first, so anything that needs repair gets flagged before a sealer goes down. Then a thorough pressure wash to pull off dirt, algae, and mildew. Then full joint sand replacement. Then the sealer — two coats standard, three on never-sealed brick pavers — in our standard color-enhancing wet-look finish, or matte if you’d rather skip the shine. Then cure time.
Our sealer carries a 3-year warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
My house is new. Do I really need to seal already?
Sealing before the surface starts breaking down is when it does the most good. Once you’re seeing white aggregate coming through and the smooth top layer is gone, you’ve lost material you can’t get back — sealing at that point protects what’s left rather than preserving what you had.
How long after installation should I wait to seal brand-new pavers?
We recommend waiting about 90 days after installation. That lets the pavers cure properly and gives any efflorescence time to work its way out.
Will sealing change how my pavers look?
Yes, and most people are after that. Our standard color-enhancing wet-look sealer deepens the original color and adds a glossy finish. If you want protection without the shine, we can go matte instead.
How often will I need to reseal?
Every two and a half to three years, with a cleaning each year in between to stay ahead of algae and mildew.
Do I have to be home for the estimate?
No. We measure and look at the job, which takes about 5 to 10 minutes, and you don’t need to be there.
Get a Free Estimate in Nocatee
Fill out our free estimate form or call 904-444-9190. Estimates are free, you don’t have to be home, and Zach will get in touch with you about times and scheduling.
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