Paver Sealing
Oil-based products have a greater potential for super high-gloss results, but they are not recommended for use in rainy climates. These sealers tend to form a film on top of the pavers rather than bond into them. They look great initially but will often fail within a year or two. Florida’s tropical climate can cause solvent-based sealers to separate from the pavers and trap water or minerals in between. This is a common cause for hazy or frosted-looking pavers. Water-based products, on the other hand, bond into the top layer of the pavers and wear away gradually over time. This allows for resealing up to three times at 3-4 year intervals without having to strip the old sealant. Water-based sealants are also rain-safe in a fraction of the time of solvent-based products. They can endure a rainstorm within just a couple of hours without damage as opposed to having to wait a full 24-hour period. This is critical when working around Jacksonville’s afternoon thunderstorms and unpredictable weather. One final delineation is that if a solvent-based sealer is caught in an unexpected thunderstorm, it will be completely ruined. The only solution would be to strip it all up and start over. With water-based sealants, the worst-case scenario is that a percentage of the sealant would be washed away. This is an unfortunate loss of profit, but it can be easily fixed with a re-application.
It can be walked on within a couple hours, or as soon as it is no longer tacky. It will be fully cured after 24 hours. At this point it is safe to drive on it and replace any furniture, area rugs, etc.
To our knowledge, we are the only company in northeast Florida to include a complimentary pool cleaning with their paver sealing. In some cases, it is nearly impossible to completely clean and resand a deck without getting anything into the pool. For this reason, we have invested in a robotic pool cleaner to leave the water looking just as clean and clear as we found it. It is a self-contained unit that does not need to hook up to the home’s pump system or filters.
We certainly can, depending on the situation. Polymeric sand is recommended for areas with significant water run off or those with a history of weeds and ants. It also enables the homeowner to get a couple more years of life out of their sealant. The sealant in the joints is usually the first to break down, so this redundancy can add 2 more years between reapplications. However, it is not recommended for enclosed pool decks. Polymeric sand shares some properties with cement. Namely, it goes down dry and then turns rock hard upon activation with water. This makes it notoriously tricky for the average DIY-er and a massive headache to clean up if anything goes wrong. It is for this reason that we only use the best products, and we have received extensive individual training from the manufacturers. We make sure to follow each step down to the letter, including the often-skipped step of compaction. We know of several paver companies that will simply broom the sand into the joints and activate it without using a padded plate compactor to vibrate out the air pockets. This leads to spongy sand with virtually no joint stabilization and a severely reduced lifespan. Needless to say, we do not skip steps, and we expect to make three visits for any job involving polymeric sand instead of the typical two.
No way! The grains are too thick and too inconsistent for sanding joints. Instead we use kiln-dried, extra fine silica sand that has been cleaned, dried, and sifted. It can also be referred to as masonry sand. This is fine enough to fall into the cracks and fill them completely without bunching up. The uniform and angular grains lock together with much more strength than would ever be possible with playground sand, even if their chemical composition is the same. Finally, playground sand tends to stick together with even the slightest amount of moisture or condensation. This causes bridges of sand to form over the seams rather than falling into and filling the joints. This may look fine on day one, but it will begin to break down and expose the underlying cavities in no time at all. Please, if you decide to do it yourself, stay away from playground sand (even if it has the word “pavers” on it).
We defer to the installer’s recommendation here, but most will say one to three months. There are two reasons for this: settling and efflorescence. Especially with driveways, pavers will tend to shift and settle for the first month or two as they fall into place. It may be a couple millimeters here or there, but this makes a difference when it comes to joint stabilization. Secondly, the pavers need time to breathe. Most newly poured concrete will contain some amount of hydrated salt, also referred to as calcium or efflorescence. As it sets and cures, this may come to the surface and produce a chalky appearance. If concrete pavers are sealed immediately upon installation, it could potentially trap this under the sealant and create a white haze. Three months allows time for this to come to the surface and then be treated with an acid wash before proceeding to seal.
Not permanently. As part of the cleaning process, we blast out any weeds along with the old joint sand. After we resand and seal, there will be a rock-hard barrier to prevent ants or weeds from re-entering from above. HOWEVER, if there are healthy roots or colonies down below, they can come back from underneath. For this reason, we highly recommend that any customer who struggles with weeds and ants should apply herbicide or insecticide within a few days of our arrival. We also recommend using polymeric sand as an added layer of protection if this has been an issue in the past.
Concrete pavers will not be any more slippery than they would be otherwise. Travertine and other natural stones have the potential to become slightly more slick. For this, we offer two solutions: a non-slip additive along with our standard product (not expensive at all) or a different type of sealant altogether. This penetrating sealant runs at about twice the cost, so this will be a significantly more expensive option. However it seals the travertine from the inside out without changing the surface profile.
The products we use have an expected lifespan of 3-4 years for a single coat or 5-6 years for two coats. Properly installed polymeric sand can add about 2 years to each of these figures. Water-based sealants erode gradually over time, so there is not an exact moment at which they must be resealed. However, when the time does come, we are able to reapply without stripping up to three times.
Florida must be a tough place to be a meteorologist. The unpredictability of afternoon showers can cause forecasts to change drastically from one hour to the next or even in adjacent zip codes. If there is a 30-40% chance of rain in your zip code within 3 hours of finishing, we will need to reschedule for another day. Through trial and error, we have learned to limit how many sealing jobs we schedule during the summer months. When it rains, it pours (literally), so packing the schedule full will inevitably lead to serious back-ups. October through May is a wonderful time to schedule your sealing job, because we will be much more likely to finish on your scheduled day.
What winter? We Floridians are blessed to have only a few days a year that bring hard freezing. It would not be a good idea to seal on these days. According to the manufacturers, it is fine to apply sealant down to 40oF. If it does not get out of the 30’s all day, then it might be better to stay home anyways.
Both produce almost identical results in two different ways. Dry sanding requires sweeping sand into the joints and clearing the excess with a leaf blower. If there is any moisture whatsoever, this can cause the sand to stick and produce unfavorable results. In wet sanding, we use a fan tip on our pressure washer to create a sand slurry. The weight of the water pulls the sand down into the joints and fills them just the same as before. Clearing the excess with water requires a little more skill than with air, but we have this down to a science. In some cases, we might utilize both techniques on different parts of the same job depending on how the pavers dry after cleaning.
Potentially, yes. Wood staining and sealing will always require two, but paver sealing can potentially be done in a single day. In order for this to be a possibility, it should be a relatively small area with warm weather and minimal shade. However, 90% of our jobs will take two visits (or three in the case of polymeric sanding) to allow for adequate drying time.
It is highly recommended to clean the pavers every year or so. Dirt will still accumulate on top, and algae may still grow in shaded areas. They will clean up much more easily and nicely after having been sealed, but this is still essential to maximizing the sealant’s lifespan. We can offer customized maintenance programs along with any sealing job.
Soft Washing
Yes and yes, when necessary. Pressure washers work on a spectrum from high pressure, low chemicals to high chemicals, low pressure. Companies that are only set up to do one or the other will inevitably damage property or miss spots. We are comfortable working anywhere along this spectrum, as the situation requires. We are set up to do everything from zero-pressure roof washing to stripping paint and old sealant off pavers. Our motto is “as little as possible, but as much as necessary.” We are committed to cleaning as well as possible without damaging anything. In most cases, we will be able to tell before starting a job if some areas cannot be safely cleaned. This will be communicated to you up front, if necessary.
Not the way we use them. If they were used at full strength without pre- or post-rinses, then yes they could. However, we know exactly how much to dilute the chemicals for different applications, and we make sure to wash all vegetation with pure water before and after. During roof washes, for example, we will always bring at least two people. One will be on the roof while the other’s sole responsibility is rinsing or diluting any overspray or runoff. In so doing, we have never once received a complaint for dead grass or plants.
This is a common misconception. Most pressure washers carry tanks of water, but these are nothing more than buffer tanks. They help to regulate flow at properties with a weak water supply (less than 8 gallons per minute). Carrying a full day’s supply of water for two people would require either hourly refills or a semi-truck to haul everything. However, the total water cost for an average housewash completed on city water is about $5 or $10 if the driveway was cleaned as well. If that is an issue, we can take it out of the price of the job.
Yes! We have a number of specially designed tips and extenders to reach up to 25 or 30 feet without issue. We are also equipped for doing some sections from the roof if necessary.
Deck Staining
Honestly, not much. Nowadays almost all stains are also sealants. Usually “stain” suggests some degree of coloring or tint while “seal” suggests a clear coating.
Yes, if it is done correctly. This requires a good understanding of chemicals, a pressure washer with a regulator, and a steady hand. Most wood cleaners are strong bases, so they require an extra step to restore a neutral pH and brighten the natural colors.
Sealing wood always requires two days. The softer, more absorbative material must dry overnight before sealing.
Pressure Washing
Sometimes. Rust is usually not that difficult. It is most commonly removed with an acid wash. The limiting factor is our commitment not to damaging property. For example, full strength muriatic acid will definitely remove the rust, but it will also etch concrete and discolor pavers. In this case, we start with the weakest chemicals and move upward until it is no longer safe. Oil is a very different process. We have degreasers that work wonders on grease, food oils, and rubber deposits from foot traffic. These are used liberally at our restaurant jobs. Motor oil and transmission oil are different in that they penetrate deeper and generally have soaked for much longer. We can lighten these, but a hot water rig will be necessary for full restoration. Such rigs are very expensive and are only used by a handful of companies that specialize in gas stations, parking garages, etc. The exception is concrete or pavers which have been sealed. In this case, the oil sits on top of the sealant instead of sinking into the concrete. This can be cleaned off much more easily and is one of the major perks of sealed driveways.
It is also helpful to clarify the difference between driveway cleaning and whitening. Surface cleaning quotes will not include rust and oil removal by default. This is an additional service which requires specialized chemicals and procedures over and above what is possible with pressure washing alone. Therefore, it will usually incur a greater cost.
For this we clean as well as possible without damaging anything. Unpainted pool decks are usually no problem at all. We can just dial back the pressure on our machines and get to work. Painted concrete is more case-by-case. If it retains a strong bond, we can get it sparkling like new. If it is deteriorating or flaking off, we will rely more heavily on algaecides. The issue occurs when dirt clings to the paint more tightly than the paint clings to the concrete. In this case, pressure washing will require taking or leaving both. That decision will be left up to the homeowner. For the record, we do not recommend painting concrete surfaces. It is difficult to clean safely, and it requires frequent re-application. There are much more permanent options, such as tinted sealant. You can call or text 904-456-9274 for more information and pricing.
The rule of thumb in the pressure washing community is to do whatever the neighbors have done. Some stop right as the curb begins. Others do the curb only in front of the driveway. Either way, gutters tend to get dirty again within a couple months. We can do the curbs along the entire length of the property for an additional cost. We always make a point to rinse away the loose dirt at the end of the driveway so that it does not get tracked back onto the clean concrete.
Customer Service, Quotes, Miscellaneous
Just about everything besides bitcoin and shekels. We accept cash, check, venmo, cash app, zelle, apple cash, paypal, and credit / debit cards. We have a device to swipe cards in person, or we can email you an invoice that accepts cards and bank transfers. We do not give discounts for cash payments because we report all revenue to the IRS. Credit and debit cards incur a 1.5% service fee.
We often give significant bundling discounts for doing multiple areas at once. This applies just the same to neighbors who want to get work done at the same time. This saves us a lot of time and gas money, so we are happy to pass the savings along to our customers. We also offer 10% off for active-duty military up to $100 as well as seasonal promotions. Unfortunately we are not able to combine promotions or discounts.
You can call or text 904-456-9274 for the most up-to-date answer, but we generally stay booked between a week and a month out.
To the best of my knowledge, there is no license for pressure washing or sealing like there are for other trades. It tends to be classified under the janitorial industry. However, we are a registered LLC, and we declare all income to the IRS. We are certified applicators for the sealants we use, and we carry health and liability insurance up to a $1M (even though we’ve never had to use it).
In general, we only give in-person quotes for jobs that exceed $500. We can make exceptions if necessary, but the standard procedure is to look up the property online. This allows us to give accurate quotes within minutes. Google maps makes it possible to measure areas for surface cleaning, and public information on Zillow gives us all we need to quote house washing jobs. From time to time these remote quotes cause us to slightly underestimate a job. In those cases, we almost never adjust the price onsite. Instead, we remember that remote quoting keeps us from driving to 8-10 additional properties per day and finish the job with a smile. Because paver sealing is priced by the square foot, we can use google maps as a pretty good ballpark. Of course, we will measure by hand before starting the job, but google maps is almost always within 10% accurate. That being said, we are happy to meet in person if a potential customer has specific questions or if there is insufficient information online. This is especially if we are in the area already. Meeting people face-to-face is one of our favorite parts of the job.
If you are asking this, then thank you for your loyalty! Our early customers were some of the biggest blessings in this entire journey. For the full story, see sealteamjax.com/about-us.
We are based in San Marco, but we service Duval, St Johns, and Clay counties. Theoretically, we could drive as far as necessary if the size of the job justified it. Our most common areas of operation are Nocatee, Ponte Vedra, Jax Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Arlington, Mandarin, Julington Creek, Bartram, Green Cove Springs, Orange Park, and Oakleaf. We do a lot of work off of CR210 and Nocatee Parkway, especially on newer construction.
Yes! This is one of the reasons why we decided to purchase top-notch insurance. In the state of Florida, it is legal for uninsured pressure washers to do residential work (at their own risk) but not commercial. We have contracts for routine cleaning with Chick-fil-a as well as a few restaurants along the beach and the Jumbo Shrimp stadium. We have also cleaned office buildings, storefronts, multi-family housing, and motels up to three stories. The one thing we do not clean is gas stations.
Not necessarily. We completely understand if you want to be home, and we really enjoy meeting our customers. However, if you need to leave or be gone for whatever reason, that is no problem. We accept all kinds of electronic payment options, and we do not expect or require payment until you have had a chance to see the finished job for yourself. We can also send before and after pictures as proof of completion if the homeowner is out of town.