Paver Sealing & Sanding
Park Shore

Pavers near Venetian Bay and the canals absorb salt that slowly fades the color and roughens the surface. Rust from dock hardware, gates and irrigation leaves orange spots, and shaded edges grow algae.

Condo pool decks and entry drives along the Gulf take sand, sunscreen and daily foot traffic. They need slip-resistant sealing and a schedule that keeps residents moving.

Each wash and storm pulls sand from the joints. When joints open, pavers shift, weeds move in and edges by pools and seawalls begin to spread. Polymeric sand stops that.

Sealing finishes the job, closing the surface so salt, rust and algae sit on top instead of soaking in. Near the water, sealer wears faster, so plan on maintenance coats as the finish shows wear.

One of Collier County’s first planned communities. Park Shore was developed by Raymond Lutgert and is described as among Florida’s first planned unit developments and the first in Collier County. It runs from US-41 west to the Gulf and wraps around Venetian Bay, with Gulf-front high-rises, bay- and canal-front single-family homes and inland residences. That range means very different paver jobs within a few blocks: a canal-front drive, an inland courtyard, and a high-rise pool deck each need their own approach.

More than 600 homes and about 25 towers. Park Shore holds over 600 single-family homes, about 25 high-rise condominiums, several mid-rises and some commercial property. For single-family owners we quote the drive, walks and pool deck directly. For condo buildings, the board or manager receives a per-building scope covering the pool deck, entry drive and walkways, listed separately so each can be approved on its own schedule.

Towers of several generations. Buildings include Park Shore Tower from 1985 with 20 stories and 75 units, Le Parc from 1990, Club Brittany from 1996, Aria from 2006 and the 15-story Horizon House. Older pool decks may carry several past coats of sealer or coating. Before recoating, we look for whitening, peeling and patchy wear, because new sealer bonds poorly over failing film and some decks need stripping first.

Inspection cycles and the pool deck. Florida milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies now apply to condo buildings three or more stories tall, and reserve studies include items such as waterproofing and painting. Pavers are not structural, but a clean deck makes it easier for engineers and managers to see settling, cracks or rust bleed near the building. We photograph anything unusual we notice and pass it to the manager.

Canal and bay-front single-family homes. Drives and pool decks on the canals and Venetian Bay slope toward seawalls. We rinse toward the street or lawn, never over the seawall, and roll sealer at the water’s edge instead of spraying it. Dock hardware and seawall caps can bleed rust onto nearby pavers, and those spots are treated with paver-safe rust chemistry before sealing so the stain is not locked in.

Beach park traffic. Residents have access to the private Raymond L. Lutgert Beach Park, 2.7 acres with about 200 feet of beach, by membership card. Beach trips mean sand on shoes and towels, and that sand grinds into paver walks and drives on the way home. Fine beach sand is not a substitute for joint sand; it washes out and can scratch the sealer, so we remove it before refilling joints with polymeric sand.

Inland homes and shade trees. Not every Park Shore home sits on the water. Inland streets have mature landscaping, and drives under trees collect leaves, seed pods and bird droppings that leave tannin and dark spots on pavers. These drives usually stay damper than the waterfront ones, so algae in the joints is the main complaint. We blow debris off first, pre-treat organic stains, and allow longer drying time before sanding.

Condo entry drives and porte-cocheres. Tower entries carry valets, delivery trucks and contractor vans every day. Hydraulic drips and tire scuffs under a porte-cochere need degreasing before sealer, and we work the entry in halves so traffic can still reach the door.

Seasonal leasing. Park Shore Tower allows one lease a year with a 90-day minimum, and Le Parc and Aria report 90-day minimums as well. Many buildings run quieter between seasons, which is the easiest time for boards to close the pool deck in sections. For single-family owners who leave for the summer, a spring clean and seal lets the finish cure while the home is empty.

How joint sand goes in. We apply polymeric sand only when every paver is completely dry, which near the bay may mean waiting until mid-morning. Following Alliance Gator’s method, the sand is brought to about an eighth of an inch below the paver top, plate-compacted, swept and compacted again, then misted section by section with a shower setting. Sand that has failed is dug out at least an inch and a half deep before new sand goes in.

Salt-air sealer and wait times. Near the Gulf, a breathable penetrating sealer such as a silane or siloxane water repellent and salt blocker is often the first choice. Enhancing sealers suit owners who want deeper color. Rain-safe windows for sand vary by product, and sand cure before sealing follows the label, from roughly a day to several weeks depending on the sealer. Once finished, the surface can take normal foot and vehicle traffic after about 24 hours, per the product label.