Paver Sealing & Sanding
Pelican Sound

Where irrigation water carries minerals and reaches pavers, orange arcs commonly appear on unsealed surfaces, and those stains soak in a little deeper each season.

On pavers this age, joint sand has usually washed out more than once. Pavers start to rock and edges sink. Polymeric sand refills and hardens in the joint.

Sealing then closes the surface. Overspray, leaf tannin from tree-lined lots and tire marks stay on top where a rinse removes them, and faded color comes back.

A WCI golf and river community. Pelican Sound Golf & River Club is a master-planned, gated golf community at Corkscrew Road and U.S. 41 in Estero, developed by WCI Communities with about a dozen subdivisions and roughly 1,300 residences. Recent listings show build years from 1999 to 2002, with CBS stucco and tile roofs. That puts most pavers here past twenty years, and many drives have already been sealed once or twice.

Estate, executive, coach and carriage homes. Home types range from estate and executive single-family homes to coach homes, carriage homes and condominiums. Single-family owners usually handle their own drives and pool decks, while condo and coach buildings typically rely on the association for shared walks and entries. A coach-home entry often fits the up-to-400-square-foot tier, while an estate drive uses the standard or large-drive rate.

Shared drives on carriage and coach buildings. On attached buildings, two or four garages often open onto one paved court. If only part of it is sealed, the difference shows right away. We can quote the whole court to the association, or split it between neighbors who want to book together, and we use the same sealer on every section so the color matches from end to end.

Old sealer on older pavers. After two decades, layers of past sealer can turn cloudy, whiten in humid weather or peel in high-traffic spots. A new coat does not hold well on top of failing film. During the walkthrough we test how the surface takes water and look for flaking, then explain whether a standard recoat will work or whether the old finish needs to be worn down first.

An Audubon-certified course. The 27 holes of golf at Pelican Sound run through a course recognized as an Audubon-certified sanctuary, and every homeowner has golf privileges. Fairway lots catch fertilizer, clippings and course irrigation drift. Fertilizer granules can leave rust-colored dots on pavers, which need paver-safe treatment before sealing. Near the course and lakes, we keep rinse water on the lawn and avoid harsh cleaners.

The River Club and the Estero River. The River Club has dining, a canoe launch and kayak park, plus a members-only boat ramp that reaches the Gulf by way of the Estero River, part of the Calusa Blueway. A community water taxi runs to Lovers Key State Park, and boats can be stored on site. Owners who bring kayaks or gear home carry river water and sand onto the drive. Those spots get a good rinse before joint sand goes in.

Gate access and seasonal owners. Many Pelican Sound owners spend summers away. Add us to the gate list, leave the irrigation controller off for the day before and after, and we will send photos and a written record of the job when it is done.

Eleven pools, many decks. With a staffed tennis center, fitness center and 11 swimming pools across the community, pool decks are a big part of the paver picture, both private and shared. Sunscreen and pool chemicals leave a film that sealer will not bond to, so decks are degreased first. We use only slip-resistant sealer on pool decks and apply it in a single coat, since manufacturers caution that a heavy second coat on dense pavers can be slick.

Refilling worn joints. On drives this age, much of the old joint sand has broken down. Following Alliance Gator’s guidance, failing sand is removed at least an inch and a half deep, then polymeric sand goes onto a fully dry surface, is swept to about an eighth of an inch below the paver top, compacted, swept and compacted again, and wet with a soft shower until every section is evenly soaked.

Sunken edges and loose pavers. Where edges have dropped or pavers rock underfoot, sand alone will not correct the level. We flag those spots for resetting before sealing, so the finish is not applied over an uneven surface.

Storm season and timing. Rain-safe times for polymeric sand differ by product, from about 15 minutes on some newer formulas to a full day on others. The sealing gap varies even more, from about a day to roughly a month depending on the sealer. Sand cure before sealing follows the label, so some homes are finished in one visit and others need a second.

Picking the finish. Warm, sun-faded pavers on older drives often respond well to an enhancing or wet-look sealer, which brings back depth of color. A natural, penetrating sealer keeps a matte look and lets shaded pavers breathe. We can seal a small test area of each so you can choose before the full job.