Why Did My Pavers Turn White?
It’s a sinking feeling—you paid for sealing (or did it yourself) and a few weeks later, your beautiful patio looks like it’s covered in a white fog. This is not "fading." It is a chemical failure.
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At Chicagoland Paver Sealing, we see this every season. The most common causes are:
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Inferior Sealant: There's a huge difference in quality between store bought paver sealant from a big box retailer and commercial/professional grade sealant from specialized manufacturers.
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Improper Application: Sealer was applied using a roller instead of being sprayed onto the paver surfaces.
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Trapped Moisture (Blushing): Sealer was applied when the pavers were damp. The moisture tried to escape, got trapped under the sealer, and turned white.
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Over-Application: Applying too many coats or letting the sealer "puddle" on the surface instead of absorbing.
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Incompatible Chemicals: Applying a solvent-based sealer on top of an old water-based sealer (or vice versa) without stripping first.
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Efflorescence: Sealing over the natural salts that leach out of the brick, trapping them forever.
The Solution: Chemical Stripping & Restoration
Do NOT try to power wash this away. High pressure will not remove failed sealer and will likely damage the surface of your stone. In fact, the use of high pressure is the #1 cause of damaged pavers.
We use a specialized, industrial-grade Stripping Process:
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Chemical Application: We apply a professional stripping agent that re-emulsifies the old, failed sealer.
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Dwell Time: We allow the chemistry to break the bond between the sealer and the stone.
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Pressure Wash: Utilizing a commercial grade, high volume/low pressure, pressure washer attached to a turbo nozzle, we're able to easily remove multiple coats of failed sealer.
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Hot Water Extraction: Occasionally the use of hot water surface cleaners are necessary to safely lift the slurry of old sealer and sludge from the surface.
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Neutralization: We balance the pH of the pavers to prepare them for a fresh start.
Fixing DIY Mistakes
We love the DIY spirit, but paver sealing requires precise chemistry. If you used a "Big Box Store" sealer and it’s peeling like a sunburn or turning yellow, we can help.
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Note: It is almost always cheaper to hire a professional the first time than to pay for a full strip-and-restore service. But if you are in this situation, we are the experts who can save your patio.
Can My Pavers Be Saved?
In 95% of cases, YES. Unless the brick itself has been physically disintegrated, we can usually strip it back to the raw concrete. Once stripped, the pavers will look dull and "chalky"—this is normal! It means they are clean. We can then properly re-sand and seal them to bring back the color.
Frequently Asked Questions About Restoration
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How much does stripping cost?
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Stripping is a labor-intensive and chemical-heavy process. It typically costs 2-3x more than a standard cleaning and sealing job. This is why getting it right the first time is so important.
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Will the chemicals kill my grass?
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Stripping agents are strong. Even with the environmentally friendly strippers that we use, we take extreme precautions, including tarping, continuous watering of vegetation, and using neutralizing agents to protect your landscape.
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Can you strip just "one spot"?
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We can, but the stripped spot will look different from the rest of the patio. For a uniform look, we generally recommend treating the entire section.
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​You can find more answers to your questions by visiting our FAQ Page.
Don't Live with Ugly Pavers
The white haze won't go away on its own. Let us strip it safely and start fresh.