Stripping is the process of chemically removing old sealer from a paver surface before applying a new coat. It adds time and cost to a reseal job — and it's not always necessary. But when existing sealer has failed, skipping the strip is the most common reason reseal jobs fail prematurely.

When You Don't Need to Strip

If the existing sealer is still chemically intact — bonded to the paver, not peeling or flaking, and compatible with the new product — a maintenance recoat over the top can work well. We assess this on every job.

Indicators that stripping may not be needed:

  • The surface still has some sheen and water beads on it
  • No visible peeling, flaking, or white haze
  • The previous sealer was a compatible chemistry
  • Only one or two prior coats on the surface

When You Do Need to Strip

Failed sealer can't be patched with another coat — it needs to come off completely. Applying fresh sealer over failing old sealer bonds to the failure, not the paver, and you'll see the same problems within months.

  • Peeling or flaking sealer: The bond has broken. New product won't adhere over loose old product.
  • White haze (blushing): Moisture trapped under the sealer layer. A maintenance coat won't fix it.
  • Multiple failed coats: We sometimes find surfaces with 3–5 old coats that never properly bonded. Each one needs to come off.
  • Chemistry mismatch: Applying water-based sealer over an old solvent-based coat typically causes adhesion failure. A strip gives you a clean, compatible substrate.

What Stripping Looks Like

We apply a chemical stripper, allow it to dwell and soften the old sealer, then pressure-wash the surface clean. Depending on the number of old coats, the process may need two passes. The result is bare paver — back to the condition it was in before any sealer was ever applied. That's the right surface for a long-lasting new application.

We never upcharge stripping unnecessarily. If the surface doesn't need it, we don't include it. But when it does, cutting this step is the single most reliable way to shorten the life of the work.