Thread: Paving Sealant - Problem

Hey.

I've just finished laying a patio area using concrete pavers. We opted for a water-based paving sealant (Berger - Aqua Tread). It went down relatively easily - everybody's happy...or so I thought.

While it was drying, what we didn't realise was the wind had kicked up quite a bit and blew some sand/dust onto the wet patches. It's not over the entire area, just in the pools that had yet to dry out. Each small area affected is no bigger than business card size, most are the size of a coin, but there's a few of them. What we're left with is sand set into the sealant - as the pavers are a charcoal colour, it stands out a bit...a lot.

My question is, does anybody know a product, technique or process that will remove a water-based sealant (and the sand), so we can then re-apply? Of course, I don't want to damage the pavers or even pull any of them up, the expense would be too much.

Ideally, I don't want to have to do the entire area as there's 40 square metres in total and the majority is ok...just the effected areas.

Believe me, I've asked everybody, even the 'Advice Line' at Berger (aka Dulux). Nobody has given me a convincing answer.

Hydrochloric Acid, sanding machines, solvents and 'just let it wear off' have all been suggested!