Restore-A-Drive Coloured Block Sealer  

Restore-A-Drive: Block paving colourant and sealer

“Liquid restoration for your driveway”

Love them or hate them, block pavers have been a staple of hard landscaping projects for decades.  There are literally millions of square metres of this tough and versatile paving, adorning gardens and driveways up and down the country.  And it really is durable.  In fact, well-engineered and correctly installed block paving will provide decades of reliable & practical service, even if the surface appearance deteriorates.  Add to this, the fact that such driveways would have been expensive to install, and it really does make sense to evaluate ways of extending your paving’s life, before resorting to skips and a digger!  A further point is that building work and materials have increased in price significantly both in absolute and relative terms, so laying in a new driveway could be extremely expensive.

This is where Restore-A-Drive block sealer and colourant comes in.  Because it is perfectly feasible to restore the red brindle or dark grey (anthracite) colouring of old concrete block paving without it looking like a half-baked paint job.

To be clear, Restore-A-Drive is not a “driveway paint”, in technical language it is a “pigmented solvent-acrylic sealer”.  So what’s the difference and why does it matter?

a) Solvent acrylic resins are tried and tested in the area of concrete protection, including in the tough world of civil engineering.  They don’t peel or flake.

b) Solvent acrylic resins absorb deeper into the concrete surface and are widely used as “hardening” or “curing” compound, so are intrinsically more durable than paints.

c) Solvent acrylic resins can carry premium grade, light-fast pigments into the substrate of concrete paving, which presents a more integral appearance and texture.

Demolishing an otherwise serviceable driveway is financially expensive and environmentally costly too, so give it a new lease of life with Restore-A-Drive.

•    All-in-one transformative re-colourant and sealer for blocks
•    No peeling or cracking
•    Seals & protects block paving for up to 4 years
•    Ease of application by roller, brush or spray
•    Protects against moss and algal growth

How does it work?

The vast majority of block paving is concrete, manufactured from a carefully developed blend of sand, cement, graded aggregates and organic pigments.  This produces a highly resilient, tractable and aesthetically pleasing surface for patios, paths and driveways.

However, over time a combination of abrasion, weathering, de-icing salts and invasion by organic growth can spoil its appearance.

In winter the freeze/thaw cycle of moisture (typically in the top 1.5 mm) causes micro-ruptures in the surface as the water molecules expand to form ice.  This displaces tiny fragments of the block surface, including the decorative colouring.  De-icing salts are corrosive to the Portland cement in the blocks and exacerbate surface erosion.

The result is that the vibrant shades and colour contrasts of the blocks take on a “washed out”, almost grey appearance, often accompanied by invasive moss, mould and lichen growth.  In response, most of us simply reach for the pressure washer to blast away the accumulations of organic matter.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with this approach but it does have side effects, which include exacerbating colour loss and expelling jointing sand from the paving structure.

Restore-A-Drive has a penetrating formula that rejuvenates this lost colouring, whilst its translucent quality highlights the varying shades of the original blocks, especially the brindle ones, thus avoiding a harsh “painted” look.  It has been described as a “wood-stain for blocks”, which is a useful comparison if you think of the texture and faded colour as being like the “grain” of wood.

By forming a resin shell on the paving, Restore-A-Drive seals blocks, repels dirt and suppresses organic growth, including moss & algae.  The penetrating properties of the resin also help to harden paved surfaces damaged by weathering, thus enhancing longevity.

Restore-A-Drive also helps to seal & stabilise the critical sand joints.

How to use Restore-A-Drive?

1. Cleaning

To ensure that the Kingfisher Restore-A-Drive adheres to the paving, the surface must first be cleansed of all moss, mould, lichen, carbon deposits, oil stains and airborne dirt.  Thoroughly pressure wash, ideally at an output pressure of 2500 to 3000 psi and using a spray lance equipped with a “turbo-jet” nozzle or specialist rotary attachment designed for cleaning paved surfaces. Alternatively, the surface can be cleaned manually with Kingfisher Max Strength Patio Cleaner and a stiff bristle deck scrubbing brush (see relevant product data sheet).  Allow to dry.  Note: if there is heavy weed infestation (broadleaf or grass) growing from the joints, these should be thoroughly treated with conventional weedkiller first and left for 7 to 10 days before manually weeding out the dead plants.

2. Repairs

It is often only after cleaning that the full extent of required repairs becomes obvious. Replace cracked or broken flagstones/pavers with new or good condition weathered ones (sometimes a better match!).   Stained or scored blocks can be turned over and re-set with the previously hidden and unblemished face exposed.  Block paving should have the jointing sand topped up with either kiln dried sand or Kingfisher Blockfill.  Make sure that all excess sand residues are carefully swept up using a soft broom so as to avoid unsightly sand debris being sealed onto the block faces.

3. Bio-Wash Surface Sanitiser

After cleaning (once dry) the paving should be thoroughly sprayed to refusal with Kingfisher Bio Wash.  This is applied by a low-pressure sprayer (as for weed killer etc.) to the entire paving surface and is left to dry out (do not rinse). This is an extremely important phase in the process because it will greatly reduce the possibility of moss or lichens re-establishing.  The pressure washing process leaves the paving looking clean but the moss root systems and mould/lichen spores are still present in hundreds of microscopic crevices and especially in the joints.  Spraying the paving liberally with Kingfisher Bio Wash ensures that the paving is sanitised and inert, ready for the first coat of Kingfisher Restore-A-Drive.  Allow to dry.

Note: Some paving materials occasionally exhibit corrosive efflorescence (salting) and where this occurs it can cause sealers to de-laminate.  If this occurs or is evident, contact our technical department for guidance.

4. Restore-A-Drive Application

Restore-A-Drive should be applied neat without dilution by either brush, roller or sprayer.  One coat is normally sufficient but two coats may occasionally give a better colour balance on very faded surfaces.  This selection should be at the user’s discretion.  Always apply to a small inconspicuous test area first to check you are satisfied with the finish before proceeding to full application.  It is most important to thoroughly agitate the container before use, to ensure adequate dispersion of the pigment.

a) Brush: Use only premium grade brushes suitable for use with solvent-based paints.  Work in broad even strokes working first in one direction, then the other, ensuring that no ponding occurs.  Brush application is especially recommended for grey/charcoal border details where it is easier to “cut in” by brush for an accurate finish.

b) Roller: Use a standard (disposable) medium knap roller fixed to a sturdy decorator’s pole and roll the product on in broad sweeps ensuring even coverage without ponding.

c) Spray Application: It is possible to apply the product using either a manual low-pressure solvent resistant sprayer (see: Kingfisher Solvent Resistant Sprayer) or a professional airless high-pressure sprayer (e.g. “Graco” 4900 / 5900 series).

5. Lacquer (Ultimate Topcoat)
SPRAY apply one coat of Kingfisher Ultimate Topcoat to the cured Restore-A-Drive to seal in the colour and give a protective lacquer finish.  Allow the Restore-A-Drive to cure for at least 24 hours before applying Ultimate Topcoat.

Note: MUST NOT be applied to wet or damp surfaces, if rain is imminent, in high humidity or if ambient temperatures are below +5°C.

How much will I need?

The coverage rate is 5 to 7 sq m / litre depending on surface porosity.  Typically a 5 Litre container will cover 30 sq m & a 20L bundle, 120 sq m.

Technical Support

As always we recommend that you read the Technical Data Sheet & Safety Data Sheet thoroughly before commencing any work.  If in doubt please call us for advice, we are here to help.