Paving Cleaning and Paver Sealing in Durban
Paving cleaning removes algae, moss, weeds, oil and grime from brick and block paving, and paver sealing then closes the surface at R50 to R100 per m² in a Durban cost guide (January 2026). A paving manufacturer's maintenance guide says sealing treated paving dramatically reduces the algae's return. Paving Wiz Durban cleans, re-sands and seals driveways, patios and pool surrounds across eThekwini, and keeps wash water and chemicals out of the street drain, as section 5(1) of the eThekwini Stormwater Management By-law, 2020 requires without the Municipality's written consent.
Use the form below for a paving quote.
A clean and seal suits paving that is level and sound. Sunken or rocking blocks are lifted and re-laid first, because sealer cannot fix a failed base.
Paving Cleaning and Sealing Prices, by Guide
| Service | Guide (updated) | Rate | On 40 m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sealant treatment | Durban cost guide B (Jan 2026) | R50–R100 per m² | R2,000–R4,000 |
| Re-sand and weed treatment | Western Cape guide F (Jul 2026) | R60–R120 per m² | R2,400–R4,800 |
| Quick repairs with matching materials | Durban cost guide B (Jan 2026) | R150–R250 per m² | R6,000–R10,000 |
| Relay sunken sections and re-sand | Durban estimate guide C (2026) | R2,300 low · R5,750 typical · R11,500 high per job | — |
| Lift and relay, base rebuilt | Western Cape guide F (Jul 2026) | R250–R450 per m² | R10,000–R18,000 |
| Area | Seal at R50–R100/m² (guide B) | Re-sand and weed at R60–R120/m² (guide F) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 m² patio | R1,000–R2,000 | R1,200–R2,400 |
| 40 m² single driveway | R2,000–R4,000 | R2,400–R4,800 |
| 60 m² double driveway | R3,000–R6,000 | R3,600–R7,200 |
| 100 m² driveway and paths | R5,000–R10,000 | R6,000–R12,000 |
Each cell is its guide's per-m² rate multiplied by the area. Guide B prices specialty sealant treatment in Durban; guide F prices re-sanding and weed treatment in the Western Cape. These separate regional service figures are not a combined Durban clean-and-seal price. Installation prices sit on the paving prices in Durban page.
What Grows on Paving, and Where
| Growth or stain | Where it forms (maintenance guide) | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Algae | Damp areas, in or around the joints, as a thin green film | Water-based fungicide, then seal |
| Moss | Shaded, damp, unmaintained areas; joints where the sand stays damp | Water-based fungicide, brush or scrape off |
| Weeds | Joints, where jointing sand holds moisture and collects debris | Weedkiller in dry conditions, remove, re-sand |
| Lichen | Paving left uncleaned or untreated for long periods | Treat and clean |
| Efflorescence | White powdery residue | Left to weather away |
| Oil, gum, chemicals | Driveways and parking bays | Degreaser or stain treatment |
The guide advises applying weedkiller in dry conditions and letting efflorescence weather away naturally.
The Paving Cleaning Process
- Inspect and test. Check for loose blocks and level differences over 15 mm, and test each treatment on a small, hidden patch for colour fastness, as the maintenance guide advises.
- Treat. Apply a water-based fungicide to algae and moss, and a degreaser to oil stains.
- Wash. Brush and rinse. Pressure washing is kept for very dirty areas, without excessive pressure and with the lance at a low angle, and the runoff is caught before the boundary.
- Re-sand. Top up the joints with dry jointing sand once the surface is dry; the guide notes joints are likely to need it after pressure washing.
- Seal. Apply sealer to clean, dry paving between rain days.
Paver Sealing Options Compared
| Sealer type | Finish | Typical use | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water-based acrylic | Matt to satin | Concrete block driveways | Low odour; re-applied more often |
| Solvent-based acrylic | Wet look, deeper colour | Patios, clay brick, cobbles | Glossier finish |
| Penetrating (silane or siloxane) | Natural, no sheen | Natural stone, pool surrounds | Soaks into the paver; no colour boost |
| Urethane or plastic-based | Film-forming | Salt-pool surrounds | 24-month interval in pool guidance, against 6 months for a cheap sealant |
Pool surrounds and coping have their own algae and water rules, covered under pool paving.
Washing Paving During eThekwini Water Restrictions
Section 21 of the eThekwini Water By-law, 2023 lets the Municipality, by notice, prohibit or restrict water use for specified purposes, during specified hours, or through specified appliances. Section 1 of the same by-law defines a flow restrictor as a washer that allows about 360 litres in a six-hour period. In early October 2026 the City reported a failure of the pumps supplying Durban Heights Treatment Works, cutting supply to eThekwini by about 50 megalitres a day, and urged residents in the Northern Aqueduct and Mount Moriah areas, including Pinetown, Umhlanga, Durban North and Phoenix, to use water sparingly. A pressure clean is therefore checked against the City's current notice for the suburb before it is booked.
Keeping Wash Water Out of the Stormwater Drain
Section 5(1)(a) of the eThekwini Stormwater Management By-law, 2020 bars anyone, without the Municipality's written consent, from letting anything other than stormwater, or anything likely to pollute it, enter the stormwater system. Under sections 5(3) and 5(4), when such an incident happens without consent and not from natural causes, the person responsible or the property owner must report it immediately and take all reasonable measures, at their own cost, to contain and minimise its effects, and those measures can include cleaning up. Section 12 sets a fine of up to R100,000, imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both. Algae treatments, degreasers and sealer rinse are therefore contained on site and kept out of the kerb channel. New paving, re-laying and patterns sit under paving in Durban and paving designs.
Paving Wiz Durban: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does paver sealing cost in Durban?
Sealant treatment costs R50 to R100 per m² in a Durban cost guide (January 2026), so sealing 40 m² works out at R2,000 to R4,000. A Western Cape guide (July 2026) prices re-sanding and weed treatment at R60 to R120 per m².
When does paving need resealing?
Paving needs resealing when water stops beading on the surface and soaks straight into the pavers. Around salt-chlorinated pools, a paving manufacturer's guidance sets the interval at 6 months for a cheap sealant and 24 months for a quality urethane or plastic-based sealant.
Can I pressure-wash paving during water restrictions?
Only within the terms of the City's notice. Section 21 of the eThekwini Water By-law, 2023 lets the Municipality prohibit or restrict water use for specified purposes, hours or appliances by notice, so a pressure clean is checked against the current notice for the suburb first.
Does sealing stop weeds in paving?
No, not on its own. A paving manufacturer's maintenance guide notes that weeds grow in joints because the jointing sand holds moisture, which is why joints are cleaned and re-sanded before sealing.
Can pressure washing damage paving?
Yes, used the wrong way. A paving manufacturer's maintenance guide does not recommend pressure washing for regular cleaning, reserves it for very dirty areas without excessive pressure and with the lance at a low angle, and notes that joints are likely to need topping up afterwards.