How to Make Concrete Pavers With a Shiny Finish

Make your own concrete pavers and apply a shiny finish to them.

Concrete pavers provide you with the ability to create paving from concrete that's strong and durable without the dull gray look of a solid concrete slab. Using molds, you can turn out pavers in a large variety of sizes and shapes, and even add color by tinting the concrete mix during production. With the addition of a wet look sealant, you can give your pavers a shiny finish that lasts as long as the sealant remains.

Things You'll Need

• Paver molds
• Mold release agent
• Fast-drying concrete mix
• Water
• Bucket
• Rubber mallet
• Wet look concrete sealer

Instructions

1. Place your paver mold on a flat work surface, mold opening upward.

2. Spray the inside of the mold with a mold release agent. The agent prevents the concrete from binding to the mold's surface and allows you to remove the paver from the mold without damaging either.

3. Mix the fast setting concrete in a large bucket, adding water according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use an electric drill with a mixing bit to mix the concrete. Add half the required water to the bucket followed by half the mix, and combine the mixture until you reach a smooth consistency like that of brownie batter. Add the remaining water followed by the remaining mix until complete.

4. Pour the concrete mix into the molds from a mold corner, allowing the mix to spread throughout the mold, filling it.

5. Tap the edges of the mold with the rubber mallet to push any bubbles in the concrete upward to the surface.

6. Cure the pavers in a dry place for 48 hours. Once they're cured, remove them from the mold by peeling the mold from the paver surface. Place the pavers face up onto your work area.

7. Brush the paver surface with a layer of wet look concrete sealant and allow the sealant to dry for two hours. Place a second layer of sealant onto the paver and allow that to dry for 24 hours before using the paver. The sealant will dry to create a shiny, wet appearance that will also protect your paver from staining.

Tips & Warnings

• Bring color to the pavers by adding a concrete colorant during the mixing process.

• Maintain the shiny finish of the pavers by reapplying sealant to the paver when the surface dulls from wear, approximately every two years.

• Wear safety gear during the mixing and molding process to prevent burns from the concrete. This should include work gloves, safety goggles, a facemask, and long sleeves.

References

• The Mold Store: How to Make Custom Stone, Tile, Pavers, and Bricks with Concrete and Molds
• Quikrete: Wet Look Sealer--High Gloss
• Gardenguides: How to Make Your Own Garden Stones

Resources

• The Concrete Network: Concrete Paver Information