We recently had stone laid under our oak. My husband dug out the area and we have had these really nice thick stones for years. The oak is messy therefore grass no longer grew there and the roots caused that as well. They did a great job laying the stone. Then came the day, they came to get the residual grout off the stone and power wash and the seal. I had done a lot of research on sealing most said don’t seal natural stone that it needs to breathe. The owner of company insisted it needed to be sealed. We ended up going with their advice. So, 2 days after pouring something on the stones to loosen grout dust from top of stones and power washing they came to seal. I was worried it needed another day to dry out. Anyway ,they sealed it and within 30 minutes of sealant drying which was right away, we started seeing all this chalking spotty efflorescence looking stuff. i was panicked. They told me it will be okay they‘d come get it off the following day. Well you can’t even scape scrape it off. It felt like it was some reaction or deposits on the stone. Here’s what i did after reading on line. i took diluted vinegar and a nylon brush to it getting 90 % up. But still we feel it lightened our stones the reaction their sealant or combo of sealant with whatever they poured on to loosen grout film or sealing before fully drying out after power washing.. They want to come back and power wash and reseal it. i don’t want them to. i feel sealing again will make it even lighter in color, as the products used seemed to lighten the stones overall, and any spots i can’t get up, I’m worried sealing will lock in and lock in any left over haze. Here’s my questions:

1. power-wash or not?

2. re seal?

3. I’m worried about what they poured over it to loosen the grout dust 2 days before sealing, can that stuff seep into ground and kill my huge live oak? I’ve asked for the name and they won’t respond!

pictures :

Before rock in the process, putting down road base.

After flagstone is laid and grouted

day after they poured something to get grout film off of stone And power washing, this is where I’m concerned about what product they used and if it would hurt the tree

Morning after that power wash. it looks great. We are very happy at this point. Besides wanting to know what was poured on before power washing, out of concern for the tree!!

day 2 after power wash and right before they sealed it

Right after sealer

Now after me scrubbing for 5 hours

Can still see a haze on some rocks and white chalk deposits on grout