If your pavers are installed in a such a way that the notches touch the next paver, polymeric sand will not work well. I have a patio of organic shaped pavers. Where regular masonry sand of yesteryear allows water to seep through and, wash between the layers of the underlying patio, polymeric sand stays put w. , including traditional paver joint sand. They fall often, if an acorn gets trapped in the sand is this bad and needs to be dug out or it's not a big deal? Haste makes waste. Regular Sand for Pavers. April 18th, 2018, Polymer Sand Of course, the weeds will pop through before you pull the tab on your favorite beverage and most of what you put in will wash out after a few heavy rains. Spread the Polymeric Sand Make sure to work when the pavers are completely dry. Additional items may include: a pressure washer, leaf blower, a non-selective herbicide (that’s a fancy term for a weed killer that will kill anything-Roundup® works well), additional pavers, paver sealer, a small sturdy brush. While you hate to see rain in the forecast on a normal day, you’ll hate to see it … The non-sand particles of the products act as binding agents when they are exposed to water. The pavers are not as straight, they look a little faded, and what’s worse, half the sand is missing, and the weeds have taken over. If not the polymer will cause staining. The polymeric sand would not be recommended for this application.  |  They will stain no matter what you do. But because polymeric sand hardens and seals, it’s much more difficult for weeds to root in. If the pavers are so crooked and busted that you can’t walk across them without tripping you really have a major project on your hands. Weeds often have strong roots that travel below the pavers. Step-By-Step Guide for Sealing the Pavers Step One – Make Sure the Base Is Right. When proper preparation is taken (such as weed killer, insect repellant/removal), this polymeric jointing sand has the potential to reduce weed growth, resist rain washout and help prevent insect penetration, compared to more traditional sand. Today, we still offer the highest performing jointing products on the market. Preparing your interlocking paving stone surface for sealing. Under normal weed conditions, one here and there, the process of removing the old sand will eliminate most of the weeds and deter them from returning. Yet, it becomes relatively flexible when wet to prevent cracking during freezing and thawing. A joint stabilizing sealer is a liquid product that penetrates into the surface of the concrete paver as well as the sand in the joint giving the paver protection from stains and an enhanced look as well as hardening the sand … They are diverse in design and make for a durable surface. We proudly introduce the newest innovation in polymeric sand, Pavermate Z3! Polymeric sand is a sand formula that is swept into the joints of pavers and natural stone to lock in the product, … Additionally, closer observation is necessary when watering, as the false joints will become saturated faster than the full depth joints. Polymeric sands have really come along way since their inception in 1999 by Techni Seal. Polymeric sand is nothing but your regular sand with polymer additives and fine silica and quartz. So now what do you do? DOMINATOR Polymeric Sand: Joint Stabilizing, 5 Modern Color Options, Made With Fine Sand, Solid Flex Technology From $40.00 - $93.50 Clear Grout Sealer: Mold and Mildew Inhibitor, Makes It … No matter where you install your pavers, you want to give them time to set and rest. You will need to restrict pedestrian traffic for 24 hours and vehicular traffic for 72 hours. In 1999, Techniseal launched the first-ever polymeric sand for paver jointing. However, a real gully washer within the first 24-48 hours can dislodge the sand. Some of the gaps are more than one and a half inch is wide and deep. In addition, it works best on joints that are between ¼ inch and 1.5 inches wide. Polymeric Sand works best when it is used to fill the entire depth of the paver. In other words, can we use it with an original mortar-set pathway rather than a sand-set brick path? Should you have any concerns going forward or would like to discuss you project in more detail. It is recommended to use a similar material that is sand and cement based. This joint is usually about 3/8 inch deep and 3/8 inch wide and zigzags its way across the surface of the paver. If this happens, it is only a matter of time before the sand at the bottom of the paver gives way and the top falls in. You can use whatever material your heart desires to fill cracks but that doesn’t mean the problem is addressed. Since most polymeric sand jobs are done in the summer and thunderstorms occur without warning around the same time, you will need to be prepared to protect the patio in the event of a downpour. The polymeric sand "grout" between my slate patio pavers is loosening up and coming out. Can we use this product to fill gaps between bricks in our walkway where the original mortar has been lost? Step Two – Check the Weather. Notice in the after picture our Polymeric Sand … Its binding ability locks pavers together, allowing the joints to stay strong for the long haul. In addition to the polymeric sand (hereafter referred to as “sand”) you are going to need a few other items. The recent popularity in using polymeric sand has given many DIYers the courage to tackle this type of project. Sweep more sand into the joints until the sand is within 1/8” of the top of the paver. One suggestion: DON’T use these products on red clay bricks. Wider joints take longer to harden and may require that traffic be restricted for a longer period of time. When they won’t take any more water, and before you float the polymer out of the sand and onto the pavers, stop spraying. If the sand color is the same then these products can be interchangeable. The additives mixed with polymeric sand make it an incredibly strong agent to lock the pavers for a more extended period … Learn how we’re supporting concrete pros during the COVID-19 crisis, Bonders, Admixtures, Accelerators, Sealers, Concrete Patch & Crack Repair - Trowelable. What is Polymer Sand? Shop paver sand and a variety of lawn & garden products online at Lowes.com. The weed killer will not only kill what you see on the surface but put a hurting on what is still underground. April 18th, 2018, The introduction of polymeric sand helped homeowners prevent these unfavorable occurrences, however. If the paver is beveled the sand should be even with the bottom of the bevel. In most cases, we prefer to use a joint stabilizing paver sealer over polymeric sand. Pavers are a great addition to any property. As for insects, ants like patios for their loose dirt, making it good ground to colonize. These false joints can successfully be filled with sand and hold up well when done properly (see section below on false joints). This will get you wet and dirty. It’s simply a combination of fine grain sand and chemical polymers that, when mixed with water, will create a tight bond. Poly haze is what happens when there is polymeric sand … Paver Joint Sand While applying a water-based sealer like Sakrete Natural Look or Sakrete Wet Look sealers isn’t necessary to complete the polymeric sand application, it does do a great job in making the old pavers look new. Sunday: CLOSED, Copyright © 2020 Bahler Brothers Inc  |  Website Design by IMPACT, on Wax is the best polymer clay sealer to use if you want to perfectly maintain the texture of your work. Using a broom handle or some other blunt object, tap on the pavers. The Dominator … For those of you who follow my blog you know I try to keep things fairly short. The gorgeous weed- and ant-free paver driveway is the product of polymeric sand. Polymeric Sand can be used in pavers with false joints that are at least ¼” deep and ¼” wide. Some patios are beyond help. The polymeric sand would not be suitable for this application. Note on the "polymeric sand" - it and the pavers have to be totally dry during application so can't be applied for typically 1-3 dry days after paver washing or a rain (or lawn watering wetting it), but the sand needs to be lightly sprayed with water to soak it and set it - then has to totally dry before applying any sealer… Tom, Paver Set and PermaSand are the same product. There are two keys to success here. Let’s assume that your patio is in fairly good shape and a candidate for polymeric sand. After the brick pavers have dried for 24 hours it is time to re-sand the joints before sealing. This sand provides a … Also, the area needs to be very dry (for several days) before applying the sand. Are they interchangeable? Benefits: Zero Haze: Portland-free formula cleanly sweeps to reduce any material left on the paver surface. It is very easy to blow the sand out of the joints if the blower is not angled properly. Some pavers are made with notches on the side. If you have never used a pressure washer let me strongly suggest goggles or a face shield (not just safety glasses) and either a rain coat or some clothes that you really don’t care about. Floating polymers will also cause staining. Since you have already invested a large amount of time in this project, I suggest you do it right and apply the sealer. Some of the gaps on my pavers are 1/4" to 3/4" while others are almost touching. Polymeric Sand is a blend of sand and special additives designed to fill the joints between concrete pavers and brick pavers. The easiest and cheapest is to buy sand, dump it into the spots where the sand is missing, and call it a day. Randy Bianchi Easier to install and more … The most effective way to water the sand is to adjust the nozzle to “shower” and water the pavers until no more water will soak in. Hardscape Cleaning and Maintenance. The danger in not watering thoroughly is that the top will harden and the bottom will not. Rob, With the joints currently having a mortar in place. You can contact the Technical Department at 866-725-7383. I suspect it was improperly laid by the contractor. As you are aware. The best polymeric sand to use is a brand like Surebond. Be careful that no one is standing immediately downwind. Every polymeric sand that I know of will stain under the right conditions. However, when polymeric sand … While this will save you some money in the short term, you’ll just wind up needing to redo your work sooner than necessary. The process of placing the sand also requires attention to detail. This process will not work with polymeric sand as the polymeric sand … You will definitely need a garden hose, an adjustable nozzle, and a broom. If the pavers are for your driveway, wait 48 hours before driving over them, ps must you take to ensure  an unshakable installation, Set aside ample time for the project, haste makes waste, Check the weather, you will need two days of sun and dry weather, Shower your pavers to seal and harden the sand, When watering in the Poly Sand, you shouldn’t water too much or too little. Polymeric sand … Just click below to get your copy of our comparison checklist. After you have swept everything that you can into the joints, a leaf blower set on low and held at about a 30-degree angle will gently remove excess dust. You will need to let this sit a few days before you can continue. If you have access to a leaf blower, adjust to the lowest setting, hold the blower about waist high and blow excess dust from the pavers. When you wet this sand, it activates the polymers , which hardens the various … Play sand will not harden but can be used to fill the joints. You also want to make sure you’re removing all the dust off the surface of the pavers, which may cause staining on the pavers after drying. The polymers that last longest cost a little more, but you won’t have to dip back into your bank account for quite some time. The sealer is easy to apply and not very expensive. Pour several small heaps of polymeric sand over the patio or walkway. You can’t pressure wash and apply polymeric sand on the same day. We truly can’t stress the importance of this step enough! Make sure you follow these best practices when installing pavers. Appealing, right? Historically, pavers for patios, walkways, and driveways were installed with regular masonry sand. Saturday: CLOSED Poly Sands & NOCO. Both products have the same parameters of application. The watering process is also CRITICAL. What steps must you take to ensure  an unshakable installation? Before you get too far into this project we need to discuss reality. The hardscape industry's leading polymeric sand, HP Nextgel is a high performance jointing product that can be used in the installation of concrete and clay pavers, natural stone and porcelain tiles.  |  The biggest challenge you will face is how to avoid staining. Find Polymeric sand paver sand at Lowe's today. Thursday: 8 to 4 It will be necessary to wait until the paver set hardens, usually in a few days, before applying the sealer. Using a small broom or brush carefully sweep all sand off the pavers. If you have a serious weed problem, you may want to pick up some of your pavers and see if there is an extensive mat of weed roots underneath. This video showcases the importance of power washing the surface in order to remove dirt and grime from your paving stone and most importantly removing the dried up Polymeric sand … Polymeric sand is too hard for ants to tunnel through, however. It seems that everyone has come across one of these issues when dealing with pavers. Poly sand is thus known for its durability. This will harden like concrete. What would you recommend using to fill the gaps both small and large? Polymeric sand is too hard for ants to tunnel through, however. The water will wick up through the pavers and cause stains. Polymeric sand works best when used at full depth. You can only read so much about concrete products before glazing over. A pressure washer works well or you can get down on your hands and knees and use some sort of tool that will dislodge the sand. Some sand manufacturers use lower-quality polymers and sand in order to cut their own costs. How do you make sure you’re using polymeric sand properly? This will cause the sand to consolidate. This is dependent on the condition of the patio. Joint sand is usually polymeric sand that consists mostly of fine sand … You don’t want the sand to be even with the top of the paver, especially if the top of the paver has a bevel. The difficulty with weeds is that simply pulling them out may not eliminate them. If this happens, you will see a white milky substance. Before you remove any of the old sand, apply a non-selective herbicide. Pour the sand onto the pavers and sweep it into the joints. There simply isn’t enough space between them to allow the sand to fill the entire void. Poly sand is an advanced mix of fine sand and polymer additives. Spray for a few seconds, then stop and observe. If you still have questions give us a call at 866-Sakrete or visit our Project Video page. But because polymeric sand hardens and seals, it’s much more difficult for weeds to root in. If you’re looking for a contractor to help, look over our contractor comparison checklist. Product Overview The ideal one step, easy to apply product for sealing inter-locking concrete pavers and stabilizing joint sand by locking it in place. Where regular masonry sand of yesteryear allows water to seep through and wash between the layers of the underlying patio, polymeric sand stays put when it rains. Sand is also used to create joints between each paver. (Actually, it’s so important that we … It is best to use polymeric sand that is designed for paver construction. The polymeric sand … Upon proper installation, the polymers activate and bind the joint sand matrix inside the paver joints. As for insects, ants like patios for their loose dirt, making it good ground to colonize. Surface preparation and cleaning using a power washer. Once ALL dust has been removed, you are ready to spray water. Dominator Polymeric Sand. Generally, polymer sand … If this is the case, it is very likely that in time the weeds will reappear. This special polymeric sand will bind the sand particles together when reacted with water but will not cause a problem known as poly haze. I am going to redo the polymeric sand treatment and I am thinking about using a patio sealer such as Thompson's Patio and Block Paving Seal to brighten up the stone and protect the sand … Beautifies and protects existing and new paver projects by penetrating deep into the pores of the material. Thus, it may be necessary for you to apply more water to the full depth joints versus the false joints (see section below on watering). hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(129930, '64430af7-5608-464d-9ca2-86cccede72e4', {}); Monday: 8 to 4 If you don’t sand … The pavers were all new and straight and everyone oohed and aahed. Finishing Sand is specially treated sand that has been washed, filter for even particles, and heated dry, used for applying over fresh installed caulk while is still sticky at the surface. I poured my cobblestone mold for my patio and I have to apply the sand next and after a few rains my joints are filled with acorns. How do you make sure you’re using polymeric sand properly? Downspouts that empty directly on a patio can also be a problem in the first few days. We’ve also all seen patios with a ton of weeds or little anthills jutting out of the cracks in its border? We’ve all seen those patios with the nice green border around each of the pavers. We advise to using a natural play sand to fill the joints. Polymeric sand products such as Sakrete Paver Set or Sakrete PermaSand are designed to resist weed growth and to harden and stay in place for a long time. This advanced sand remains solid and dry to stop weed and insect infestation. Polymeric sand provides more durable and more reliable bonding than regular sand. This video explains what can happen if you use polymeric sand on remodel type paver projects. You have some options. The years since however have taken their toll. Should you want to discuss your application in further detail you can contact the Technical Department at 866-725-7383. The first thing you need to do is remove ALL of the existing sand down to the bottom of the paver. The picture below shows how bad mold will get on Chicago Brick. John, With the area having varying joints widths and some butted pavers. June, It sounds like you may need to Sakrete Sand Mix Topping and Bedding Mix. You are in luck though because there is a better option. The sealer liquid will penetrate into the sand and when dried, the sand becomes hard and binds to the pavers and preexisting joint sand (if relevant). This type of project save you some money in the first few days, before applying the particles! 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