Let’s assume that your patio is in fairly good shape and a candidate for polymeric sand. Shop paver sand and a variety of lawn & garden products online at Lowes.com. In 1999, Techniseal launched the first-ever polymeric sand for paver jointing. Keep away from walks and patios for at least 24 hours. Polymeric sand is nothing but your regular sand with polymer additives and fine silica and quartz. But the lack of binders in the sand would allow washout and cause weeds, grass and ant hills to form. Also, the area needs to be very dry (for several days) before applying the sand. Polymeric sands have really come along way since their inception in 1999 by Techni Seal. If this is the case, it is very likely that in time the weeds will reappear. 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. Since weeds will grow through concrete in time, there is very little chance that a polymeric sand will stop them in an area with a high infestation. The weed killer will not only kill what you see on the surface but put a hurting on what is still underground. Poly Sands & NOCO. What’s the difference between Paver Set and PermaSand and when would you use one versus the other? Should you want to discuss your application in further detail you can contact the Technical Department at 866-725-7383. We advise to using a natural play sand to fill the joints. Weeds often have strong roots that travel below the pavers. If you still have questions give us a call at 866-Sakrete or visit our Project Video page. 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 will cause the sand to consolidate. It is best to use polymeric sand that is designed for paver construction. Before you remove any of the old sand, apply a non-selective herbicide. Joint sand is usually polymeric sand that consists mostly of fine sand … Usually, polymeric sand contains 85 – 90% quartz and crystalline silica, which is what gives the sand its notably binding power. Polymeric sand … Sealing After poly-sand is cured and pavers are bone dry, the final step is to apply 2 thin coats of sealant of our premium solvent-based sealant using our proprietary mix in industrial grade concrete sprayers. The additives mixed with polymeric sand make it an incredibly strong agent to lock the pavers for a more extended period … Some sand manufacturers use lower-quality polymers and sand in order to cut their own costs. Polymeric sand works best when used at full depth. Zero Dust: Polymers bind to each other and the sand … Since you have already invested a large amount of time in this project, I suggest you do it right and apply the sealer. A few things are CRITICAL to making this look good. The easiest and cheapest is to buy sand, dump it into the spots where the sand is missing, and call it a day. That means that if it has rained for three days, then stops, and the sun pops out you can’t just run out and put down sand. Things like Bermuda grass form a whole colony making it tough to eliminate.  |  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. One suggestion: DON’T use these products on red clay bricks. This special polymeric sand will bind the sand particles together when reacted with water but will not cause a problem known as poly haze. Can we use this product to fill gaps between bricks in our walkway where the original mortar has been lost? As for insects, ants like patios for their loose dirt, making it good ground to colonize. Simply covering with plastic or a tarp will help prevent this. What would you recommend using to fill the gaps both small and large? If the paver is beveled the sand should be even with the bottom of the bevel. There simply isn’t enough space between them to allow the sand to fill the entire void. The years since however have taken their toll. Upon proper installation, the polymers activate and bind the joint sand matrix inside the paver joints. to blow away any excess polymeric sand residue. This polymeric sand will lock itself in the joints preventing erosion of both the sand joint and the sand bed beneath the pavers which will help prevent the pavers from shifting. 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. When pavers are installed correctly, they are laid on a compact bed of sand. You will need to restrict pedestrian traffic for 24 hours and vehicular traffic for 72 hours. This advanced sand remains solid and dry to stop weed and insect infestation. If you’ve sanded and buffed your bead, the wax will give a wonderfully warm sheen. Generally, polymer sand … Rob, With the joints currently having a mortar in place. Some of the gaps are more than one and a half inch is wide and deep. Regular Sand for Pavers. Inspect the surface for moisture. Paver Joint Sand Sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter. The polymeric sand "grout" between my slate patio pavers is loosening up and coming out. Cement will stain the pavers and cause a white/light gray film on the pavers and around the joint. Sealing Joint Sand From Erosion. Easier to install and more … They are diverse in design and make for a durable surface. 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. Yet, it becomes relatively flexible when wet to prevent cracking during freezing and thawing. A casual rain is not a problem. 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 … Wednesday: 8 to 4 The non-sand particles of the products act as binding agents when they are exposed to water. Using a broom handle or some other blunt object, tap on the pavers. Poly sand is an advanced mix of. When your patio was installed a dozen plus years ago it looked great. How do you make sure you’re using polymeric sand properly? Some patios are beyond help. Polymeric sand is a great alternative to traditional paver joint sand and its common pitfalls. In addition to the polymeric sand (hereafter referred to as “sand”) you are going to need a few other items. But because polymeric sand hardens and seals, it’s much more difficult for weeds to root in. Pour the sand onto the pavers and sweep it into the joints. Floating polymers will also cause staining. Some pavers are made with a false joint. Some pavers are made with notches on the side. If your pavers are installed in a such a way that the notches touch the next paver, polymeric sand will not work well. How do you make sure you’re using polymeric sand properly? The is a 4 part sand to 1 part Portland cement that is mixed with water and applied into the joints. 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). The same applies if you need to use a pressure washer to remove the sand that is left from the original installation. Benefits: Zero Haze: Portland-free formula cleanly sweeps to reduce any material left on the paver surface. Polymeric sand is too hard for ants to tunnel through, however. You need to add enough water to saturate the sand but not so much that you float the polymers out of the sand. Preparing your interlocking paving stone surface for sealing. Pour several small heaps of polymeric sand over the patio or walkway. They will stain no matter what you do. Thursday: 8 to 4 What is Polymer Sand? The introduction of polymeric sand helped homeowners prevent these unfavorable occurrences, however. As you are aware. As for insects, ants like patios for their loose dirt, making it good ground to colonize. You will need to let this sit a few days before you can continue. 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. Wider joints take longer to harden and may require that traffic be restricted for a longer period of time. It can be done with great success but you need to do your homework. You can use whatever material your heart desires to fill cracks but that doesn’t mean the problem is addressed. 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 polymeric sand would not be suitable for this application. This process will not work with polymeric sand as the polymeric sand … Paver stone sealer would typically be applied to the pavers to harden the top layer of the joint sand, making it resistant to weeds, insects and seasonal water washouts. You can contact the Technical Department at 866-725-7383. Dominator Polymeric Sand. These false joints can successfully be filled with sand and hold up well when done properly (see section below on false joints). Learn how we’re supporting concrete pros during the COVID-19 crisis, Bonders, Admixtures, Accelerators, Sealers, Concrete Patch & Crack Repair - Trowelable.