Table of Contents
How do you set polymeric sand?
When using PolySweep it is important to apply a fine spray of water to moisten the sand until the water just starts to slightly sit on top of the joint. Wait about 5 to 10 minutes allowing the water to soak in. It may take 3-4 proper waterings in order to fully activate the polymeric sand.
Can you hand tamp polymeric sand?
Using a broom, spread sand over the patio and into the gaps between the pavers. Once you have swept the sand into the paver joints, a hand tamp should be used over the entire paver area in order to “vibrate” the sand further into the joints.
How deep should polymeric sand be?
Polymeric Sand can be used in pavers with false joints that are at least ¼” deep and ¼” wide. However, special care must be taken while cleaning off excess dust from pavers, especially if a leaf blower is used. It is very easy to blow the sand out of the joints if the blower is not angled properly.
How do you keep polymeric sand from washing out?
You can protect the joint sand from washing out by sealing the paver surface. Sealing restores the beauty of your pavers. The paver sealer also serves as glue between the joint sand particles hence holding them together, and preventing the sand from being washed away when it rains or during pressure washing.
How long does it take polymeric sand to set?
A minimum of 24 hours drying time is required prior to allowing significant foot traffic and 48 hours for vehicular traffic on the paver surface. Polymeric sands are designed to soften and re-heal.
Do you need a compactor for polymeric sand?
One of the most important steps in a polymeric sand installation is proper compaction of the sand into the joints. Ideally this is done using a vibratory plate compactor. This is why it’s important to sweep in more sand to ensure the joints get filled up to 1/8 inch (3mm) below the paver’s edge or chamfer.
What is the minimum depth for polymeric sand?
It is important to empty the joints before filling them up with Techniseal® Polymeric Sand. Polymeric Sand needs a minimum depth of 4 cm (1 ½”) to be effective. Use a power washer to empty the joints. If there is already polymeric sand between the pavers, soak the sand to soften it up before emptying the joints.
How wide a gap can polymeric sand fill?
How Big a Gap Can Polymeric Sand Fill? Polymeric sand works best to fill gaps between 1/4 inch and 1.5 inches wide. Wider joints will require more time to harden.
Does water drain through polymeric sand?
Installing polymeric sand involves more than just sweeping and watering. That is because this will harden and not allow water to drain through, keeping the water below the pavers and saturating the joints, not allowing the polymeric sand to properly dry and never set.
Does polymeric sand wash out?
It didn’t take long for weeds to grow, but any cleaning efforts washed away the sand. Polymeric sand includes chemical binders or glues activated by water. When the polymers dry and cure, the sand gets hard and cements the pavers together. Weeds won’t grow in the joints, and the sand doesn’t wash away.
Can you seal over polymeric sand?
If us- ing polymeric sand, you can install it after the sealer application has properly cured for 24 – 48 hours. If polymeric sand is installed prior to sealing, be sure surface is dry for 24 hours before applying sealer.
Will sand under pavers wash away?
It is placed between all the pavers to help lock them in and keep weeds and moss from penetrating the surface between the pavers. As wind and rain plague the surface the joint sand can wash out and compromise the pavers. Without joint sand, water can penetrate the surface and collect under the pavers.
How do you harden polymeric sand?
Polymeric sand cures by drying. And in order to fully set, it needs to dry out completely. If your polymeric sand didn’t harden up, it’s pretty much guaranteed there’s a moisture issue. If the joints remain wet after the installation, they will remain soft until they dry.
Does polymeric sand get soft when wet?
Polymeric jointing sand is a high-tech mix of graded, colored sand and a binder, specially formulated for the filling of joints between pavers, slabs or natural stones. Unlike conventional sand it stays in place and remains stable. It softens when wet and firms up when dry to better resist soil movements.
How do you remove polymeric sand haze?
The Alliance polymeric sands do not contain cement. Hence the rainfall being slightly acidic will clean off our polymer residue haze. Some competitors put cement in their mix,this type of haze is very hard to remove. An acid wash using the Efflorescence Cleaner is recommended.
Do you compact pavers before or after sand?
Not compacting the base Before laying bedding sand or pavers, your gravel base needs to be flat and firm, without any bellies or rises of more than 1/8″. You accomplish this kind of precision by properly compacting your base and your pavers. If you fail to compact, you’ll experience sunken or raised pavers.
Why is polymeric sand cracking?
Polymeric sand and stone dust will not crack on their own – any cracking that occurs is a result of movement – movement of the pavers or natural stone, usually a rocking motion that will cause cracking.
Can you hand tamper for pavers?
They have great notes on installation. If you are using the larger stepping stones, hand tamper could crack them, but they should also bet set on a sand setting bed. Clay paver would be installed slightly differently. Al pavers require a well compacted base if you want something to last.
How do you tamp down paver sand?
Add a Layer of Sand Scrape a long two-by-four board across the surface of the sand to smooth the top and make it level. Tamp the sand down after leveling, then measure the depth, add more sand when needed and tamp it again. Keep tamping and checking the level until you have a completely flat surface.
Can you compact sand by hand?
Ideally a small wacker plate would be beneficial to compact it but a hand tamp will do an ok job although you’ll have arms like popeye when you finish.
