Weeds often have strong roots that travel below the pavers. The difficulty with weeds is that simply pulling them out may not eliminate them. You will need to let this sit a few days before you can continue. Before you remove any of the old sand, apply a non-selective herbicide. If large quantities of weeds have taken up residence in the joints, you may want to begin this entire project by declaring war on them. I strongly suggest goggles or a face shield (not just safety glasses) when using a pressure washer, and maybe even a rain coat! This will get you wet and dirty. 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. Polymeric sand works best when used at full depth. The first thing you need to do is remove ALL of the existing sand down to the bottom of the paver. Let’s assume that your patio is in fairly good shape and a candidate for polymeric sand. These false joints can successfully be filled with sand and hold up well when done properly (see section below on false joints). This joint is usually about 3/8 inch deep and 3/8 inch wide and zigzags its way across the surface of the paver. There simply isn’t enough space between them to allow the sand to fill the entire void. If your pavers are installed in a such a way that the notches touch the next paver, polymeric sand will not work well. Some pavers are made with notches on the side. Casual pedestrian traffic would not be an issue but high heels would wreak havoc. Wider joints take longer to harden and may require that traffic be restricted for a longer period of time. 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. This is certainly cheaper than a brand new patio, but it is a tedious job. If this is the case you need to pick up every paver, level the ground under it, reposition the pavers replacing any that are broken. 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. 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.īefore you get too far into this job, we need to discuss reality. You will definitely need a garden hose, an adjustable nozzle, and a broom. This is dependent on the condition of the patio. In addition to the polymeric sand (hereafter referred to as “sand”) you are going to need a few other items. Polymeric sand products such as TechniSeal NOCOSTORM or TechniSeal Polymeric Joint are designed to resist weed growth and to harden and stay in place for a long time. It is a little more expensive, requires more time and more attention to detail but using Polymeric Sand will leave better results for much longer at the end of the day. Polymeric Sand – The Best Sand For Paver Joints 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. Polymeric Sand is a blend of sand and special additives designed to fill the joints between concrete pavers and brick pavers. Properly sealing paver joints will help ensure better quality for your customers, less maintenance and greater satisfaction at the end of the day. If you don’t, much of the sand you put in will wash out after a few heavy rains, and you may see weeds pop through before you finish packing up at the end of the job. Instead of simply using regular sand to fill in the missing spots between the pavers, build long-lasting beauty into the surface with polymeric sand. Over time, all patios will settle, wear and erode. Pro Tip Applying Polymeric Sand to an Existing Patio or Walkway
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