Polymeric A polymer is a large molecule, or macromolecule, composed of many repeated subunits. Due to their broad range of properties, both synthetic and natural polymers play essential and ubiquitous roles in everyday life. Polymers range from familiar synthetic plastics such as polystyrene to natural …Polymer
How much polymeric sand is needed to fill my joints?
Using Polymeric Sand
- Spreading and Sweeping
- Compacting
- Sweeping and Blowing
- Watering
- Blowing
What is polymeric sand and does it really work?
What is polymeric sand and how does it work? Polymeric sand is a sand like material that contains a unique polymer that is placed in between the joints of brick pavers. When the material is activated with water, it creates a flexible “mortar-like” bond in between the pavers and acts as a joint stabilizer.
What is the best polymeric sand?
- BEST OVERALL: DOMINATOR Natural Joint Stabilizing for Pavers
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: SAKRETE Paver Set Joint Sand
- UPGRADE PICK: Alliance Gator Maxx G2 Intelligent Polymeric Sand
- BEST FOR SMALL PROJECTS: DOMINATOR Joint Stabilizing for Pavers
- ALSO CONSIDER: Buddingco Polymeric Sand
What kind of joint sand is best for my pavers?
- Sand Set Type F
- Bitumen Set Type R
- Fixed Mortar Set Type R
What is the best sand for paver joints?
Premium joint sand is the best choice with it comes to refilling and restoring your missing paver joint sand. Compared to polymeric sand, premium joint sand takes less absorption and drying time which makes the restoration process faster and more efficient.
What is the difference between polymeric sand and paver sand?
Polymeric sand is the more reliable and durable option for filling in the paver gaps. It outperforms regular sand when a homeowner is looking to lock the paver joints properly and wants a steady and stable path. It also provides a better appearance with its cleaner look and availability in varied colors.
Is there anything better than polymeric sand?
When looking for alternatives to polymeric sand, you will also want to find high quality materials. There are other products, such as EnviroSAND, EnviroSTONE and EnviroPATH on the market that are able to stop water erosion from occurring.
Can you use polymeric sand for expansion joints?
When it comes to sands, there are a few options to choose from, such as a natural fine dry sweeping sand or a synthetic sand blend. However, polymeric sand is unique because it will allow the joints to expand and contract with the elements like hot sun during the summer and below-freezing temperatures in the winter.
When should you not use polymeric sand?
#6 - Too Narrow or Too Wide Joints The sand is simply pushed out of the joints. This is why we don't recommend using polymeric sand on extremely narrow joints. Similarly, too-wide joints can lead to washout, because they allow too much water flow during the activation process.
Is joint sand permanent?
Polymeric sand relies on a chemical reaction to harden it into the joints between your paving stones. Once it hardens, it is permanent.
How long will polymeric sand last?
Polymeric sand can last up to 10 years before replacement is necessary. However, certain manufacturers claim some products can last up to 15 years.
What to use to fill gaps between pavers?
Polymeric Sand is a blend of sand and special additives designed to fill the joints between concrete pavers and brick pavers.
Will water drain through polymeric sand?
Polymeric sand, if installed properly, will harden to lock you pavers in place and create a more effective weed and insect deterent while still allowing water to drain freely.
Can I use polymeric sand in driveway joints?
When set, polymeric sand is a stronger binding agent than traditional hardscape mortar, and can be considered a permanent jointing compound that does not need to be replaced for the life of the pavers. It is commonly used for filling joints between concrete pavers, brick pavers, and natural stone pavers.
What do you fill expansion joints with?
Expansion joints must be sealed with a flexible sealant, like QUIKRETE® Self-Leveling Polyurethane Sealant or QUIKRETE® Non-Sag Polyurethane Sealant…or an expansion joint strip, to prevent water from penetrating the joint and deteriorating the sub-base.
What is the best concrete joint filler?
Epoxy and polyurea-based joint fillers are two of the most popular filler solutions. They help extend the lifetime of concrete floors and allow them to perform as intended throughout their usable years.
How long does polymeric sand last?
Polymeric sand can last up to 10 years before replacement is necessary. However, certain manufacturers claim some products can last up to 15 years.
Can I use polymeric sand under pavers?
Polymeric Sand works best when it is used to fill the entire depth of the paver. In addition, it works best on joints that are between ¼ inch and 1.5 inches wide. Wider joints take longer to harden and may require that traffic be restricted for a longer period of time.
Does polymeric sand get hard?
particles is another step that is often rushed through or skipped to save time. However, once water is applied, any remaining polymeric sand particles will harden and remain on the surface resulting in an unhappy customer.
Will polymeric sand stop pavers from moving?
Prevent the pavers from shifting around by adding a solid edge to your patio. You can use a cement lip, plastic or metal edging. When you're finished, spread fine sand over the patio and sweep it into the cracks to help hold the bricks in place. You might consider using polymeric sand for increased longevity.
How long does paver joint sand last?
So the durability of your chosen paver joint sand is extremely important. Polymeric sand can last up to 10 years when applied properly. Life expectancy will vary between specific products and in different climates.
Why is my paver sand locking?
The best way to avoid this issue is to select a cement-free polymeric sand formula and ensure all excess dust is removed from your pavers before adding water. Regular paver sand is prone to erosion, typically caused by harsh wind or rain.
What is paver sealant?
Paver sealant is a product applied to both the pavers and the joints in-between. It’s often used in conjunction with polymeric sand. Paver sealant protects your pavers from stains and color fading. It can also strengthen the joints of your walkway, patio, or pool deck even further than polymeric sand alone.
Does polymeric sand help with weeds?
Weed/Insect Control. Polymeric sand’s ability to stop insects and weeds from pushing through paver joints is a huge advantage. Polymeric sand will only become vulnerable to these weed seeds and burrowing insects like ants if cracks are allowed to form in the joints.
Is polymeric sand the same as paver sand?
Once polymeric sand or paver sand are applied and set (in the case of polymeric sand), it’s hard to tell the difference without a closer look. Just like all-purpose sand, polymeric sand comes in a wide range of colors. In terms of the day-to-day appearance of your pavers, polymeric sand may offer a cleaner look than regular sand.
Is polymeric sand a natural product?
Unlike most sand used in construction and landscaping projects, polymeric sand is not a natural product. Instead, it is a manmade compound. Polymeric sand is created by mixing fine sand particles with additives like silica. The purpose of these additives is to form a permanent bond between the sand particles.
Can you use polymeric sand to fill pavers?
But placing stone or cement pavers in the desired location is just the first step. If you want your new hardscaping to last, you also need to fill the gaps between each paver with jointing sand. Polymeric sand and regular sand both work great for filling paver joints. However, one might be better than the other for your specific project.
What is sweeping jointing sand?
Ordinary jointing sand, sometimes referred to as sweeping jointing sand, contains angular particles that help it stay in place. In some instances, that also means applying a sealer to finish the joint. It used to be the de facto standard for years, and it’s still favored for use with some types of pavers. But for most projects, it just can’t compete with the superior material properties of polymeric sand and modern compounds like Unilock Easy-Pro Jointing Compound.
What is jointing compound?
The jointing compound, or polymeric sand if you choose, will preserve your paver investment by protecting your patio, pool deck, driveway, or other hardscape feature from the effects of frost, erosion, weeds, and insects. These heavy-duty materials can be used in between both pavers and slabs.
What is polymeric sand?
Polymeric sand is a special type of paver jointing sand that contains various water-activated additives like quartz and silica that form a strong binding agent. When you wet polymeric sand, these additives are activated to facilitate the interlocking of the sand particles.
Polymeric vs. Regular Sand – Differences
Despite both types of sand being used as paver seam filler material, polymeric sand and regular sand are hardly the same. They differ significantly in terms of binding power, durability, permeability, and cost.
Pros and Cons of Using Regular Sand for Pavers
Regular sand is versatile, cheap, readily accessible, and easier to work with. However, it comes up short in terms of bonding strength, durability, and ability to keep off weeds and insects.
Pros and Cons of Using Polymeric Sand for Pavers
Professional landscapers prefer polymeric sand for its greater interlocking capability, durability, and impermeability. On the downside though, this type of paver joint filler sand is harder to work with during installation, expensive, and harder to find.
Which sand is better: polymeric or regular?
The better choice between polymeric and regular sand depends on what you’re going for. If you prefer less hassle during installation and are working on a tight budget, you’re better off using regular sand. However, if you want a hard-wearing joint filler that will last for years and prevent paving blocks from shifting, then go for polymeric sand.
What is polymeric sand?
Polymeric sand is a type of sand that has been treated with polymers to give it the ability to resist water and atmospheric conditions. This makes it an excellent product for your home, especially in places where you want to create some sort of outdoor living space such as a patio or garden.
What is sand used for in pavers?
They can be used both for leveling and filling in the joints but are more popular for the prior task. Sand for paver is known by many names, including all-purpose sand and leveling sand. When someone mentions regular sand, most likely, this is what they’re referring to.
What do you use a paver base for?
Their best use is for creating the even base of your paver. These are more for screeding the bed of the paver than for filling the gaps within. However, you can still use them for evenly leveling the cracks of the paver.
Is polymeric sand permanent?
While Polymeric sand is precisely for filling in the joints and keeping the pavers adhered for good, they’re permanent and won’t leave you room for additional adjustment. This is why some still prefer regular sand as they remain screed but not fixed. Whether you want your sand to be fixed or loose is the ultimate decision before deciding on ...
Can you use polymeric sand for pavers?
Polymeric Sand Uses for Paver. Polymeric sand makes up for excellent paver sand, as its sole purpose is joining the gaps within the pavers. But they’re not for screeding. When it comes to adhering to the pavers, no other sand can do a good enough job as a polymer. #1.
Is polymer sand better than regular sand?
And for precisely this reason, polymer sand does a better job. On top of that, rain or storm could also wash away regular sand but not polymeric sand. Polymeric sand being firmly joint and water-resistant, will last longer than regular sand.
Does polymeric sand wash out?
Unlike regular sand, polymeric sand stays together and almost binds itself into a substantial chunk. Therefore, rain or storm, polymeric sand won’t wash out like other sand and remain in place, doing what it’s supposed to. Polymeric sand also has a firmer constitution making it much coarser, but the grains are finer.
What is a jointing sand?
It’s sometimes called jointing sand, paver sand, or hardscape sand. Coated with a water-activated polymer, the grains of polymeric sand stick together when dampened, producing a seal that looks like grout and makes a stronger joint than standard filler sand. The result is a longer-lasting paver installation.
What is polymeric sand used for?
Before starting a patio paver project, understand that polymeric sand is used for joints (the spaces between pavers) that are 1 inch or smaller. The polymeric sand drops into these cracks easily and provides the protection necessary to resist water, grass, weeds, and insects.
How many square feet does Gator Maxx G2 sand cover?
Alliance Gator Maxx G2 Intelligent Polymeric Sand is a brand pros trust. But, with its easy installation process, it works just as well for DIYers. This 50-pound bag of polymeric sand covers up to 85 square feet. It works on tight joints as well as joints as wide as 4 inches. This polymeric sand comes in black and beige.
How to make a paver with polymeric sand?
Using a wide push broom, spread the polymeric sand out until it fills the joints around the pavers evenly. The sand should come to within ⅛-inch of the top of the paver. If the pavers have beveled edges, fill to the bottom of the bevel. Using a hand or plate tamper, tamp the sand into place.
What is the best material to fill gaps between pavers?
This can leave your carefully laid pavers looking messy and uneven. To keep pavers in place, you need polymeric sand. Polymeric sand is a material used to fill the paver joints, which are the empty spaces between each paver. It’s sometimes called jointing sand, paver sand, or hardscape sand.
What is the glue that sticks together the grains of sand?
Polymeric sand is coated with an additive that makes the grains stick together when it gets wet. The most common adhesive, or polymer, used in polymeric sand is silica. The silica forms a flexible hold between the individual grains of sand and the pavers.
What is dominator polymer sand?
DOMINATOR polymeric sand features the company’s Solid-Flex formula, made from a fine sand and free of cement. This allows the sand to flex while remaining durable and water resistant.
2. Cement
If you want something that will stay stuck, cement may be a reliable option. Cement doesn’t erode or anything of that sort. Once it’s there, it is there. It’s a trendy choice for keeping just about anything in place, including pavers.
3. Stone Dust
Stone dust is a by-product of crushed stone like gravel. It is all the very tiny pieces that don’t make it into the completed product. This by-product can be beneficial when you’re doing paver projects, as it is a rougher version of sand.
4. Plain Sand
Polymeric sand is a type of sand. For this reason, many people may opt for plain sand as an alternative. While this can work, sand is not as suitable for filling the area between pavers as regular sand is for a few different reasons.
Can you make your polymeric sand?
Not from scratch. Some companies do sell polymeric sand concentrated, which you mix with regular sand or some other product. However, you do have to purchase the concentrate. You can’t make polymeric sand easily from stuff that is accessible to most homeowners.
Does polymeric sand wash away?
This sand includes chemical binders that harden when water is added. When you use this sort of sand, you add water to it to harden it. This prevents the sand from washing away and also keeps the weeds and ants away.
Is polymeric sand necessary?
When you’re putting down pavers, polymeric sand is the go-to option for filling the joints. However, that doesn’t make it the only option out there. There are quite a few alternatives that you may find helpful if you can’t find polymeric sand. These alternatives include things like cement and even regular sand.
Can I use cement instead of polymeric sand?
Yes. Cement is just a bit harder to apply and may not hold up as long, depending on your location and environment. Cement is one of the better alternatives to polymeric sand.
Properties of Compounds
Choosing The Right Compound Material
- Some paver materials don’t play well with polymerics, but the vast majority do, and polymeric sand has become the choice for most projects. In addition to traditional jointing sand, Unilock offers two distinct polymeric compounds, one for regular joints and another specifically for large joints. Both are available in gray and tan hues. If you have ...
A Lasting Effect on Your Pavers
- Jointing compound is one of the many details you’ll come across as you take on your outdoor living project. Unilock is your partner every step of the way, to guide you through the process and to help you make the right decisions for your unique landscape. We have a wide range of resources, like our Idea Design Catalog, to help guide your decisions as well as partnerships wit…