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.

What type of sand is best between pavers?

Polymeric sand is a type of sand that’s often recommended for paver joints. Coated with a water-activated polymer, polymeric sand bonds together when exposed to moisture, keeping the sand from washing away or blowing out of the joints.

Which polymeric sand is best?

• 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.

Is polymeric sand better than regular 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.

What can I use instead of polymeric sand?

Builder’s sand is the most common replacement for polymeric sand, as it is easy to access and not expensive. It is used heavily in construction projects, hence its name. Because this sand is very coarse, you will need to use it regularly. You’ll have to reapply it for years as it settles.

Do you really need polymeric sand?

Polymeric Sand is as ubiquitous to interlocking pavers as garden soil to gardening. You need good garden soil to grow your vegetables and plans. You need good polymeric sand to maintain the look and appearance of your landscape.

What is the difference between silica sand and polymeric sand?

Polymeric sand is a fine sand that is combined with additives that form a binding agent when exposed to water. Silica is such as an additive and is often used to help lock the fine sand particles together.

Is there a difference in polymeric sand?

The key difference between polymeric sand and polymeric dust boils down to the size of the joints between the stones. In applications that have larger, natural stones with irregular contours, it can be difficult to create consistent ½” joints. For these jobs, polymeric dust would be the ideal product to use.

Is polymeric 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 thick should polymeric sand be?

We recommend the joint width between your pavers be between 1/8th of an inch and 4 inches and the joint depth to be at least 1 inch. This allows you to get the best bonding performance from your polymeric sand.

Article first time published on

How far does a bag of polymeric sand go?

When filling small gaps, a 50lb bag of polymeric sand will usually cover 75-100 ft2. When filling wide gaps of 1/4″ to 3/8″ a 50lb bag will usually cover 30-60 ft2. Wider gaps, for example with a flagstone patio, will require even more sand to fill.

Is there something 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.

What is Stonedust?

What Is Stone Dust? Stone dust is like a coarser version of sand. It’s generally the byproduct of crushed stone. In fact, said confusion is partly responsible for the difficulty you may have in purchasing it. Establishments in your area that sell stone, landscape supplies, etc.

What do you fill paver gaps with?

When you’re laying a new patio, you can fill large gaps between patio pavers with either regular sand, a DIY mix of concrete and sand, or polymeric sand. These can be applied using a trowel and packed down with a screwdriver, then finished by brushing over the gaps with a broom.

How do you make polymeric sand?

By mixing ConSANDtrate at a ratio of 5 parts sand to 1 part ConSANDtrate makes a more concentrated polymeric sand that can be used around problem areas or as a crack filler for concrete or exposed aggregate slabs.

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.

Should I seal polymeric sand?

how long after installing polymeric sand can pavers be sealed? Traditionally, concrete paver manufacturers have recommended waiting at least 90 days after polymeric sand installation to apply a protective sealant to a paver surface.

Is leveling sand the same as polymeric sand?

Polymeric sand is not used in all hardscaping projects. It may not even be the most popular option. All-purpose sand is the go-to product for sealing paver joints. This sand is also known as joint sand or leveling sand.

Can you power wash polymeric sand?

The essential when using pressure wash is not to remove the polymeric sand between the joints. Thus, the most suitable pressure for cleaning pavers is the medium range (From 1600 to 2000 PSI). For even better performance, use a hot water pressure washer at 180 ° F.

How long does it take polymeric sand to harden?

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.

Is polymeric sand bad?

Polymeric sand problems lead to the inability to replace any of the paving stones that have eroded or have damage. Instead, you will need to redo the entire pathway because you cannot fill in the sand. … Of course, there are other polymeric sand problems that accelerate with using paving sand.

How long does sealer last on pavers?

The best paver sealers last between three and five years. However, some factors, such as maintenance, traffic, and weather, can impact the sealant’s longevity. These can shorten the pavers’ overall life span. Use a film-forming sealer to conceal signs of wear on paver stones.

How much does it cost to install polymeric sand?

An average sized patio is in the range of $1.35-$2 for the thorough power wash, install polymeric sand ad seal with a wet look sealer. Keep in mind there is normally a minimum charge for smaller paver areas like driveway ribbons or very small patios or walkways.

How much space do you need between polymeric sand and pavers?

Do not hammer the pavers together The recommended space between the pavers is 3 mm (⅛”). I don’t expect you to measure the gap but just set them beside one another. You should stop every 4 feet and pull a string line along the laying face, with a screwdriver, adjust that face to the string line.

How many square feet does a 50 lb bag of polymeric sand cover?

One bag of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) of this product will cover between 20 to 30 square feet (1.86 to 2.8 m2) if the joints are about 1″ to 2″ (2.54 to 5.08 cm) wide and the stones are about 2″ to 2-1/2″ (5.08 cm to 6.35 cm) thick.

How do I figure out how much paver base I need?

Measure the length and width of the patio in inches. Multiply the length and width to find the area in square inches. Multiply the area by the gravel depth in inches to find the volume in cubic inches.

Can you use regular sand to fill in pavers?

Can I Use Regular Sand Between Pavers. Yes, normal sand serves this purpose very well. Fill gaps between pavers and help lock the individual blocks in place, so they don’t shift. If possible, use irregular, sharp-grained sand, as they have sharp edges and bind together better.

How do I stop growth between pavers?

1. Regular Sweeping. Most of the time, weeds to not sprout up from beneath the pavers. …
2. Proper Installation. Installing pavers results in spaces between the bricks or stones. …
3. Ensure Proper Slope. …
4. White Vinegar. …
5. Pressure Washing. …
6. Hands-On Removal. …
7. Mechanical Removal. …
8. Stabilizing Sand.

What is the best base for pavers?

The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute recommends washed concrete sand as the best base sand for pavers. Concrete sand, also known as bedding sand, is coarse and doesn’t trap excess moisture beneath the paver surface.

Is stone dust the same as paver sand?

Also called rock dust, stone dust is more prone than sand to settling and drainage problems when used as a base beneath walkway or patio pavers. … A proper base material can be compacted easily; however, due to stone dust’s powdery nature, it does not compact as well as other materials.

What is HPB gravel?

Description. HPB (High Performance Bedding) is a crushed, washed limestone that is about 1/4″ in size. This product is a self-compacting base material that can be used as a replacement for crushed gravel and screening in patios and walkways.