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 in the joint.
Enhanced aesthetic: The paver sealer enhances the curb appeal of your properties and provides perfect finish to the paved areas and at the same time stabilizes the joint sand by locking it in place.
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.
Sand and soil hardeners, such as NanoPave JSS, or Tamarron's Joint Hardener. are two such chemicals that can be sprayed over the sand before and after troweling it smooth. It bonds with the sand to create a hard surface to prevent dents and also resist roots, termites, rodents, nutgrass and weeds.
Once the silica joint sand has been activated by the urethane in our Ure Seal h2o brick paver sealant, the 4 grain silica sand will become extremely hard, comparable to the consistency of concrete.
DISASTER #1:
Water needs to drain from a paver application in order for the polymeric sand to perform like it's supposed to. Polymeric sand becomes quite stiff after it has cured and doesn't really bend once it's completely dry. Remember, however, it's designed to soften up and become flexible when wet.
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. So getting one initial complete drying "set" is very important to the long-term performance and lifespan of the product.
Sealing pavers before adding sand can be more difficult, as you need to be careful not to get any sealant on the sand. However, sealing after adding sand is generally more accessible and will give you a more even coverage.
Traditionally, concrete paver manufacturers have recommended waiting at least 90 days after polymeric sand installation to apply a protective sealant to a paver surface. Nowadays, a 30 day delay is sufficient to allow the evaporation of any remaining natural efflorescence contained in the pavers.
Regular sand for paving is prone to erosion, damage from weeds and can make your pavers hard to wash without risking the loss of any jointing sand between the stones. Using polymeric sand, however, prevents weeds from taking root and holds pavers firmly in place thanks to the durability of its seal.
A minimum of 24 hours drying time is required prior to allowing foot traffic and 48 hours for vehicular traffic on the paver surface. Dampening: Apply a gentle fine mist to the filled joints, flooding the faces of the pavers and allowing the water to run into the joints. Do not flood the sand onto paver surfaces.
Polymeric Sand has many benefits, however, the biggest drawback is that it can be easy to mess up, especially if you don't follow the manufacturer's instructions.
ANSWER: Yes, hand tamp the sand and use a straight edge (or side of 2 x 4 board), from high end of slope to low end, to make sure you still do not have any low spots. Tip: Do this to the ground before laying fabric and sand.
Choosing to seal your pavers will keep your color consistent and un-faded. Not only does choosing to seal your pavers keep the color untouched, but it can also increase the vibrancy of your colors. One largely agreed upon benefit of sealers is that they limit stains.
How often should paver sealer be reapplied? The basic rule of thumb is every 3-5 years. For film-forming sealants, you will be able to notice when the physical barrier is showing signs of wear.
Polymeric sand is the most popular and useful filler used under brick pavers. It is a mixture of fine sand, adhesive and is most widely used in paver joints. Typically, polymeric sand lasts for up to 10 years. But if you use high-quality polymeric sand, it can last for approximately 15 years.
Allow 48 hours or more if temperatures are cool or a pressure washer has been used. For best results the sand should be dry to its full depth before sealing.
The first thing you need to do is remove ALL of the existing sand down to the bottom of the paver. Polymeric sand works best when used at full depth. 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.
Clean your pavers before the sealing process. Use a pressure washer to remove any dirt, dust, or debris accumulated on the surface of your pavers. Make sure your pavers are dry before applying sealer. If your pavers are wet, the sealer will not be able to adhere properly and will eventually peel off.
Epic Fail #1: Too much or too little watering.
Using too much water can cause the sand to wash out of the joints. On the contrary, using too little can result in the product not setting up properly. Hazing can also occur if sand residue isn't fully washed off the surface of the pavers.
No, new product won't adhere to the old. You have to remove the old polymeric sand and then apply fresh product for the best result. How to replace polymeric sand between pavers? Inspect the pavers to make sure the sand in the crevices is at least 1/8″ below the top of the pavers.
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.
Generally speaking, you'll want to perform three rounds of watering. The initial showering should be done at a height of about 4 ft. Wait no more than three to four minutes before performing the second round of showering at a height of about 2 ft. Lastly, shower and rinse simultaneously at a height of 2 ft.