Pour the sand onto the pavers and sweep it into the joints. Using a broom handle or some other blunt object, tap on the pavers. This will cause the sand to consolidate. Sweep more sand into the joints until the sand is within 1/8” of the top of the paver.
The joint sand is key to maintaining the strength of the paver installation. The sand prevents the pavers from shifting and sliding against each other. Hence, dislodged sand will have to be replenished to keep the paver system structurally sound.
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.
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.
Pressure Washing
Since you don't want to remove the sand between the joints, keep a low pressure. The recommended pressure for removing polymeric sand from pavers is 1600-2000 PSI. In pressure washing, if you use hot water, it will also help you remove polymeric sand from pavers.
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.
Prior to the installation of new polymeric sand, you will need to remove any old joint sand or polymeric sand from the joints with a pressure washer. If remov- ing polymeric sand, a hot water pressure washer will help to soften up the binders in the sand.
Any excess polymers and sand should be rinsed off of the project surface. Go over your pavers again with a leaf blower to blow any excess water and sand off of the surface of your pavers. Work in small areas to be sure you remove as much standing water and/or sand as possible.
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.
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.
Epic Fail #1: Too much or too little watering.
A polymeric sand installation requires the use of a controlled and methodical watering technique. 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.
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.
With regular sand, you should re-sand your pavers at least once in two years. Polymeric sand is usually good for about ten years, so re-sanding costs are saved when using this type of sand.
For narrow joint installations, one 22.7 kg bag can cover up to 11 m2 (120 sq. ft.) For wide joint installations, one 22.7 kg bag can cover up to 4 m2 (40 sq. ft.)
The Problem With Polymeric Sands & Water Mitigation
Most polymeric sands don't drain water which meant small stones were used to fill the joints between the interlock. For driveways, this solution isn't a big issue but near a pool or patio, people prefer the smooth uniformity of polymeric sand.
Keep away from walks and patios for at least 24 hours. If the pavers are for your driveway, wait 48 hours before driving over them, It's also best to wait a full 30 days before you try to clean or seal your pavers. They need weeks to fully cure.
Specific sands are made for pavers with wider joints. Some of the more popular regular sands will not remain stable in wider joint conditions. Rule of thumb is most regular Poly Sands work for a joint width up to 1”.
Polymeric Jointing Sand is suitable for sweeping into the spaces between paving stones. Once placed and dampened, Polymeric Jointing Sand hardens to lock pavers in place.
The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) recommends compacting pavers after applying Polymeric Sand. If you're working on a small space, you can use a hand tamp like you see in the image above. If you have a large patio or driveway, we'd recommend using a plate compactor.
When you install polymeric sand in the joints of pavers, the manufacturers suggest that you spray the paved area with water and leave time to dry. If you overwater the area their binders will leach out of the polymeric sand. It's this leaching causes that white haze, or polyhaze, on paving stones.
Dish Soap: A great way to clean patio pavers without removing any sand or decorative texture is by simply cleaning with a gentle soap or degreaser like Dawn. Add the dish soap to a container of water, then start lightly scrubbing the dirty spots with a rag, sponge or a stiff-bristled brush.
If you misted your polymeric jointing sand before removing residual surface sand, resulting in polymer haze, there's a number of ways you can still get rid of it. You can either clean it off using an acidic vinegar solution, a brick cleaner, and hose pipe, or a pressure washer.
Installing polymeric sand on a damp or wet surface could cause the sand and polymers to stick to the surface and become difficult to remove. After installation, a hard rain on polymeric sand that has not fully set up could result in polymeric sand all over the top of the pavers.