The Home DepotPerma Sand 40 lbs. is applied to an existing patio or walkway.
I try to keep things short for those of you who follow my website.You can't read a lot about concrete products.This will be an exception to that rule.The recent popularity of using polymeric sand has given many DIYers the courage to tackle this type of project.It can be done if you do your homework.
It looked great when your patio was installed a dozen years ago.Everyoneoohed and aahed when they saw the new pavers.The years since have taken a toll.Half the sand is missing, the pavers are not as straight, and the weeds have taken over.What do you do now?
You have options.You can buy sand, dump it into the spots where the sand is missing, and call it a day.Most of what you put in will wash out after a few heavy rains, as the weeds will pop through before you pull the tab on your favorite beverage.
You are in luck because there is a better option.It is a little more expensive, requires more time and attention to detail, but will likely leave you more satisfied with the end result.The Sakrete Paver Set is a sand product that is designed to resist weed growth and stay in place for a long time.
You will need a few other items in addition to the sand.It depends on the condition of the patio.You will need a garden hose and a broom.Additional items may include a pressure washer, leaf blower, a non-selective herbicide, additional pavers, and a small brush.
We need to discuss reality before we get too far into this project.There are some patios that are beyond help.You have a major project on your hands if the pavers are so crooked and busted that you can't walk across them without tripping.If this is the case, you need to level the ground and move the pavers to replace the broken ones.It is a tedious job and it is cheaper than a brand new patio.
When it is used to fill the entire depth of the paver, it works best.It works best on joints that are between 14 inch and 1.5 inches wide.Traffic may be restricted for a longer period of time if the joints are wider.Casual pedestrian traffic would not be an issue, but high heels would wreak havoc.There is a notch on the side of the pavers.If your pavers are installed in a way that the notch touches the next one, polymeric sand won't work.There isn't enough space between them to allow sand to fill the entire voidThe pavers are made with a false joint.The joint is usually deep and wide and zigzags across the surface of the paver.The false joints can be filled with sand and hold up well if done correctly.
Let's assume that your patio is in good shape and is a good candidate for sand.The first thing you need to do is remove all of the existing sand.The best time to use sand is at full depth.A pressure washer works well if you can get down on your hands and knees and use a tool to remove the sand.If you have never used a pressure washer, I would suggest goggles, a face shield, or a rain coat, as well as clothes that you really don't care about.This will cause you to be wet and dirty.
If large quantities of weeds have taken up residence in the joints, you may want to start a war on them.If you want to remove the old sand, apply a non-selective herbicide.You have to let this sit for a few days before you can continue.Pulling weeds out may not eliminate them.There are strong roots that travel below the pavers.It is difficult to eliminate things like Bermuda grass.The weed killer will hurt what is still underground, even if you see it on the surface.If you have a serious weed problem, you should pick up some of your pavers and see if there is a mat of roots underneath.In time the weeds will reappear if this is the case.Since weeds will grow through concrete in time, there is very little chance that a sand will be able to stop them.The process of removing the old sand will eliminate most of the weeds and deter them from coming back.
There are a few things that need to be done to make this look good.How to avoid staining is the biggest challenge you will face.I know of sand that will stain under certain conditions.There are two keys to success.The first thing to do is make sure they are dry.Most of the way through was not just the surface.If it has rained for three days, you can't just run out and put sand down.The water will cause stains.If you need to use a pressure washer to remove the sand from the original installation, it's the same thing.You can't apply sand on the same day.Getting the stain off is a huge problem so it is best to avoid it in the first place.Don't use these products on red clay bricks.No matter what you do, they will stain.It's important to remove all of the dust created when you put the sand down.After you have swept everything that you can into the joints, a leaf blower set on low and held at a 30 degree angle will gently remove excess dust.The stains are caused by the dust.
The process of placing sand requires attention to detail.The sand should be swept into the joints.To tap on the pavers, use a broom handle or other blunt object.The sand will consolidate.If the sand is close to the top of the paver, you can sweep it into the joints.If the top of the paver has a bevel, you don't want the sand to be even with it.The sand should be even with the bottom of the edge.Use a broom or brush to sweep the sand off the ground.If you have access to a leaf blower, adjust to the lowest setting, hold the blower high and blow excess dust from the pavers.No one is going to stand immediately.You are ready to spray water once you have removed all the dust.
The sand can be used with false joints that are at least 14” deep.If a leaf blower is used, special care must be taken when cleaning off excess dust from pavers.It is easy to blow the sand out of the joints if the blower is properly positioned.When watering the false joints will become saturated faster than the full depth joints.It may be necessary for you to apply more water to the full depth joints.
The watering process is hard.You need to add water to saturate the sand, but not as much as you'd like.You will see a white substance if this happens.There will be staining caused by floating polymers.The best way to water the sand is to adjust the nozzle to shower and keep the water out.Stop and observe after spraying for a few seconds.Keep spraying if the joints continue to take water.If they don't take any more water, stop spraying and float the polymer out of the sand.It will not be possible to get the sand to accept more water at a later time.The water will not penetrate as the polymer sets.If the top is not watered thoroughly, the bottom will not.If this happens, the sand at the bottom of the paver will give way and the top will fall in.If you have a large area, it is best to do this in smaller sections at a time.
In the event of a rain, you will need to protect the patio since most sand jobs are done in the summer.There is no problem with a casual rain.The sand can be removed within the first 24-48 hours.It is possible to prevent this by covering with plastic or a tarp.Downspouts that are empty on a patio can be a problem in the first few days.Try to divert the water away from the sand.
Pedestrian traffic needs to be restricted for 24 hours and vehicular traffic for 72 hours.Depending on the weather conditions, the exact amount of time will be different.The hotter it is, the quicker it will cure.