There are many decisions to make when designing a patio, driveway or walkway – from choosing the right paving stones to hiring the right landscape designer. Another important aspect to consider is what to fill the gaps between your paving stones with once they’re installed. Polymeric sand and jointing sand might seem like minor details in your overall landscape design, but they are essential for completing your project and ensuring its long-term success. Choosing the right sand can offer many benefits. Are you tired of spending your weekends pulling weeds for your patio or walkway? What about dealing with insect infestations? Polymeric sand provides a solution to both of these problems. In this article, we’ll give you an in-depth guide on polymeric sand, including what it is, what it’s used for and how it can prevent one of the things homeowners detest the most – weeds!
Created by Techniseal in 1999, polymeric sand is a modern alternative to common mason sand traditionally used to fill spaces between pavers on dry-laid surfaces. Nearly every manufacturer of polymeric sand includes these three main ingredients: quartz silica, crystalline silica and a proprietary polymer. The first two make up about 85 to 95 percent of the product, while the rest consists of some type of filler and the proprietary glue. The proprietary polymer is a man-made chemical or organic binder that holds the joints of the interlocking pavers together ensuring that the sand doesn’t wash away when it rains. Polymeric sand is applied into the joints of patio pavers, tiles and other concrete elements. Once these joints are filled, the sand is activated with water, turning it into a strong binding agent. It’s important to sweep the paver surface clean before wetting to prevent any hazing or staining. Trusted by landscape professionals for decades, polymeric sand provides optimal joint stabilization for hardscape projects while preventing weed growth and insect infestations between paving stones.
No. Like polymers, there are varying degrees of granularity or fineness of the sand. The finer the sand, the easier it is for it to fill every single nook and cranny and crack. When the sand can reach those hard to reach places, it lessens the risk of weeds or insect burrows. This also plays a role in minimizing the maintenance that is required to keep your interlocking pavers looking good.
Now that you know what polymeric sand is, you might wonder how it differs from regular jointing sand. Regular joint sand, also known as “all-purpose sand” or “levelling sand”, is a natural product. Not to be confused with the sand you find in a child’s sandbox or at the beach, regular dry sand is fine-graded with some slightly larger granules mixed in. It’s loose and flexible but doesn’t contain bonding agents like polymeric sand. When dry, regular jointing sand and polymeric sand look similar, but there are key differences. Polymeric sand dries into a hard compound, while regular jointing sand remains loose. Additionally, polymeric sand has a slight shine when dry. Both types of jointing sands are available in various colours to match your landscape design.
Polymeric sand makes landscape designs stronger and more durable compared to regular jointing sand. This is because of the binding agent found in polymeric sand, which ensures that your hardscape elements stay intact for years. The mixture of sand grains and additives form a powerful binding agent that securely holds concrete pavers and other hardscape materials together. Polymeric sand is also more resistant to erosion, significantly increasing the life expectancy of any installation. Joints filled with polymeric sand don’t crumble or decompose, meaning the sand stays in the paver joints instead of getting tracked into your house or pool. Unlike regular jointing sand, polymeric sand forms a tight bond with nearby pavers, resisting erosion even during heavy rainfall. Thanks to the silica and other binding additives in polymeric sand, you won’t have to worry about replacing washed-away sand or sand that leaks into the base materials. This keeps the foundation under your hardscape sturdy and intact. Regular dry paver sand, on the other hand, needs to be topped up every few years. While it doesn’t require a complete reinstall, you’ll need to fill in the holes caused by rain, weeds or insects. When applied by professionals, polymeric sand can last up to 10 years, depending on the environment.
With regular jointing sand, weeds can still grow between pavers. In contrast, activated polymeric sand creates an almost airtight seal, significantly reducing the risk of weed growth. This also makes it harder for pests like ants to invade the gaps between your patio pavers. Polymeric sand dries hard, so weeds and insects can’t get through. Regular jointing sand between your patio pavers won’t prevent insects from causing problems. It’s common to see ant hills popping up on driveways or patios through paver joints when using regular jointing sand.
Over time, paver joints have evolved from being purely structural to playing a key role in landscaping plans, with a focus on their aesthetic value. Polymeric sand, like regular jointing sand, comes in various colours, allowing you to find the perfect match for your patio pavers. This way you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for increased durability.
The last thing you want after investing in pavers is to see them start shifting. Polymeric sand can prevent this by binding the pavers together while remaining flexible. As the pavers shift, the sand shifts with them, preserving your hardscape elements. Although polymeric sand is often more expensive and requires more time and attention to detail, it provides better long-term results.
A high-quality polymeric sand prevents weed growth and insect infestations more effectively and for longer. This is because better products container finer sand that can fill hard-to-reach spaces more efficiently. Most importantly, they have a polymer that forms a strong chemical bond. Polymeric sands with Portland cement also create a harder, more watertight and durable seal. However, too much cement can make the joint vulnerable to cracking, and that’s the last thing you want!
Installing polymeric sand is a time-consuming process that requires proper knowledge and experience to avoid damage. Leave it to the professionals at Tree Amigos. We’ve completed numerous design + build projects using polymeric sand and we’d be happy to take on yours! Enjoy fewer weeds, less insects and best of all, beautiful hardscape elements, made to last. Contact us today to get started or use our estimated budgeting tool for easy project planning.
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