Patio pavers

[harvey lee]

I have a 12 by 24ft patio made with pavers. I had a mason put the patio in approx 10 years ago.

Seems every year the ants push up alot of sand on top of the pavers. Then I also get alot of weeds also. I have tried about everything to get rid of the ants and they like it under my pavers, must be like home to them.

So, a guy told me about this Polymeric high performance sand that will set between the pavers and set up as hard as concrete.

I took a power washer and cleaned out all of the sand between each paver so there is room inbetween each one for the new sand. Also had to remove quite a few to get the sand level so the pavers will lye flat and smooth. Quite the job the last few days in the heat.

All I have left now is to put the sand in the cracks and water it down.

Has anyone used this stuff and how did it work? Maybe a bit late to ask as now I am almost done with this project.

[CAMAN]

Yup works good. I'd recommend you rent a plate compactor to get the stuff deep into the cracks and also make sure the patio is completely dry before spreading it out, otherwise it may harden before it gets into the cracks and become completely useless.

[efgh]

The sand has a reisen added to it, spread it out on top of the paverd and use a compactor, can rent one at a rental place, and pound the sand inbetween the pavers. sweep the sand away in one area and inspect the area in the swept area for complete crack sealing, if any cracks show, more sand and pounding. Do this over all the pavers. when done sweep all the extra sand off and wet all the pavers down too actuvate the reisen, this seal the cracks by setting up the reisen.

[harvey lee]

The direction say to put the sand into the cracks and then one has to use high pressure water from a hose at a certain distance and spray it all down well. 3 different processes and then use a blower to clean the top of the pavers off.

I did not see any mention of a plate compactor usage in the directions. I will reread the directions as I do not want to mess this up.

[cavalierowner]

I guess I'm the odd man out because I didn't have much luck with the polymeric sand keeping the weeds from growing long term. It did seem to mostly stop the ants. It seemed to work for about 3 years in stopping weeds, then the weeds started in again. This year I am trying Roundup Plus. It's advertised as killing all growth and stopping weed growth for "up to 4 months". So far I have had it down for about 2 months and there have been no weeds growing back. It is also working so far in the few areas of rock mulch that I have. I am hopeful that it will work for "up to 4 months", that would mean I would only have to spray at most twice during the spring and summer; that's a lot easier than it was when I put in the polymeric sand.

[harvey lee]

I am hopng thast the sand takes care of the ant issue. If the weeds continue to grow, I can and will deal with them with roundup or another chemical.

The ants are my real issue. I can sweep the patio and try to get the sand back in the cracks and in the morning, I can have 20-40 ant hills above the pavers with sand. Drives me nuts.

The bag states that if it is applied correctly, it is warrantied but I do not remember for how long.

I used the Round Up you mentioned in all my rock area around the lawn and that sure worked great. Not 1 weed in the landscape rock in the past month since I sprayed all the rock.

[cavalierowner]

The best thing I found for ants is liquid Diazanon. I spray all around the house and up the sides about 3' and it keeps ants out of the the house and (mostly) wherever I spray. Be sure to follow manufacturer's directions and don't mix as much as twice the recommended strength!

[Tom7227]

I agree with Bruce. I have put the fancy sand down twice and it has not held up for more than a year both times. I was trying to full the gaps in a poured concrete area and maybe the gaps I was using it on were too wide. I would suggest using a anti-ant chemical and letting it go at that.

I don't think I would use the high pressure sprayer as part of the process. If the stuff gets wet it will stay on that surface until abraded off. Not sure I would go through all the effort to get one of those pounders either.

[cavalierowner]

I don't think I would use the high pressure sprayer as part of the process. If the stuff gets wet it will stay on that surface until abraded off. Not sure I would go through all the effort to get one of those pounders either.

THAT'S RIGHT! NOW I remember a real downside of that stuff. I watered it in like they said, but I didn't get all the stuff off the surface of the pavers like I should have. That was a real PIA getting it off after it had dried!

[harvey lee]

The bag I have states one should use like a leaf blower to clean the top of the pavers off so this does not happen.

A friend of mine who is a mason and a buddy at the store that sells the stuff said if you do not follow the directions perfectly, you will not get the desired results.

Also states it will fill cracks up to 1".

I went over today and looked at a sidewalk that had this put on it last summer and no ant hills or weeds.

I have no intentions of using any pressure to water the sand in.

I did use pressure to wash the sand out of the cracks as I was told, if you do not get ALL of the sand out, that will cause it to not work also.

[TruthWalleyes]

It may be best to lay down thick plastic, then redo your pavers with said sand. Compactor is to make sure that the sand settles into all cracks, one was probably used when your patio was initially made, maybe not.

[harvey lee]

No plastic. I asked the guy who did it and he said he never does. gravel and then sand tamped and then the pavers.

I talked to another who used this dand for the pavers and he said it is working great at keeping the ants away and no weeds at all.

I am now 100% positive that if I get the sand in the cracks and get it wet 3 times like mentioned on the bag, I will be good to go. At least that is what others who have used it have told me if I get it applied as directed on the label.