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Through the continuous advancement of technology, new methods, tools and processes are being introduced that allow us to make things done in a more convenient and easier manner. In the field of making patios, polymeric sand is the perfect example of such technological advancement. Gone are the days when people were stressed about the cracks on the border of their pavers. With the help of polymeric sand, patios are now installed and created with firm and quality structures. Once patio was laid down or installed, there will always be spaces between the brick. Weeds and debris that might damage your pavers in the long run will invade such spaces. Regular sand doesn’t do good compared to polymeric sand. Regular sand doesn’t help in stopping weeds and ants from getting under your patio. So when installing it in your garden, driveway or yard, it is advisable to always use the right and best product. Polymeric sand is certainly one of them.
For you to better understand this type of sand, let us know what polymeric sand is made of. Basically, polymeric sand is made of three main ingredients: crystalline silica, proprietary polymeric / organic and quartz silica. Polymeric sand is 85 to 95 percent made up of quartz silica and crystalline silica. The remaining percentage comes from some type of proprietary glue and filler. Aside from the structures of polymeric sand, these are some of the things that you need to know about the product:
Proprietary Polymer
Proprietary polymer is considered as a chemical binder that is man made and its function is to bind the sand together and to build a single surface between the joints of the interlocking pavers. It is also used to hold the sand in place for the water not to wash the sand away when thee is rain or running water. You also have to know that not all polymers are the same. There are some polymers that are weaker and some are stronger. When choosing the type of polymer to buy, you can pick based on the quality of the product. Thus, the cost of the polymeric sand determines its quality and performance. If you are also wondering how polymeric sand is activated, well there is only one thing that you will need – water. The sand can be activated only once. In relation, some polymers can be softened also with the use of water. But it is advisable to always check the right amount of water that you need to use. Excessive use of water can wash away the sand totally. As a result, weeds and ants will still get into the spaces in between the bricks.
Importance of Polymer
As stated earlier, polymer sand is now very helpful in installing patios. The use of this product strengthens that quality and durability of the whole surface of the landscaped area. Polymeric sand also lessens the chance of water to seep below the surface of the interlocking pavers. Simply explained, polymeric sand serves as the foundation of the patio. Without it, there will be spaces in between the bricks of your patio which will result in anthills and weeds growth over time.
Steps in using polymeric sand
Applying polymeric sand is pretty much easier to use. Generally, this product will stick like glue to whatever surface it is applied on. But you must assure that there is no rain forecast before using or applying it.
- Lay your pavers and sweep the polymeric sand into all the joints.
- To ensure that the cracks are all filled with sand, tamp or compact the pavers and the sand.
- Sweep in another batch of the sand
- Then compact it again with pavers to fill in all the cracks
- Again, sweep in but this time no need to tamp or compact. The polymeric sand should be close to the tops of the interlocking pavers as much as possible in the last batch.
- Make sure that the sand is not sitting on the pavers.
- Apply some water mist to the paved area from high to low point.
- Rewet again with light water mist after letting it sit for 15 minutes.
- Let it rest for 1-2 days.
Maintaining the hardscaping
Now that you are now able to apply polymeric sand, the next thing that you may be concerned about is the maintenance of the polymeric sand’s landscaping. Well, it is very easy to do. You just have to spread sand onto the pavers and sweep it into the cracks in order to prevent any ants or weeds from growing. After that, you need to remove any excess sand and apply some water mist in order to make the polymeric sand active. With this, you can maintain the quality of your patio. You may also check some tips on https://fathera.com/polymeric-sand/.
Things to consider when buying polymeric sand
Certainly, there are several brands of polymeric sand that you can see in the market. Hence, choosing the right and best one for you may be quite daunting and challenging. So to help you out, here are the main three things that you must consider and look for when buying a quality polymeric sand. First is the granularity of the sand. Generally speaking, the smaller the particle the better. This is because smaller particle can easily get into the cracks. Second is the adhesive or polymer. It is recommended to buy stronger glue so you can ensure that the quality is firm and it can withstand the environment. Last but not the least is the Portland cement. Some Portland cement increases its firmness of the polymeric sand’s quality. Hence, these three factors must always be considered and put into account so that you can ensure that you are using the best product for your patio project.
Overall, with the help of technology, polymeric sand has been very useful and effective in creating strong and reliable patio both for residential and commercial setting. Hence, it is important to be knowledgeable about this product before actually using it.
