I install 30000+ square feet of concrete/natural stone/porcelain pavers every year. I have used every type of polymeric sand there is and every time I have used this product it fails. Not only does it fail it also stains natural stone and concrete pavers. I have even had reps from polymeric sand companies come out to professionally install their product on my jobs and have had them fail. I have had to replace material that was stained by this product on several projects and it has cost my company tens of thousands of dollars over the years. It also does not allow water to drain through the surface of the pavers and if the pavers are not sloped enough water will pool up on the surface. People think this is some kind of miracle product and it is the farthest thing from it. If you are using pavers with a smaller joint just use regular jointing sand and if your project has larger joints use a crusher dust (Fine crushed limestone). If you need to repair the joints you just sweep more product into them, very simple. If you have a client that specifically wants this product specify on your invoice/contract that you are not responsible if it fails and have advised against using it. If you are thinking about using a product and come across a video describing 7 ways it could fail that alone should be enough of a reason to steer clear of it.

I watched this a day AFTER installing my polymeric sand 😂 fortunately I did exactly as you recommended. The instructions on the bag were followed closely as well. This video put me at ease about the job done. Thank you!

Guys 100% correct, this was great - senior engineer and builder. Good job man,

You did a great job on this video. We are considering pavers around the pool vs stamped concrete on our remodel. I'll go look at more of your videos now. Thanks.

Super helpful explanations and the supporting B-roll was great. Thanks!

I've always used 21AA crushed limestone and it holds up for a long time. I run a blower after sweeping the sand in and compacting to remove any dust on the pavers and I use a mister most of the time when watering the poly sand so it doesn't run out over the pavers and leave that nasty haze. This was a fantastic video though, well done. I still learn new things from your videos all the time!

Very well explained in detail. I have watched many videos, but this video claimed 5 stars.!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Very helpful! Thank you so much.🙏🏻🙏🏻

One of the best video-based presentations I've ever watched. Thank you for sharing. I'm applying your knowledge to a current project.

You know your what your talking about. I wish the contractor that did my paver install watched your video first. Would have saved me a headache.

Good video, but shouldn't you use a blower to make sure no sand is left on the pavers after the sweeping is completed? The sand will harden on top of the pavers if left behind. Thanx

Thank you for the hints.

Excellent tutorial.

Thank you for the fine explanation. Have you ever done a video where you install or build a pergola on a paver patio start to finish?

Polymeric sand is one of those products that sounds good in theory but in practice is a pain in the ass to use and even if you follow the manufacturers instructions carefully, the residue of bonding agents is highly likely to change the appearance of your pavers. Especially if those pavers have a rough or textured surface. Wherever there is fall on surface- which there should be on every outdoor paved surface- getting even coverage is very difficult because the water will follow gravity and likely wash sand out of joints in the lower areas and make a mess. You also need to start with everything including base pretty much completely dry. As if the surface is damp the bonding agents will stick immediately. If the base is too damp the water will rise up when you compact and cause the polymeric sand to expand and expell onto the surface. Additionally whenever we used this stuff it made us feel sick, probably owing to the bonding agents (that they don't list on the bags) becoming an extremely fine dust when swept and compacted and seemingly finding a way in through our dust masks. As a landscaper of 2 and half decades, I say don't use polymeric sand, except on very smooth finished paving. Instead go for a standard wet mortar mix and grout gaps of 7mm or more and simply use a fine grade, kiln dried sand, which will expand in gaps when wet anyway and carry out occasional maintenance and top ups for finer joints. Also always wear a quality filtering mask when applying dry silica sands.

Wow, I learned a lot. Thanks,

Thanks, ......a lot of good information !

Well done!!!

Very good video.

Watching the compaction really validates my roller tamper purchase lol

Good stuff!

Thanks so much for all the great content and sharing your wealth of experience and knowledge! I’m installing a 300 sf patio with 1/8” inch joints…. What is the best polymeric sand that you would recommend for such small joints?

Hey there I really enjoy your videos and they have been super helpful when paving my backyard. I have just laid all of my pavers and my question for you today is.. Should I put my concrete edge on before doing the polymeric sand or should I do the polymeric sand process before my concrete edge? Thanks!

Very logical and useful information! During replacing sand, can I use hand tamper?

Great video! What if you are installing porcelain pavers and you can't use a packer over the surface to vibrate the polymeric sand?

Thank you so much for an extremely helpful video; and I really appreciate your direct and clear approach - no attempts to be clever or talk about extraneous stuff. I just want to add one thing about this stuff - if your pavers have significant texture (as mine do), it's really hard to clean off the excess polymeric sand with a blower without it coming out of the joints, as well. So I ended up with joints that will need to be "topped off," maybe even with some kind of direct applicator (a straw??). Any thoughts about that situation? (And btw, this was a re-do of an existing patio whose pavers were sinking; if I had started from scratch, I probably would not have chosen these pavers!)

I am installing pieces of cut out scrap granite for my patio. The thing that worries me is the packing of the sand. Granite stone is strong but 1 1/4 granite is not always the most resilient stuff. I guess I could try it on just a section of the patio but it still makes me nervous.

I built a patio using 1'square pavers,I got a large piece of used carpet,flipped it over and used construction adhesive to glue the pavers down. A couple of days later I brushed in the sand and used boiled linseed oil to bind the sand. A plastic drink bottle with an 1/8" hole in the cap is what I used to apply the oil. It has been 6 years so far and it is still good.

Love ❤your videos mate 🏁🇦🇺👏👏👏

I'll be setting a flagstone sidewalk this afternoon with large joints 2"- 4". Which product should I use? I know I could probably research on the web but after watching your video I figured I would just ask you! Thanks!

Why wouldn't someone want Moss growth on the joints? What kind of a world is this becoming!? Sweet viddy. Thanks for the content!

Great info! My patio's polymeric sand is 5 years old and one end of the patio (about 10 to -15 percent of the whole patio) is starting to show its age and needs a repairs. Can I refresh only the areas that are in need of replacement rather than doing the whole patio? If I heard correctly one has to remove 1 to 1.5 inches of the existing polymeric sand before "refreshing" the joints...is that right? Now that we're into October, would you recommend waiting until spring to do this work to get the best result? FYI...I'm in Wisconsin and the temperatures will be in the upper 50s to low 60s during the day and down in the low 40s to upper 30s at night. Thanks.

extremely informative video...I wished I had discovered years ago. You said not to use stone dust as a base...what do you suggest?

Nice video! I am running into a situation where the joints are too small in places the stones actually touch, but weeds have overtaken the pavers. I wonder what you think of partial install of poly sand where the joint widths right?

What do you use to protect the pavers from the compactor? My compactor does t have a rubber plate attachment and I’m trying to think of alternative ways. I noticed you used some kind of board in your video

. My case is different than most because I made a mosaic path with granite pieces. I used 2 different layers of sand under granite . The first section I barried the granite into sand & didn't leave the edges exposed for the polymeric sand to bond. Maybe I need to use a different product altogether. The next section I applied sand twice inbetween pounding it over & over with that square tool.some areas hardened & some didnt. I saw an ad for a quick-crete product.??

I do landscape flower bed maintenance. Overtime after many seasons of raking leaves, and plant debris from beds surrounding paver patios &/or driveways pavers (that never had polymer sand by original installer) organic debris builds in cracks. I’m constantly having to weed spray. Recently my employee power washed a 2000+sq. ft. paver patio that has flower beds and trees surrounding. I’m hiring a experienced landscaper to install poly-sand. Will certain amounts of poly-sand and activating process injure landscape plants? Btw great video.

😂 I just read through the comments. I want to thank you. Though it was a great video and I like the poly sand even more now!

I have a question, what about placing weight on top of recently joint filled pavers? I’m planning building a stone fire pit on top of brick pavers. Should I wait the full 30 days it takes to completely cure? I’m using techniseal poly sand.

I learned a lot thanks to your video. I appreciate you. You're very handsome and very knowledgeable.

Just finished pressure washing the patio in preparation of applying polymeric sand. Unfortunately I don’t have a power tamper, what other tamping options do you recommend?

Thanks - how about if I'm not able to compact pavers per manufacturer instructions (porcelain)?

Excellent video. I didn't rinse off the pavers enough. they now have a greyish color. is there an acid cleaner I can use? Thanks

My guy used grey polymeric on brown pavers. He set the water on it without properly brooming the excess sand away. It took me 8 gallons of muriatic acid to clean the pavers. 12 x 20 area. What a waste of time and money. All looks good now.

I have a paver patio with vertical bricks in the steps down, how would I sand & seal them?

I live in Westchester County, NY. Temperatures are fluctuating between highs of daytime 50's to 60's and overnight temps dipping down as low as 30's. I know about watching for rain, but is it not good to fill in my pavers now? Pls respond. Thanks.

We have allot of brick walks, patios, and areas that are in need of repair and replacement of broken bricks. I also treat every year for weeds and someone recommended power washing our areas and using Polymeric sand to seal everything up. Based on the information in this video and others it sounds like this is not a good idea and might cause more issues in the long run? Thanks

I thought this was a drinking game. I took a shot every time he said polymeric sand. I probably need to take the next week off work.

I live Colorado and am having a flag stone walk way installed. We are debating on weather to us a siliconized sand or just small pebbles between the flagstone. I’m not sure if they are going to us rock chips or not for the base. What would be the best choice? I was also wondering if we should just us normal sand and then spray a sealer over both the flag stone and the sand. We are just afraid of using the pebbles and the flag stone not staying in place. What would you suggest. We can’t spend a ton but we don’t want to cheap out either.

Way more than I never new about magic sand.

Got a travertine patio here with 1/8” gaps. Was going to grout conventionally except my travertine has hollows such as quartz inclusions I don’t wish to plug full of polymeric sand or conventional grout. Can I use poly sand with a grout bag or tape over these surface characteristics in order to preserve their beauty? Or poly sand conventionally a pinpoint blow out these recesses with an air compressor before sprinkling with water. I’m thinking tape would just come loose from the brooming/sweeping process? Please help

I have an area 4' x 8' where pavers have to be relayed. The spot is surrounded by other pavers. The new base has been installed, (3/4 crushed stone 4" deep, 1/4 clear/A.P.B. stone 3" deep & bedding sand 2"). Do I need to compact the base before I lay the new stone? Or should I just lay the stone, apply the polymeric sand and then compact?

I just finished an 8’x8’ area with these 2 3/8” thick pavers from Lowe’s that have those separation nubs on the sides but my pavers barely have a 1/16” gap. They have the recessed edges but where they butt up together there’s hardly any gap. Should I avoid polymeric sand or what could I use?

I'm installing a flagstone patio and I'm concerned about using the G2 joint filler. I noticed in your video that it needs to be just below the stone edge. My priority is to have the surface be as smooth as possible from the flagstones to the joint filler so chairs don't rock when sitting. Some joints are 1"-3" wide and about 1" deep on average. The flagstones sit on a crushed clean stone base. Would you suggest I use a mortar mix instead of the G2 polymeric sand?

Well, riddle me this Batman :) I had our pool redone and the pool company suggested we do pavers over the concrete patio around the pool. The issue now is, the polysand is failing. No one wants to touch it with a 10 foot pole since most of the other pool companies believe it will fail again since we chose to do the pavers over the concrete. Any GREAT suggestions as to what I should do about replacing the poly sand? Do I pull up all the pavers and redo it from scratch? Any advice from you is greatly appreicated.

I assume you use several inch’s of a stone base like crusher run. Do you the set your pavers in concrete sand? Since you don’t use stone dust .

I have 10 years pavement. It looks like there is is less sand in the joints. What is the correct procedure to repair/resand the joints?

Is it possible to pre fill with cheap paver sand half way, then come back with the polymeric sand? Brick paver application

Do I need to use the compactor if it’s a refill and not a new installation?

What type of polymeric sand would you recommend for Travertine pavers with very tight joints? What color of polymeric sand would you used for Classic Ivory Travertine pavers.

I wish I had seen your videos before I started my project. I used 10 limestone as my base (as recommended by supplier) and I’m getting ready to lay the pavers/polymeric sand, but it sounds like the sand might be a bad idea. Any recommendations on how to proceed?

Thank you, I agree with all your points but not with compactor, poly sand is so fine it can reach down to the bottom, if you sweep it diagonal then all done. Compactor can move/ dislocate pavers . Thank you

What do you do if you're in an area that gets rain often and you barely ever get a morning that's completely dry?

After watching video and reading all comments I am probably not going to install polymeric sand. Seven pitfalls does very much seem like an accident waiting to happen! In my case the big-box home improvement store designer recommended poly for use with 16x16” imprinted concrete “cobblestone” pavers, to fill joints between pavers AND imprinted pseudo channels/gaps between simulated cobblestones - for a finished mortared look between every “cobblestone“. I’m guessing it’s wishful thinking this will last more than a season. Soils removed to a depth of 12”. Installed 4” of road gravel (mixed crushed+fines), then 6” sub-base using 3/4 crushed stone (no fines), final base is 1” 1/4 crushed stone (no fines). Due to site constraints need water to drain into the base, not laterally on surface away from area. Poly sounds like it would prevent drainage. Should I sweep sand into joints or just let nature accumulate organic debris? A mossy seam is aesthetically desirable in this shaded location, will need to control weeds using mechanical removal or herbicides in long term.

Love your videos! I am scraping out gravel between existing irregular edged pavers with an 1/2 to 1 inch spacesI want to do a more solid even fill to prevent weeds, moss, and I can use barefooted. Extends off concrete area and often in shade. Suggestions on what type fill?

Question: should installers saturate the sand at the same time as spreading it into joints? One person spraying the hose while another is spreading the sand slush with a broom....all at the same time? Leaving the project covered in dried sand within hours? With some pavers completely filled in between while others have gaps?

Hello, I am going to reapply polymeric sand as over time, some of it has lifted out of the groves. Should I power wash it or just blow it off, and re apply some sand and follow the instructions?

We are planning to lay a Fon du Lac natural flagstone patio in Michigan. The design includes an antique brick bordered walkway/path that meanders through the patio. The interior surface of the bordered path will be same flagstone material. A contractor will be excavating & preparing the base for us. The proposed base material is either 4" or 6" of 22A dolomite stone (compacted) topped with an inch of 3/8" crushed pea stone. The patio will get dappled sunlight, but no direct hot sun. We will instruct the Contractor to adhere to a minimum 3/16" per foot slope (or more). We are debating between using Techniseal NOCO or GatorDust for the joints. Question 1: is this a good base to use for our application? Suggestions? Question 2: what material do you think is best for the joints, especially since we will have a mix of joint sizes (3/8" to 3") in the flagstone, and tight joints in the brick border that defines the pathway? Greatly appreciate your help and the awesome videos!

What if we don’t have a vibrator or compactor? I seen someone say you can grab a rubber mallet to settle the sand as well. Thoughts?

I have flagstone on a base of sand installed by a local contractor. Some joints are up to 4" What would be a good sand for that size joint????? What the contractor put in came out within a year and we have tried two other times with various sands recommended. Obviously we are not using the correct sand.

I’m about to finish laying my pavers, and I planned to use polymeric sand but there’s rain in the forecast for all of next week. Should I wait until after the rain to install the sand? Will that risk damaging the work I’ve already done? This is a small project so I’m willing to pivot and get Easy Joint (I didn’t know about it before I ordered supplies), but I’m not sure where to buy it locally in California or if there similar products I should look for

Great tips! Thank you so much! Are you based in Burlington? 7:40 looks like Legends Landscaping Supply 😂

I’ve installed flagstone over sand and ab3. What should I use for the joint compound?

Do you compact pavers to set them in the concrete sand below prior to starting the polymeric sand process or just compact as part of the polymeric sand process?

When removing existing failed polymeric sand (contractor didn't watch your vid! lol), is it ok to use surface cleaner attachment on the pressure washer? Thanks in advance!

It would be great if you talked just a bit slower for the newbs doing backyard installations. Obvs you’re a pro tho, thanks for the tips!

Hi I have a situation where the hardscapers did a polymer sand fill and then the following day it rained a little so it was still sandy looking. They then watered it but it had grains of polymer sand still on the surface. They then put a low luster brick sealant that wasn't made for papers so it now has a dullish surface. Is there a way of removing this surface ?

The hardscapers who did my yard cut every corner, making it a high-maintenance nightmare. These guys put turf over rocks, used half the rocks I bought, laid cloth over untreated fester crabgrass and more. Is there an alternative to renting or buying a compactor? I live alone, can't afford my back surgery - but I can do 10- 20 minutes using a cane or walker -- and more with a short, rolling stool I made. Yes, I have rolled right in to my pool. Lol I'm afraid I'll have to hire someone, and hiring someone for every little thing I used to easily do is disheartening and more than I can afford. Monsoon season is over, and I can wait a few months.

Some joints with polymeric sand has the black thing(mold I think?) do you know how to keep it away? especially around the downspout water from the rain.

You dont scuff the paver using the compactor on top with sand still under it?

After sweeping/compacting, my workers left some lightly dusted areas of sand on the TOP of some pavers…so after watering, there is some hardened sand residue on some pavers. I can see how it might be hard to remove all sand dust prior to watering. How do I remove this hardened layer, without damaging paver surfaces?

I had my driveway done in November 2022. Everything was done "by the book", except for the watering of the polymeric sand. I misunderstood. Instead of 30 sq. ft. in 30 seconds, I did 30 sq. ft. in 3 minutes. Five times the ideal time. Nothing has happened, except for some efflorescence. Should I bother to clean it? Is it something permanent? Or can it be removed? If so, how? Also, when would I be able to apply a sealer? Thanks for your attention to this.

I just bought my first house with a brick paver pathway and patio that appears to use mortar in the joints. Unfortunately a lot of it has cracked or chipped. Large gaps have appeared in places and weeds are growing all over the place. Once I deal with the weeds and cleaning everything, would polymeric sand be a viable solution to fill in the gaps?

I agree with your points here, but what do you do with XL slabs that aren't supposed to be compacted after installing sand?

I had my pavers installed almost 2 weeks ago. They used polymeric sand, but I feel like it can use more in some spots. Can I give the whole paver area another pass of polymeric sand?

can you strike the joint, refill and strike again and not plate compact?

What's wrong with just using stone dust between bricks on a patio? 8 inch deep pit, 6 inches of hard pack, inch inch of screeded stone dust, red bricks with stone dust brushed in to spaces between them?

Can you use polymeric sand on less than 1 inch thick pavers? Im using 24x24 porcelain pavers with the Brock Paver Base. Also why don't people use a funnel to get the polymeric sand within the joints instead of sweeping, then blowing the excess off? It seems like a lot of sand is being wasted by blowing off the sand left on the top of the pavers. I understand it may take a little more time using a funnel.

What is the best way to remove polymeric sand and then replace it?

Cambridge pavers states do not use stone dust

What’s the minimum joint size that can be done with these types of products?

Hello I just install polymeric sand and unfortunately it rain ( it was not in forecast), it wash away from some joint little bit so can i resend it or i need to power wash again and take it out all sand?

Some more data for my memory banks. Use TBD. ...thanks

Bro- Do you scape? :D I do too. Cheers. Fine content and sweet work~

What do you do if you fill it to much?

Confused. I have used sand to level my stones. Are you saying this is a no-no?

How do you get down 1 1/2 inches between pavers with a pressure washer??? 🤔

Who was that guy scratching his balls? Lol

I have never seen any paver install, even by professionals, that didn't grow crap in the joints.

Are you sure you sprayed enough water?

What if my polymeric sand is failing and I don't know what the installer used as a base? The sand did not ever cure, I don't think. It failed immediately.