Polymeric sands are an extremely useful binding agent, and choosing and installing the right polymeric sand is very significant so that it can ensure durability and withstand any weather conditions like rain. They act as locking agents for pavers when mixed with water and other additives like silica. They lock the pavers and complete the process of building a walkway or a driveway. Polymeric sands should be installed carefully without committing errors, as any mistake will mean that you will have to redo the entire installation. This will incur more expenditure and time to fix the mistakes of installation.
Therefore, it is necessary to comprehend the features of installing polymeric sand and the mistakes one usually makes, so that you do not repeat the same.
Use Better Quality Sand:
There are various types of polymeric sands available in the market. While you may be tempted to choose polymeric sand and think of saving some money, there may be certain drawbacks to it. Cheaper polymeric sands mean they use cheaper quality ingredients for making them. As a result, after you install the polymeric sand, you may have to suffer regular hazing issues, and this will gradually cause harm to your reputation. Therefore, to avoid these circumstances, it is recommended that you purchase a better quality polymeric sand, which will guarantee a perfect installation. Do your homework before you select the best polymeric sand for you.
Choose The Right Amount Of Water:
The next thing to ascertain is the amount of water you should be using to install the polymeric sand. Anything extreme is not a favorable thing to do, therefore, overwatering or under watering are both harmful for polymeric sand installation. Overwatering will carry the risk of the sand being washed away, whereas under watering will give a very weak and fragile installation of sand. Make sure to use the right amount of water and let the water be soaked in the sand properly. The sand should be evenly watered throughout without having any dry patches left. The correct amount of watering is essential for a successful polymeric sand installation.
Avoid Rainy Weather:
Before installing polymeric sand, make sure that the surrounding weather is particularly suitable for the installation. Rain can cause a lot of distraction to the installation of the polymeric sand. Sometimes, it may be difficult to predict the weather conditions, but it is still advised to use your mind as much to choose the right weather conditions. If it rains right after the installation, the water may spill all the polymeric sand on top of the pavers. The sand may get over sticky due to the heavy rain, as it will be difficult to remove from the surface.
Hence, it is recommended to choose a dry weather condition before installation. Dry weather will ensure that the surface will remain dry at all times even after the installation so that the sand may successfully bind the pavers. But, in case, you witness an unfortunate rain while installation, then it is mandatory to use a tarp and cover the surface for protection.
Don’t Compromise On Aesthetic Value:
It is necessary that you do the maximum research regarding the polymeric sand before choosing one. The most durable and best quality sands may be available only in certain limited colors, and that may make you wonder that these colors do not match with the colors of the pavers. However, let us assure you that there are many newer brands that are offering you a diverse range of colors to suit your needs and desires. Therefore, while installing the polymeric sand, make sure you beautify them by keeping in mind the color combination of the paver and the sand.
The Pavers Should Be Dry, Use The Right Amount Of Sand And Compact
As discussed earlier, the favourability of dry weather conditions, similarly, the pavers, which will be bound by the sand, should also be dry.
The next thing which has to be determined is the amount of sand to be used for filling in between the pavers. The objective is to fill them completely, and there should not be any vacant space without sand. That does not mean you dump the excess amount of sand just for the sake of it, as excess sand may have spilled on the top of the surface. You will have to measure and anticipate the amount of sand required to fill each crack, and then you proceed with the installation.
After you have installed the sand, make sure that you do not forget compacting. Compacting is the procedure which will hold the pavers tightly by eliminating any air space in between the pavers. Leaving the air spaces as it is will eventually cause decay and breaking of the pavers.
You should remember these above pointers while you are installing polymeric sand for the successful completion of the installation. However, the installation will end only after you clean up the remaining sand lying on the surface by sweeping and using a leaf blower. This procedure has to be done after the installation and remember that any remaining sand particles will harden it on top of the surface and create a rough surface.
