How To Remove Polymeric Sand From Your Pavers
When laying pavers, polymeric sand is commonly used to fill the gaps between each stone and to keep them in place. Normally, polymeric sand contains 85 – 90% quartz and crystalline silica, which is what gives the sand its extreme binding power. When you wet this sand, it activates the polymers, which hardens the various components, effectively locking the pavers in place.
Unfortunately, if there is any polymeric sand left on the surface of the pavers, it will harden if it becomes wet, leaving rough clumps on top of the stones that are difficult to remove. The best way to avoid this from occurring to you is to remove all the sand from the surface of the pavers before wetting.
Begin by pouring the polymeric sand into the gaps between the pavers, making sure that these gaps are filled to the top. Use a leaf blower, held levelly to prevent it from blowing sand out of the gaps, to blow the excess sand from the surface of the stones. Then, sweep over the pavers with a broom to remove any sand that may have found its way into crevices in the stone.
Take a garden hose, with the nozzle set to mist, and lightly spray it over the pavers, starting from the highest section and working your way down to the lowest. Not only does this harden the polymeric sand in the gaps between pavers, it also removes any remaining sand from the stone’s surface.
You should avoid driving and even walking on your pavers for at least 24 hours after wetting polymeric sand, as this could cause the stones to shift slightly and to become uneven.