Poly sand - hows it last?

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T

trivetman

Bronze Supporter
Jul 14, 2017
738
Jenkintown, PA
Pool Size
24000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
We’ve got ancient brick patios and walks around the house (not next to the pool). They’re probably original to the house and over 100 years old. They are below grade of the landscaping, uneven, and weed filled. Time to re-lay them.

The bricks themselves seem to be mostly in good shape and we’ll reuse the material. We’re talking to a landscape company with a very good reputation and everything seems right with the quote (6” stone base, etc). They’re charging the appropriate fortune for the labor.

My only hangup is on using poly-sand. Assuming it is installed right, how long does it hold up and whats involved when it needs to be removed and replaced? A neighbor of mine who is in the business doesn’t trust it. Hes seen too many cases where it only solidifies on the very top layer and cracks and fails quickly. Then it is a giant PIA to remove and redo because what did solidify is stuck to the pavers.

Assuming we’re not hiring idiots to do the job, is this a 10+ year product?
 
Are you referring to polymeric sand, or is poly sand a specific brand/product?

If the former, my clay fired brick patio uses regular play sand. My brick installer has been in the business 40 years and is very professional and experienced. He stated that polymeric sand doesn’t work well with brick because it will generally get in to all of the scratches, scores, and chips on brick and will fill them up and lock in place. This ultimately ruins the appearance of the brick, in his opinion, as it gives the brick white speckles or lines.

I’ve got 1500 sqft of brick with a lot of thick paver base and everything has been compacted down well. Regular sand has locked the bricks in place very well and there’s generally little to no loose sand on the surface, which was one of my concerns. We had an excavator and skid steer all over the bricks when the pool was put in and nothing shifted at all.

Dan

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Thanks for this. Yes I mean polymeric sand in general and not a specific product.

I was concerned with how well it would hold up in the joints. I wasn’t even thinking about the face of the bricks. Heres a pic of the front walk. I don’t know for sure its original to the house (built 1912 we think) but it’s likely. Our place is one of the older ones right in this neighborhood but there’s plenty older especially as you go more towards the city (Philadelphia). No shortage of cracks for the sand to get stuck. Thats for sure!

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Well you might see what a reputable company in your area says and see if they give a different opinion from what I got.

Those bricks are beautiful - I’m a huge fan of brick patios/walks. Our house was built in 1928 and our goal was to make the backyard seem original to the house, so our landscape designer chose clay brick in a herringbone pattern. Looking at your 1912 walk, looks like she nailed it!

Good luck with your project!
 
I have red brick walk ways as well. My understanding is that polymeric sand might stain them. Every couple of years I pressure wash the bricks an make sure I get between the bricks. Then I just add fresh cheap play sand between them. I keep weeds out of the cracks just using a year round weed killer like roundup or ortho.
 
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I’ve done a couple patios with regular sand and with stone dust. IMO the poly sand always cracks eventually (Sometimes within a month) and then it’s hard to fill it back in so I won’t ever use it. The stone dust is the best followed by regular sand. It lets you brush it in and reapply as often as needed.
 

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