Brick pavers are a popular, modern driveway material because it looks beautiful and comes in many colors. However, without the proper sand base underneath it can be an extremely uncomfortable place to walk on or even drive over. You often see brick paver driveways with sand piles on top of them because someone forgot to put down enough sand. How much sand do you need? It depends on how big your bricks are and how much traffic will be passing over them. The average driveway requires about 15 tons for 7500 square feet of space. Sand is one of the most important materials for paving a brick walk, driveway or patio. Best Sand For Brick Pavers should be graded and free of stones, dirt and other foreign substances. A good quality sand is rounded and uniform in size.
Brick pavers are a beautiful addition to any landscape design. They provide a stable, durable surface for sidewalks, patios, and driveways that can last for decades. They’re also low-maintenance and relatively easy to install in most yard spaces. Brick pavers require regular cleaning but don’t need to be sealed or treated with protectant chemicals like other types of pavers. They’re also easy to fix if you make an installation mistake—you can simply pull up the bricks and re-install them later. That said, if you want your paver installation to last longer than a year or two, you need to use the right kind of sand when laying your bricks.
Buying Sand For Brick Pavers
Brick pavers are usually made of concrete, so it’s important to use sand that won’t damage the joints between bricks. You should look for a bag labeled specifically “sand for brick pavers.” You can also buy bags labeled “play sand,” but these may include dirt, pebbles, or other impurities. In addition, don’t use sand from the beach (too much salt), riverbeds (too many rocks), quarries (too many impurities), or sandbox-style products (they’re often treated with chemicals).
Sand should be free of impurities like dirt and rocks—so it doesn’t damage your joints when wet—but it also needs enough moisture to stick together when you pour it into cracks in your walkway.
Is Sand Or Cement Better For Brick Pavers?
Sand is a better choice for brick pavers and other masonry projects because it’s less expensive and easier to work with. Concrete will hold up better over time, but you’ll pay a premium for that durability.
Cement is often used as a base layer in conjunction with sand when constructing brick pavers. The two materials are blended together to form what’s known as “cement-sand” concrete, which is stronger than regular concrete alone, because of the increased bond strength between the sand grains in cement paste (a mixture of water and cement). Sand provides better joint support than cement by filling in any gaps or voids between bricks; this helps reduce cracking over time due to expansion from heat exposure.
Pros Of Using Polymeric Sand
Polymeric sand is a great choice for brick pavers. It’s easy to use, looks great and performs well in both residential and commercial applications.
Polymeric sand can be poured into the joints of brick pavers to fill the gaps between each individual brick. When used correctly, this type of sand will give your installation a uniform appearance with no visible lines between bricks—making it look like one smooth surface from top to bottom.
Polymers are synthetic compounds that react with certain materials at ambient temperatures (in other words: no need for any special equipment). This chemical reaction causes the polymer particles in polymeric sand to expand and bond together when applied over time as moisture seeps into joints between bricks or stones on a patio installation. The more time that passes after installing new pavers on top of existing ones using polymeric joint filler, the stronger they will become; which means less chance of cracking or breaking off later down road.
Downsides of Using Polymeric Jointing Sand
While polymeric sand is more durable and less likely to clump together than other types of sand, there are some downsides. The biggest downside is that it’s more expensive than other types of sand. Other potential drawbacks include:
- Polymeric sand can be difficult to install because it tends not to stick very well; you may need to use more adhesive or apply more pressure when installing the pavers.
- It’s also difficult to remove later on if you decide you want the pavers replaced in another part of your yard (they bond with the bricks and make removal challenging).
- If any moisture gets into the joints between your bricks during installation or afterward, it could cause problems with drainage over time. This could lead to mold growth inside your walls, which isn’t good for anyone! To prevent this from happening, make sure all joints are completely dry before sealing them up with a waterproof sealant such as Thompson’s Water Seal® Exterior Wood Stain & Sealer or Thompson’s Water Seal® Interior Wall Waterproofing System
What Kind of Sand Should I Use For Brick Pavers?
When it comes to the right sand for brick pavers, there are several factors you should consider. Sand should be fine enough to fill the joints between bricks without clogging up the spaces between them. It should also be coarse enough to provide stability and prevent weeds from growing in between your pavers. Of course, this sand should also be easy to use and stay in place well—it can take quite a bit of effort to get everything ready for the project, so you want it to pay off in the end! Finally, having high-quality material that gives your pavers a professional look will help you attract more customers and increase profits over time.
The Right Way to Sweep In Jointing Sand
To keep your sand in place once it’s been spread, use the following tips:
- Sweep the joints in a circular motion. Don’t overfill them.
- Don’t pack the sand down too much or with too much force—it should be loose. Use just enough water to moisten it for easier spreading and packing down (but don’t soak it).
- If you’re using a broom, start at one side of the jointing sand and brush toward yourself using short strokes; then turn 90 degrees and repeat until you’ve brushed everywhere. This will help ensure that all areas are filled equally and that no debris is trapped within any particular area of jointing sand.
The best sand for brick pavers is one designed for this specific use.
The best sand for brick pavers is one designed for this specific use. Polymeric sand, like that made by Quikrete® is the best and most durable option for your project. Polymeric sand is more expensive than regular concrete mix (which should never ever be used on a patio), but it lasts longer, cleans up easier, and has fewer maintenance issues.
Polymerized silica is a type of quartz made from silicon dioxide that can withstand high temperatures without harming plants or animals when heated too much by the sun’s rays over time. It also won’t wash away during rainstorms so that water doesn’t pool around your patios or walkways causing them to buckle over time due to poor drainage capacity underneath them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, using the right sand for brick pavers can keep your outdoor space looking great for years without having to worry about weeds or ants. When it comes time to choose which type of jointing sand is best for you, remember that this choice depends on where you are in your project as well as how much money you want to spend and what kind of results you expect. The bottom line is that each method has its pros and cons so make sure you do your research before deciding which one will work best.
