Joint sand is responsible for the vertical interlock of a paving system. High slope areas, water run off, wind and aggressive cleaning can result in erosion of joint sands. Joints should be filled to the bottom of the chamfer or in the case of tumbled pavers 1/8" from the top. Substantial loss of joint sand could result in a loss of vertical interlock affecting structural performance.
Not all joint sands are created equal. Both fine and course Mason sand contains rounded aggregates that tend to wash out (being replaced by dirts). They do not lock together as sands with symmetrical particles. The angular or symmetrical sands take much longer to consolidate in tight paver joints which is why most contractors neglect to use them.
The picture to the left shows: (from left to right are) Fine Masons Sand, Course Granite Sand and a 50-50 mixture of both. With the addition of the angular Granite Sand, joints tend to stay consolidated longer and in many cases mixing custom blends of joint sands can achieve colors that highlight the colors of the pavers used in the project.
If you are interested in more information or would like The Paver Doctor to blend a custom joint sand for you please call. We specialize in paver Repair-Restoration-sealing.
