What you need to know about Sanding your Pavers

 No, sanding your paver stones do not involve getting down on your hands and knees and going at them with sandpaper. Thankfully, it is a less labor-intensive process. But what it spares you in elbow grease; it takes in know-how and planning.

We have talked about how to sand your pavers but in the following blog, we want to prepare you for what comes before sanding. The fact is that there are certain things that you absolutely have to know before, during, and after you sand your pavers. And if you overlook any of these considerations, your project could end up a disaster. So take a look at what you need to know about sanding your pavers.

The ‘Before’

Chances are you have your pavers on the outside of your house (we know, wild assumption, right?). The elements can ruin your sanding project very quickly so the first thing you should consider before you even start your sanding project is the weather. There are a couple of things to plan for:

• Rain – You absolutely need to plan your sanding project around a time when the forecast calls for dry conditions. It needs to be dry before, during, and after you sand your pavers.
• Temperature – You also need to plan your project around a time that is not too cold. That’s because the temperature should be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit during and after sanding for the mixture to properly set.

The ‘During’

The ‘during’ can be the most difficult. That’s because a lot of DIYers and contractors for that matter don’t know the proper method for sanding pavers. But while you fill your joints with sand, you have to keep in mind depth. You should be filling in the sand so that it is ¼” to 1/8” below the surface of the paver or the chamfered edge.

This is critically important for drainage. The ideal depth will allow water to be channeled over the paver stones properly. But if the sand is too high, water will end up pooling on the surface and seeping into the joints.

But it is difficult to achieve this specific fill depth which is why many people choose to hire professionals for paver sanding.

The ‘After’

Once the job is done right, your pavers are going to look good. You may get the urge to call up all your buddies and throw a party or BBQ but you have to resist that urge for 24 hours. There cannot be any foot traffic on your freshly sanded pavers for at least 24 hours. And if we are talking about driveway pavers, you need to wait at least 48 hours before driving any vehicle over the pavers.

Paver sealing is also a very important afterthought. Sealing will help you retain as much sand as possible and preserve your pavers for longer. In fact, we recommend paver sealing after every sanding project.

For more information or to schedule a free estimate fora paver sealing or paver sanding project, talk to us at (704) 245-9409.

Source: paintersincharlotte.com