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Polymeric sand vs resin mortar?

ThankthecatThankthecat Posts: 421
in Problem solving
I'm in the process of the annual 'scrape the grass from between the bricks' game. I hate it and something's got to change.  Our block paver path is bedded on sand, with just dry sand between the blocks. The gaps between them vary from too small to get a patio weeder in to half a centimetre. I don't mind the look of moss growing in the cracks, in fact I really like it looking aged, but in reality what grows is grass. If I didn't weedkill and pull it out at for three years on the trot you wouldn't know there was a path there. Has anyone had experience of the polymeric sand which you apply dry, or the much more expensive resin mortars? We're on a very tight budget but don't want to invest in the wrong thing... or has anyone got any better ideas? 

Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Helen Yemm from the Telegraph had the answer for a reader. It is a sand product with added weedkiller I believe, called Dansand. if you google on the name, that should give you a list of stockists.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    What type of weedkiller are you using? You need something that will kill the sand and stop seeds germinating (like Pathclear). That's the cheapest alternative. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Can I ask what is the problem with the grass?
  • ThankthecatThankthecat Posts: 421
    @Lizzie27 I have seen Dansand, that's the polymeric sand I was on about. On an old thread on here someone mentioned it didn't actually last very long, but as it's miles cheaper than the resin mortar I was hoping to hear from someone with experience of it. @hogweed, yes I use Pathclear but because I walk up and down that path many times every day, usually with bits of mud on my boots, I guess the bits of soil drop off into the cracks between the bricks and give the grass seeds a place to germinate :( Last year when I got all the grass out I topped up the sand between the cracks but there are ants under there and I think they cart some of it away, lol!
  • stuart.dotstuart.dot Posts: 127
    My approach would be to live with the grass but make sure it's easy to pull up by the roots, so sharp sand, gravel, whatever. You never know, something you want may take root. Fleabane? I love that stuff
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Sorry, I'd never heard of polymeric sand before - what is it exactly?
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Because your pavers are bedded on sand, they will be subject to constant ground movement from temperature and moisture changes and need to be able to breathe and wick off moisture. I haven’t come across polymorphic sand, but avoid resin mortars like the plague as they are designed to form a hard impermeable surface. Even with a firm concrete base they can still glaze, crack and peel away from the pavers and if used on sand bedded pavers or any natural stone that needs a flexible base and grout to allow for natural movement. In your case they will definitely break up and look more of a mess than the grass. They will also likely stain your (brick?) pavers and it’s a nightmare to remove.

    Sharp sand is the only really suitable gap filler. Just keep a supply to hand to brush in as required.

    Have you tried a gas canister wand to kill of the grass? This works for me for grass and weeds growing between my natural stone steps - no need to incinerate growth totally, just singe it and it will die off and you can then brush off the debris.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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