Cleaning up polymeric sand

[r_p_rose]

Folks,
I installed a patio using pavers on a gravel/brick sand bed. I used poly sand to fill in the joints. I brushed on the first layer, used a power tamper, then a scecond layer, again power tamper then a third. However, I made a BIG mistake! I wet the patio down before brooming the remainder off the patio ! Question is....how do I get the sand off the face of the pavers?????

[Stonehenge]

I'm moving this thread to the Homeowner forum.

RP - to answer your question - a scrub brush and elbow grease is the recipe to address that problem.


This discussion has been included in the site beginner's polymeric sand (http://www.groundtradesxchange.com/pavers/polymeric_sand.htm) page.

[Bill Schwab]

Either that or use a hot pressure washer and lots of steam. The problem might be that you take some of the sand out of the joints at the same time. One more arguement for Surebond over real sand vs polmeric and the threat of water....

[site]

Vinegar will help

[HardDaysKnight]

You could purchase an angle grinder and the wire drum brush
accesory and clean it with little effort. Get the drum not rotary
wheel for this type of job. Test it on a spare block to be sure it
does't scratch or mar. I would wet each paver somewhat lightly
and then use the power tool. It should do the trick easier.
Here is a link for the grinder.It's the cheapest model but you
only need it for a few hours.
I hope this link works! Johnny
Note: DON'T go against the grain.

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/shop_cart/pg_print_product.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=shop_cart/pg_print_product.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@1591492106.1115079769@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccehaddeidfhejhcgelceffdfgidgjl.0&MID=9876&prod_id=165666

[r_p_rose]

Thanks for the info! I am going give this a try....the tool is cheap enuf and I can try it on some spare pavers....by wire drum brush do you mean the cup wire brush attachment ? Thanks! Rob

[Stonehenge]

Site - I've never tried vinegar - do you let it set, then scrub? Also, does it discolor the pavers at all?

[HardDaysKnight]

Originally posted by r_p_rose
Thanks for the info! I am going give this a try....the tool is cheap enuf and I can try it on some spare pavers....by wire drum brush do you mean the cup wire brush attachment ? Thanks! Rob
I would try it with the pavers slightly wet and dry it dry also.
It should work easily. Again I hope this link works. Make sure
the attachment fits the grinder you purchase and good luck!
Johnny
http://imagex.homedepot.com/f/248/13340/7d/www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/eplus/045242145256_4.jpg

If this link doesn't work you can e-mail me.

[site]

I'll be honest- I didn't see my guys use the vinegar, but I saw the results. Our supplier told us about it. They went and bought a couple of gallons of the cheapest vinegar they could find and a scrub brush. They dumped the vinegar sraight onto the patio and scrubbed away. I think it took about two hours to scrub a fairly heavy residue off of a 400 sq ft patio.
They did this on the first patio where we used the polymetric sand. On the second patio we were getting ready to sweep it in and one of the guys asks me for a check. I said " What for?" He said "We need to go get vinegar to clean up after we sweep in the sand" He thought it was a normal step in the process. I thought it was pretty funny.