Paver sand got wet

bggas400

Hi all,
I’m installing a front walkway and have issues. I got the pavers installed with recommended 2” base and 2” sand under the pavers. This was recommneded by the paver supplier. I’ve done this and wasn’t able to tamper them down, sweep in the polymeric sand into the gaps and tamper again as it was almost midnight. The footing felt solid.
Anyway being unreliable as the weather forecasters are, it wasn’t supposed to rain that night but it did. When I went out the next morning, the pavers moved easily when walked on so I’m thinking I have to remove the pavers and the wet sand – possibly tamper the base again – screed in some dry sand and reinstall. Flex 'beast' edging is installed on one side but I'm removed that and putting in rigid ediging since I have all straight lines and the flex stuff doesn't do the trick.

Any other recommendations, comments…etc would be greatly appreciated.
bgg

concretemasonry

Normally a maximum of a 1" sand is screeded and not compacted. The pavers are set and the edge restraint is tightly butted up to the pavers ans fine sand is spread over the surface and then the surface is vibrated to even out the surface, vibrate the pavers into the 1" setting bed and make sure the sand gets into the tight joints to create the interlock. Polymeric sand is uncommon because it offers no real advanages. The excess sand is then swept off.

Sand cannot really be compacted, but only made to look compacted and can only be reasonably well the compacted if it contained on all sides.

In your case, the setting bed is too thick and the pavers are "swimming" in the thick wet sand setting bed. The ICPI recommends a maximum setting bed of 1". with a thick cohesionless material in the setting bed movement can be expected.

Dick

bggas400

Thanks for replying. I did not compact the setting bed, only screed.
I was under the impression that polymeric sand inhibits the growth of weeds and is a deterrent for ants making holes.

bgg

AllanJ

Is/was the soil base under the sand layer tamped enough?

The sand is going to get wet anyway, from rain water seeping between the pavers.

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