[harpua728]

Hi there,

My patio bricks have faded, and need to do the following things:

1) Pressure wash them,
2) Seal them, to restore their lost color, and
3) Refill gaps with sand

I have the following questions, mainly concerning the sealing and sand replacement.

The first question is what type of sand should I use? I’ve read mixed reviews about polymeric sand used on bricks, and I’ve also read that all the current sand/dirt should be removed first, and it’s better to use on gaps larger than what I have.

So basically, my main question is what type of sand/compound to use, and should I do this before or after sealing the bricks (which I assume depends on what I use)? An added benefit would be if it could help reduce weeds and moss. For the sealer, I think I’m going with Eagle paver sealer, but I am open to suggestions on that as well.

I hope the pictures will help, and thank you, as always, for your help.

 

[stadry]

pressure wash, acrylic masonary sealer, then more polymeric is our method,,, we like sher-wms best (h/o quality)

 

[harpua728]

pressure wash, acrylic masonary sealer, then more polymeric is our method,,, we like sher-wms best (h/o quality)

So polymeric is good to use on this type of brick? How much would I need for this patio area?

Thanks.

 

[harpua728]

Sakrete website says the following...

Staining

A few things are CRITICAL to making this look good. The biggest challenge you will face is how to avoid staining. Every polymeric sand that I know of will stain under the right conditions. There are two keys to success here. The first is to make sure the pavers are dry. Not just the surface but most of the way through. That means that if it has rained for three days, then stops, and the sun pops out you can’t just run out and put down sand. The water will wick up through the pavers and cause stains. The same applies if you need to use a pressure washer to remove the sand that is left from the original installation. You can’t pressure wash and apply polymeric sand on the same day. I should warn you that getting the stain off is a huge problem so it’s best to take the time to avoid it in the first place. One suggestion: DON’T use these products on red clay bricks. They will stain no matter what you do. The second thing that is important is to remove ALL of the dust created when you put the sand down. After you have swept everything that you can into the joints, a leaf blower set on low and held at about a 30-degree angle will gently remove excess dust. This dust is what causes the stains once it is wet.

 

[stadry]

how much,,,,,,,,,,,, no idea as we just buy bags & keep 'em in the shop,,, lessee, our avg paver patio measures approx 20' x 20',,, should take about 4b,,, i'll have to start tracking that better

 

[harpua728]

I have two kinds of brick (I think) thatbare pictured below. One in the driveway and one in the patio, however, they donflow into one another. Any experts out there know what the difference between the two types are?

Again, my concern is that I've read not to use polymeric sand on red bricks.

 

[stadry]

different batches / mix design assuming thickness is the same

 

[harpua728]

Can anyone address my concern about using polymeric sand on brick? Thank you.

 

[stadry]

top looks like conc & so does the btm 1,,, how do you know they're bricks ?

 

[harpua728]

top looks like conc & so does the btm 1,,, how do you know they're bricks ?

I guess I have no clue. Looks like brick to me.

 

[Canarywood1]

Most pavers today are concrete, the 1st pic is definitely concrete that was probably not sealed after the install, the fine aggregate is showing up white, they can be stained, but then need to be sealed, same with the 2nd pic the sooner the better to retain color.

All locking pavers are concrete, the others like clay or stone are considered Architectural.

 

[harpua728]

Most pavers today are concrete, the 1st pic is definitely concrete that was probably not sealed after the install, the fine aggregate is showing up white, they can be stained, but then need to be sealed, same with the 2nd pic the sooner the better to retain color.

All locking pavers are concrete, the others like clay or stone are considered Architectural.

Thanks. Would I be ok with just a wet look dealer, or do I need to stain and then seal? If the latter, what should I use to stain.

Thanks again.

 

[Canarywood1]

If you don't mind the color variation between the two, just get a good silane/siloxane penetrating sealer, i really don't know how good the current stains are as most are water based.

If you want the wet look i'm pretty sure you have to use an acrylic sealer.

 

[stadry]

good advice, woody !

 

[harpua728]

Will the sealer come off if I pressure wash next year?

 

[stadry]

anything/everything comes off at some point & it will require more sealer at some point