The sand setting bed should be a UNIFORM 1" thickness and UNCOMPACTED. You cannot compact a sand that meets the specifications. All compaction should be concentrated on the base as you shave it to a smooth surface the allows you to use a uniform sand thickness. If you want a slope for drainage, the base should be sloped so you can maintain a uniform thickness of the setting bed.
The purpose of using a plate vibrating compactor is to draw sand into the joints from above and below to insure a uniform, strong, even surface and to give the surface layer stability and strength so it can spread out the loads to larger area of the base material.
On a patio, you can get away with a few deviations. Polymeric sand is permissible, but it is never used on more critical installations like streets, roads, airport taxiways and ship unloading facilities were you have real loads.
Dick
The purpose of using a plate vibrating compactor is to draw sand into the joints from above and below to insure a uniform, strong, even surface and to give the surface layer stability and strength so it can spread out the loads to larger area of the base material.
On a patio, you can get away with a few deviations. Polymeric sand is permissible, but it is never used on more critical installations like streets, roads, airport taxiways and ship unloading facilities were you have real loads.
Dick
