[DIY-er Denise]

Hi! New to the forum. Designer and DIY’er losing steam and wanting to find permanent fixes to several projects.
Have 1000 sq ft of brick pavers I laid atop a concrete foundation patio 3 years ago where I used gator sand for joints and an inexpensive sealer. The gator sand doesn’t seem to be holding up well (think I laid the bricks too close together but I’m not removing and re-doing that!) I’ve filled in gaps each year with extra gator sand and I think the sealer is long gone.

1. Thinking I must need a good penetrating sealer. I hear a good one might not even require gator sand in the joints. Good! I don’t want to use it anyway.

In my research it looks like Seal n Lock Super Wet and Sure-Seal H2O have the solids content I might need to give the brick and sand the protection needed to withstand the elements. What product do you recommend ?

2. Have a leaking concrete waterfall upper and lower pond.

Leaking from multiple places and especially on the huge limestone slab at bottom which is sitting on earth. Built that 20 years ago. Tried various products not wanting to completely cover the natural limestone slabs, but ready to cover the base stones completely and the entire concrete pond at bottom and top. Wondering what product or products you’d recommend for that daunting task.

Since I’m renting a Makinex 1000-4000 adjustable PSI rotating pressure washer to get the bricks thoroughly clean for sealing, I thought I might use that machine to clean our sidewalks and
Thanks! driveway since I’m renting it for a full day anyway.

3. What sealer would you recommend for the 23 year old sidewalk and driveway to help stay clean and hopefully keep from deteriorating.

Sorry for asking so many questions. Greatly appreciate your help.

Hope you can advise me on what products you’ve found for these installations which will survive the elements (Indiana climate with multiple freeze thaw cycles each winter) and stand the test of time.

 

[chandler48]

Can you post pictures of what you have, so we can see what you see?

 

[Half-fast eddie]

I don’t understand the issue with the pavers. Are they sinking and no longer level? Are you concerned about having to keep adding sand? Or you want a shiny finish?

If they are still level ... leave them alone. You could fill the joints with polymeric sand, it supposedly sets up a little rigid and resists washing away.

You want a sealer for the driveway to keep the concrete from deteriorating. No such thing.

 

[DIY-er Denise]

Can you post pictures of what you have, so we can see what you see?

 

[DIY-er Denise]

Thank you, Chandler 48.
I laid them over a concrete slab, so no issues with leveling.
The moss and black (mold ?) sticks to the bricks which requires heavy and time consuming power washing. That task winds up pushing out some of the gator sand. Plus last year it rained and some gator sand actually stuck to areas of the brick surface. So I really need to power wash more than ever. I’m hoping to coat the brick and reduce the upkeep. Would greatly appreciate advice.

Can you post pictures of what you have, so we can see what you see?

 

[DIY-er Denise]

I don’t understand the issue with the pavers. Are they sinking and no longer level? Are you concerned about having to keep adding sand? Or you want a shiny finish?

If they are still level ... leave them alone. You could fill the joints with polymeric sand, it supposedly sets up a little rigid and resists washing away.

You want a sealer for the driveway to keep the concrete from deteriorating. No such thing.

I’ve had to put polymeric sand in the joints every summer. I think the issue is my joints aren’t wide enough. Really don’t want to pull up and start over. So hoping sealer will offer a coating which will repel most of the moss growth. I use a leaf blower to keep it clear a couple days per week for 14 weeks of decent Indiana weather. After that, it’s basically neglected which I’m sure doesn’t help.

 

[3onthetree]

1. Your pavers look like interlocking, concrete pavers. That means they have little 'nubs' that dictate the gap spacing designed to keep them interlocked with the sand. Gator sand I thought was polymeric, so if it's washing out every year you have not installed it correctly. Polymeric is very specific in installation procedure to get right. Besides the constant blowing the surface, I suspect losing sand may have something to do with laying over an existing concrete slab though. There should still be a 1" bedding layer of sand, which has a geotextile over the concrete slab that you drilled 1" holes in to allow water to drain (freeze/thaw in IN). Concrete pavers do not need any kind of sealer for performance. Only if you like the wet look would you need a sealer, but then to be consistent you should Armor All your car tires and dash every day too.

2. I think you may be talking about the crack I see in the side wall below the rock on the lower pool. I would suspect with freeze/thaw in IN the wall is not reinforced well, if at all, with no footings to keep from moving around. And it looks parged. More info on that as well as how much deterioration and whether this has fish for a liner or more pargecoat product.

3. Concrete sealer - like 1/2 fast said, no such thing. Keep the sealers for indoor concrete.

 

[chandler48]

Based on your pictures, the patio is in great shape. It may require a quarterly, lighter pressure washing rather than yearly to keep it in top shape. Just my opinion.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Based on your pictures, the patio is in great shape. It may require a quarterly, lighter pressure washing rather than yearly to keep it in top shape. Just my opinion.

Agree 100%. The pavers look to be in very good condition. You could spray a dilute bleach-water mixture, or tsp or deck vleaner to kill the little bit of moss. Just spray it on, keep it wet for an hour, and rinse off.

 

[DIY-er Denise]

“There should still be a 1" bedding layer of sand, which has a geotextile over the concrete slab that you drilled 1" holes in to allow water to drain”

I see where I went wrong, now. Thank you for explaining

Yea, they had that raised area so it’s not that they are too close together.
The third season I put the gator sand in, the sand adhered much better. But it sounds like I need to give up trying to get the gator sand to work.
Was hoping to streamline the upkeep since I’m not getting any younger! Lol

I might start a new thread about the pond. It’s been a hot mess for a decade. I want to fill the bottom with dirt and just put more limestone and a fire pit or something down there. Could put container plants on the dry old waterfall stones and figure out how to fix the upper pond… put a small fountain there. So tired of cleaning that out and repairing to find it leaking again and again.

Now I know I really should have used a pro instead of supervising my handyman to build that pond. BIG mistake.

 

[DIY-er Denise]

Agree 100%. The pavers look to be in very good condition. You could spray a dilute bleach-water mixture, or tsp or deck vleaner to kill the little bit of moss. Just spray it on, keep it wet for an hour, and rinse off.

Thank you for responding
I’m always afraid of putting chemicals on there since I have vegetation literally everywhere around the patio. So no place to even attempt to direct the run off.
So I’ve just used a normal power washer up until now and it looks like I’m making matters worse dumping water and forced water into the crevices.
Ready to try a chemical if y’all think it’s safe. Is bleach or deck cleaner fairly safe to use and not a kill my plants? Or is there a recommended ratio which is safe?

 

[ClarenceBauer]

Thank you for responding
I’m always afraid of putting chemicals on there since I have vegetation literally everywhere around the patio. So no place to even attempt to direct the run off.
So I’ve just used a normal power washer up until now and it looks like I’m making matters worse dumping water and forced water into the crevices.
Ready to try a chemical if y’all think it’s safe. Is bleach or deck cleaner fairly safe to use and not a kill my plants? Or is there a recommended ratio which is safe?

Check this product it will not damage you or your plants.
I have used it many times on commercial jobs with very good results.

 

[DIY-er Denise]

Clarence—

I ordered the D/2

Will arrive Wednesday.
Thank you so much!
I’ll let you know how it works…

Denise

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Bleach is not a problem. Spray it on carefully, then rinse with plenty of water.