[sayluv]

Hi-
We get a ton of rain where we live (PNW). Under our backyard deck we have a nice paver patio but there is a lot of mud/yuk splatter on our house from the constant rain were I think the water gets in between the pavers and kicks out whatever is in there.

Can I just brush a bag of sand in between the pavers to help minimize this of do I need to use something special?

Thanks.

 

[3onthetree]

You'll want to wash out the muck first, as you'll be constantly fighting weeds. A garden hose hopefully should do it, but power wash if necessary. Sand is perfect (but should be coarse, not fine for joints), you can also use polymeric sand which has additives to harden it.

If you have organics constantly filling low joints, then you must have no slope away or pooling may be caused by the grade having a higher lip at the patio edge.

 

[sayluv]

You'll want to wash out the muck first, as you'll be constantly fighting weeds. A garden hose hopefully should do it, but power wash if necessary. Sand is perfect (but should be coarse, not fine for joints), you can also use polymeric sand which has additives to harden it.

If you have organics constantly filling low joints, then you must have no slope away or pooling may be caused by the grade having a higher lip at the patio edge.

Thanks. Doesn't look sloped to me. Organics is the prefect term for the muck. Here is the slop that gets kicked up against the house constantly.

 

[3onthetree]

Yeah, you can see some of the gaps widening at the house, so probably sinking a tad and allowing some standing water which then splashes up.

 

[joecaption]

Is there gutters?

 

[Nealtw]

Polymeric sand is like grout for stone.

 

[huesmann]

Spread some rock salt over your patio.

 

[stadry]

rock salt on top of concrete ? not @ my house,,, why ? pavers are conc,,, while there's a 'salt finish' to conc in which rock salt's screeded into the plastic surface & then power washed out leaving what some consider an attractive pockmarked surface, fail to see what good the salt'll do other than possibly kill some weeds,,, you could also try paprika if you're hungarian, tarragon if you're french, aquavit if swedish :surprise:

 

[huesmann]

The salt is to kill the weeds!

 

[stadry]

used to use 'white gas' ( unleaded hi-test ) - doubt that's now legal tho

 

[huesmann]

That was never a good idea.

 

[akeyes]

Is there gutters?

My experience: polymeric sand is the way to go. Spread it into all joints, wet it, and it hardens, almost like a mortar. Any big box store has different colors and it's very easy to spread and finish.

Good question about gutters too. Do you have a gutter at the spot where the house is getting so messy? If so, it may be clogged somewhere, creating a waterfall right at that spot.

 

[sayluv]

We had our gutters cleaned a month ago. This is under our wood deck and it has been raining like a mofo here lately. I purchased some paver sand and filled in all the gaps but I shouldn't have been cheap. The water just persistently drips drips drips and the sand splatters out. I need to pony up and get the polymeric stuff. lesson learned.

My experience: polymeric sand is the way to go. Spread it into all joints, wet it, and it hardens, almost like a mortar. Any big box store has different colors and it's very easy to spread and finish.

Good question about gutters too. Do you have a gutter at the spot where the house is getting so messy? If so, it may be clogged somewhere, creating a waterfall right at that spot.

 

[Calson]

I laid 1" thick travertine over Silca grating for my deck and decided against using any kind of filler material as they all create problems with weeds. During the winter there are areas that take on a green hue and I spray the stone with a weak bleach solution using a garden sprayer rated for bleach. At the end of the rainy season I use a pressure washer to clean the stone and to remove anything in the spaces between the stone tiles.

Not clear from the original post but if a lot of water is coming through the upper deck and onto the patio and splashing up againt the side of the house, then that is something to consider addresing. Companies sell products that mount under a deck to catch the water passing through it and divert it to downspouts.

 

[sayluv]

I laid 1" thick travertine over Silca grating for my deck and decided against using any kind of filler material as they all create problems with weeds. During the winter there are areas that take on a green hue and I spray the stone with a weak bleach solution using a garden sprayer rated for bleach. At the end of the rainy season I use a pressure washer to clean the stone and to remove anything in the spaces between the stone tiles.

Not clear from the original post but if a lot of water is coming through the upper deck and onto the patio and splashing up againt the side of the house, then that is something to consider addresing. Companies sell products that mount under a deck to catch the water passing through it and divert it to downspouts.

We need to rebuild our deck in the next few years due to rot. My wife and I did discuss having it like you mentioned so that the water won't pass through anymore. It would actually be a nice little nook to sit if we can keep it dry.

 

[tstex]

Polymeric sand is like grout for stone.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isqh7419e3g


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIPxOEos46o

If you use this product, you really need to read all the instructions for proper application. Here are a few:

-joints have to be min 1/8" thick and the depth must be 1"
-need to pack the joints multiple times before wetting
-need 48 hrs of NO RAIN after installation
-need proper drainage w slope

The HP Next Gel is a good product, you just have to follow the spec's - sounds like your fighting a constant battle a being reactive to deck runoff...