[NABRIL]

There is a 1/4 to 1/2 gap that circles the house along the back, and all of it is lined with pavers.
What can I use to fill that gap?
I thought about polystomeric sand, but wont it crack when the pavers or house bricks expand? That side faces west and gets direct sunlight after 12 noon. Can I use grout, which is cheaper (i think)?
Naturally, I also want to combat weeds and insects.
Thank you

 

[stick\shift]

I'd be thinking caulk and maybe some backer rod.

 

[mark sr]

Mortar/grout will crack and look bad within a year. Caulk may not fare too well as it can only handle limited movement. IMO it would be best to use the sand [replace as needed] and spray for weeds.

 

[ClarenceBauer]

I agree with caulking.
Use a two Part caulking like one of these Pecora , Sika , or Tremco.
You will not find these type caulking at the Big Box Store you will need to find a construction supply warehouse.

 

[Nealtw]

What about the drainage from behind the stucco?

Is this a slab house or does it have a wood floor?

 

[NABRIL]

What about the drainage from behind the stucco?

Is this a slab house or does it have a wood floor?

Thank you.. It's a slab house from 1979

 

[ZTMAN]

I think the backer rod and Sika Flex would work with that gap.

HD has the Sika in tubes. Problem was at our local HD, the tan color, which is what you would want, was only stocked in the smaller(standard size) tubes.

Make sure the backer rod is tight because if it is not, that Sika will find its way below the backer rod and create a depression.

 

[Nealtw]

Thank you.. It's a slab house from 1979

Is it coloured stucco or painted?

 

[NABRIL]

I think the backer rod and Sika Flex would work with that gap.

HD has the Sika in tubes. Problem was at our local HD, the tan color, which is what you would want, was only stocked in the smaller(standard size) tubes.

Make sure the backer rod is tight because if it is not, that Sika will find its way below the backer rod and create a depression.

Backer rod? Can you elaborate?

Thank you.. It's a slab house from 1979

Is it coloured stucco or painted?

Painted

 

[Nealtw]

It's a foam rope much like pipe insulation but smaller sizes.

 

[NABRIL]

It's a foam rope much like pipe insulation but smaller sizes.

Thanks Neal
In a concrete job done to the house years ago, they put it this "expansion joint" between concrete and a wall, and it was nothing more than a piece of foam; this looks similar and I thought about using that as well. Unfortunately, weeds like that foam as well.

I digressed.

So did @ZTMAN suggest that: I insert this foam rope deep down, and then cover it with the Sika flex?

1. The size of the gap varies around the house with bigger gaps in places than others. That rope may not fit in some places.
2. Why not just fill the gap with the Sika flex? What is the purpose/benefit of the rope?

Again, thank you.

 

[huesmann]

Backer+caulk is used to fill gaps where the gap is either too wide to use only caulk, or you just want to caulk in one shot. (You could caulk a wide gap in stages, but caulk also costs more than backer rod.)

 

[Nealtw]

Standard practice for closed-cell ​

backer rod

is that with joints less than 3/4 inch (19mm) wide, the ​

backer rod diameter

should be 1/8 inch (3mm) larger than the joint width, and with joints 3/4 inch (19mm) or larger, the ​

backer rod diameter

should be around 25%-30% larger than the joint width.



​

 

[stadry]

'caulk' is both a verb AND noun,,, as a noun, the material is unacceptable for this task,,, a 'sealant' is preferable over closed-cell ( OR opencell [ denver foam ] ) backer rod ( closed cell avail @ your local apron/vest store ),,, IF you can't find the right size so rod stays in place thru compression, twist it to fit,,, most sealants are designed for 3/8" thickness max w/depth:width ratio of 2:1

any 2 part sealant ( polysulfide ) is o-kill impo let alond you'd need to buy if ( IF you could find it ) in 1gal min + need a bulk caulk gun

this has been discussed previously,,, surprised to see 'caulk' still recommended by regular responders

 

[ZTMAN]

So did @ZTMAN suggest that: I insert this foam rope deep down, and then cover it with the Sika flex?

.

Not deep down, tight. That stuff is very fluid (and expensive), and self levels. You don't want the Sika to escape and go below the backer rod In order to prevent that, the backer rod should be tight against the side surfaces so it does not flow beneath.

A little tip, be careful when you purchase the tubes. Sika also makes an adhesive, which is thicker. Easy to get them confused when you are pulling tubes off the shelf and the tubes are mixed together. Ask me how i know.

 

[stadry]

someone should read the directions INCL depth:width PRIOR to thinking this stuff's going to work,,, the primary reason methods/materials fail is due to the wrong material/method being utilized