It is a common occurrence for households. A homeowner notices their paved areas sinking away into the earth.

So, what can you do to protect your paving?

And to stop yourself tripping over loose paving stones when rushing to work.

Let’s look at the basics and the use of sand in a low maintenance job that will protect your block paving areas. That is key here, to bringing long term protection to your beautiful laid stones. And keep it that way for years.Take a look at the block paving cost to expect.

Kiln-dried sand is used to sand block paving.

The sand is dried in a kiln to ensure it is dry and contains no moisture. The drying process is important because it impacts the way that the sand flows and pours. The process makes it the perfect consistency for sand blocking pavers. Sand blocking is the best method to use for several reasons.

Professional paver installation

Professionals use sand when they install pavers on your property.

• Pavers are placed over a layer of sand.
• Sand is poured between the pavers.
• A compactor is used to tamp down the layer of sand on the bottom.

Fills in gaps

The dryness of the sand allows it to flow effortlessly into spaces and gaps. As it fills in each area, it provides strength to the surface and keeps it from moving. It also flows to the bottom of the pavers and fills in the joints.

Locks pavers together

The sand helps keep the pavers together. They would not lock together if they had wet sand, so dry is imperative. As the pavers lock together, the entire surface becomes stronger and unmovable.

Prevent sinking and water penetration

The sand prevents pavers from sinking into wet soil. It also prevents water from penetrating and allowing movement of the soil and the pavers.

Re-sanding

While the paving installation process ensures that you have the sand you need and the pavers are securely in place, over time, you will have to re-sand the surface. You will lose sand due to cleaning, sweeping, and even weather. While you won’t use much, over time, it adds up and you’ll need to add more.

Do it yourself maintenance

When you need more sand, you can handle this easy maintenance yourself. You’ll need the following:

• Bags of kiln-dried sand – Your local home improvement store can help you calculate how many you’ll need.
• A very stiff broom

Pour some sand onto the ground and use the broom to spread it into the areas between the pavers. Start at one section and work your way across and down until the entire surface has been filled in.

There are a couple of ways to keep the sand in place during sand block paving. One is sealing the joints. This prevents the sand from washing away due to rain and cleaning. The second option is using sand with a polymer binder. Both of these options will stop sand loss.