Building a Stone Patio? Don’t Forget Your Polymer Product

June 12th, 2017 Posted in Mortar and Adhesives
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If you have decided to build a beautiful stone patio, congratulations! Natural stone patios are a gorgeous addition to any home, adding value and quality to your outdoor area. Your main concern may be the type of stone you will use. Flagstones are a popular option due to their flat, long surface, but there are other options. However, there is another aspect you must consider. What type of polymer product will you use? To stabilize your stones, you need the right polymer to hold them in place and fill in the gaps between your stones. Here are two options. 

Sand Polymer

If the gaps between your stones will be thin, you may want to use sand polymer for filling in the cracks. Sand polymer is perfect for stones that are cut or made to fit closely together. If the gaps are as little as 1/8 of inch thick, you need the tiny granules of sand polymer to fit in this narrow area.

Gator Dust

For larger gaps between your stones, nothing works better than gator dust. This blend of polymer binders and stone effectively fills gaps up to four inches. It is also easy to use. You can spread the dust into the cracks, sweep away the excess and then just water the gator dust between the stones. This will harden, creating a solid substance like cement between your large patio stones.

Creating a beautiful stone patio can give you years of enjoyment at your home. Make sure you choose a quality supplier for both your stones and polymer product to ensure you get the best materials for your outdoor area.

Posted on behalf of:
Alliance Stone
5420 Campground Rd
Cumming, GA 30040
(404) 759-0617

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Choosing the Right Polymer for Your Stone Pavers

December 3rd, 2015 Posted in Mortar and Adhesives
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Are you finally getting started building that patio or walkway that you have been dreaming of for your outdoor area? If you decided to attempt to build your paved area yourself, you have a few choices to make. Are you going to use natural stone pavers or man-made? What colors or type of pavers will work best for your design? Then finally, what polymer should you buy to fill in between those pavers? As important as the pavers are, without the right polymer your pavers will not last so it is important to know your best options.

Why Polymer?

You may be wondering why you need polymer at all to pave. After all, won’t sand work just as well? Actually, in most cases, no. Sand will fill in the cracks but it also needs to be sealed, erodes quicker and does not control weeds as well. Polymer is quicker, more efficient and can last much longer than sand.

There are many types of polymer products available for paving but there are two that can work well for most paving projects: gator dust or polymeric sand. For wider cracks, gator dust is the best solution. It can quickly be used to fill the cracks then creates a solid mortar when water is added. For fine or thin cracks, polymer sand can be used to keep pavers in place and prevent weed growth.

When you get ready to purchase your pavers from your local landscape supply store, make sure to also ask what polymer products they carry. They can help you determine which will work best for your needs and how much polymer filler will be required to complete your paved area.

Posted on behalf of:
Green Brothers Earth Works
680 Franklin Rd, SE
Marietta, GA 30067
(770) 590-8220

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Use Gator Dust for Natural Stone Paving Projects

March 1st, 2012 Posted in Mortar and Adhesives
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Gator dust is a polymer product widely used in landscaping as a top quality joint sealant with both aesthetic and functional applications. Filling the joints between wetcast and natural stone paving units with gator dust prevents unsightly weeds from springing up and stabilizes pavers for a satisfyingly long-lasting installation. Gator dust is also used to repair cracks in distressed surfaces and to seal paved surfaces for a more aesthetically-pleasing finish. Gator dust is available in dark gray and beige colors that complement the look of natural stone.

The bonding power of gator dust lies in the product’s polymeric base. Made from a unique, scientific blend of polymer binders, graded sand and other additives, gator dust has a very firm bonding action. This product has been formulated specifically for all types of natural stone applications; gator dust should never be used with concrete paving systems since it leaves a white reside on concrete surfaces. Gator dust works equally well on both level and inclined surfaces and when used properly, it provides a remarkably dense compaction that will lock natural stones securely in place for years.

When using gator dust, it is important to know that water has a marked effect on the material. Gator dust should only be installed during dry weather conditions since excess moisture will undermine the product’s performance. Similarly, gator dust should only be used on paving surfaces with a proper drainage bed system since surplus water retention will soften the filler, potentially destabilizing the installation.

Altogether, gator dust has many benefits. It puts a stop to unwanted sprouting, helps prevent soil erosion and adds an attractive final touch to natural stone features. It may be applied to stone patios, walkways, driveways and even pool decks. With great ease of maintenance and fine durability, gator dust just may be the perfect sealing system for your masonry needs.

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Polymeric Sand

November 5th, 2010 Posted in Mortar and Adhesives
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Polymeric sand is the material used to fill the joints or gaps between stone or brick pavers in driveways, patios, and walkways.  Polymeric sand is designed to help hold stonework in place and keep it from shifting.  This resistance to shifting is called interlock.  Polymeric sand enhances interlock and stabilizes stonework. 

Until a few years ago, common sand was used to fill the joints that naturally occur in stone or brick pavers.  The sand would be swept into the joints and typically coated with a sealant that hardened the upper layer of sand.  This process worked reasonably well, but it was susceptible to being washed out by heavy rain, and also weeds and grass were often able to grow in the joints. 

Polymeric sand is a big step forward in joint filler for outdoor patio, driveway, and walkways.  Polymeric sand uses a water activated synthetic polymer to bind the sand particles and create a firm, water resistant joint filler.   Polymeric sand is applied like regular sand by sweeping or brushing it into the joints.  Once all the sand is brushed off of the stone and into the joints, water is misted over the stonework until it penetrates the sand.  The water activates the polymer, which hardens and binds the sand.

In addition to its excellent stabilizing properties, polymeric sand helps prevent water intrusion under your stonework which can lead to your stonework shifting or deforming.  Also, properly applied, polymeric sand prevents the growth of weeds and grass in the joints.  Finally, polymeric sand does not wash away so you do not have to continually replenish the joint sand for your stonework.

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