Gaps in block paving

[sgrimshaw]

Can this be used to just dry brush in the gaps in some block paving and then leave overnight or mist water to set it off ?

Feckin ants pulled it out in several places.

TIA

[JoshSm]

That's cement, you're maybe thinking of ready mixed mortar? Either way you'd need care to not leave cement stains on the block surface from the excess.

Though for jointing in block it could have been all sorts already in there, like kiln dried sand then a block sealant binding it.

[sgrimshaw]

JoshSm said:

That's cement, you're maybe thinking of ready mixed mortar? Either way you'd need care to not leave cement stains on the block surface from the excess.

Though for jointing in block it could have been all sorts already in there, like kiln dried sand then a block sealant binding it.

It's had kiln dried sand in it, the whole patio was lifted and relaid 3 years ago. We have a real ant problem and the builder was supposed to do as I asked and lay the blocks on concrete so the little f*ckers couldn't burrow their way up the gaps ... but he just did it his way and laid them back down on compacted sand.

So would than cement mixed with the sand the bastids have pulled out do the job?

[Mark V GTD]

What you have there is called flexible paving (the kiln dried sand being the indicator) so you can't really mix a different laying method in to that. The builder is right but he should have explained it to you.

https://www.pavingexpert.com/setts04#google_vignet...

[Mikebentley]

I believe there are products called polymeric jointing compounds.

[ChocolateFrog]

Mikebentley said:

I believe there are products called polymeric jointing compounds.

Yes this.

Although I've found that determined ants can get that out as well.

[ChocolateFrog]

This stuff. About twice the price of kiln dried sand but sets semi hard once you've watered it in.

[Skyedriver]

That's interesting, will store that in memory banks for future use. Thanks

[Actual]

I need this too...

Tarmac Weed Free Paving Sand
Long lasting weed suppression
https://www.tarmac.com/products/aggregates/sand/we...

"The organic barrier helps prevent weed growth."

What is the mythical barrier? What is it made of?

I have read the website and actual details are lacking.

[John D.]

It's made of hard sand at a guess.

Caught the ants at it on my drive on Saturday as it happens. Put some ant powder down to scare them off, and then brushed the sand back in next day. It was all still there in a pile on top of the paving. Time will tell how well this worked.

Edited by John D. on Monday 16th June 19:23

[ChocolateFrog]

It's got some sort of adhesive that's activated with water.

About as much as I know.

[Mikebentley]

ChocolateFrog said:

It's got some sort of adhesive that's activated with water.

About as much as I know.

PVA? I looked at the stuff you sprinkle on pea gravel to set it from going everywhere. It appeared to be diluted PVA glue.

[nikaiyo2]

The weed free paving sand is ste.

Don’t waste your money.

Last year or maybe year before I did the top half of the drive with the stuff Wicks sells, but they only had one bag, so used standard sand on the rest. There is literally no difference.

[The_Nugget]

I’ve come to the conclusion that there is nothing that will stop ants, weeds etc from brick block paving.
Every house near me that has it has it has the same problem.

The only thing for it is to scrape the joints once a year and re-pack it - which works for a bit.
This year I did it and refilled with kiln dried sand than then very liberally used stone sealer soaking the joints. Helped by some very dry weather it has set like concrete but it won’t last and I’ll be doing it again next year…
I hate the stuff, worse idea ever.

[ChocolateFrog]

I do ours every 2 or 3 years. Takes half a day to do properly.

Just use weedkiller in the intervening years and bar a small amount of moss in some of the joints there's no actual weeds.