Gator Maxx Sand is the Alliance polymeric sand rated for both traditional and overlay installations. Most polymeric sands forbid overlay work, where pavers sit on an existing concrete slab, because trapped water has nowhere to drain. Alliance rates Maxx Sand for pavers over a concrete slab as well as traditional aggregate bases, with joints from 1/8 in to 2 in either way, for residential and commercial work.
This guide covers what Maxx Sand is rated for, the overlay drainage requirement that comes with it, where Alliance says it can and cannot go, the installation sequence, coverage per 50 lb bag and the warranty, using figures from the Alliance Gator Maxx Sand product page and technical data sheet. Anything the product page does not state, we leave to the data sheet in our TDS and SDS library.
Quick answer
- Gator Maxx Sand is an Advanced Haze Free Technology polymeric sand sold in 50 lb bags in Beige and Slate Grey, rated for traditional and overlay installations, residential and commercial.
- Joint width: 1/8 in to 2 in on traditional and overlay work alike. Minimum joint depth 1-1/2 in.
- Install above 32°F on a completely dry surface. Rain safe in 1 hour on a traditional base, 24 hours on an overlay.
- Coverage per bag on 2-3/8 in pavers: 65 to 85 sq ft on 1/8 in to 3/8 in joints, 22 to 42 sq ft on 3/4 in to 1-1/4 in joints. 15 year residential warranty, 1 year commercial.
What Gator Maxx Sand is
Alliance Gator Maxx Sand Polymeric Sand is a water-activated polymeric sand graded to ASTM C-144. What sets it apart in the Gator line is the overlay rating. Here is how Alliance positions it:
| Trait | What Alliance states |
|---|---|
| Overlay work | Rated for pavers over a concrete slab as well as traditional aggregate bases, and the grade Alliance names for false joint pavers |
| Joint range | 1/8 in to 2 in on traditional and overlay work alike |
| Residential and commercial | Streetscape, commercial, steep slope, pool areas, driveways and parking |
| Haze | Advanced Haze Free Technology, sweeps clean without leaving film on the paver faces |
| Gator Base panels | Alliance specifically pairs Maxx Sand with its base panel system and warranties the combination |
| Gradation | ASTM C-144, OSHA crystalline silica compliant |
Gator Maxx Sand specifications
| Specification | Per the Alliance product page and data sheet |
|---|---|
| Bag weight | 50 lb (22.7 kg) |
| Colors | Beige, Slate Grey |
| Joint width | 1/8 in to 2 in (3 mm to 5 cm) |
| Minimum joint depth | 1-1/2 in (38 mm) |
| Application type | Traditional and overlay, residential and commercial |
| Installation temperature | Above 32°F (0°C), surface completely dry |
| Rain safe | 1 hour on a traditional base, 24 hours on an overlay |
| Joint fill height | At least 1/8 in below the paver surface or chamfer |
| Standards | ASTM C-144, OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153, ICPI Tech Spec 2 and 10 |
| Warranty | 15 year residential, 1 year commercial |
The product page does not state a full cure time or a wait before pressure washing. Check the manufacturer data sheet in our TDS and SDS library for those figures.
Where to use it (and where not to)
Alliance recommends Gator Maxx Sand for concrete pavers, natural stone and wet cast products in these applications:
- Overlay work, pavers over an existing concrete slab
- Traditional aggregate base installations
- Patios, walkways and driveways
- Pool areas and steep slopes
- Streetscape and commercial hardscape
- False joint pavers and Gator Base panel systems
The manufacturer's limits, straight from Alliance:
- Overlays need drainage. On an overlay, ICPI Tech Spec 10 requires 2 in drainage holes roughly every 10 ft. Skip the drainage and water has nowhere to go.
- Everything must be 100 percent dry. Do not apply if the paver surface or the joints are damp or wet.
- Not over asphalt, and not on aggregates with large voids.
- Pavers must be fully interlocked before you sand. Pool coping units must be mortared, not sanded.
- Fill height matters. Joints must be filled to at least 1/8 in below the paver surface or chamfer, and cured joints should never sit in direct contact with foot traffic or tires.
Do you actually need an overlay-rated sand? If your pavers sit on compacted aggregate, any Alliance sand in the right joint range works. If they sit on a concrete slab, you are doing an overlay, and Alliance lists only two of its sands for that:
| Alliance product | Overlay rating | Joint width and rain window |
|---|---|---|
| Gator Maxx Sand | Overlay rated | Joints to 2 in, rain safe in 1 hour traditional, 24 hours overlay |
| Gator Maxx G2 | Overlay rated | Overlay joints to 2 in, traditional joints to 4 in, rain safe in 15 minutes traditional |
| Gator Super Sand Bond and Gator Super Sand G2 | Traditional base only | Must not be used on an overlay |
For the panel base Alliance pairs with this sand, see our guide Gator Base vs gravel.
How to install Gator Maxx Sand
Alliance publishes the full sequence in the technical data sheet. Install above 32°F on a completely dry surface with the pavers fully interlocked. Here is the shape of the job as Alliance describes it:
- Spread. Spread the polymeric sand with a hard-bristle broom and fill the joints completely, leaving a layer on the surface to help it vibrate in.
- Vibrate. Run a plate compactor fitted with a rubber pad. Alliance says to expect 30 to 50 percent of the sand to drop on the first pass, then top up and repeat. Never skip this step.
- Sweep clean. Hard broom first, then soft, until not a grain is left on the paver faces. This is the step that prevents haze.
- Activate with water. Use a shower setting, starting at the low point of the surface, until the joints hold water without flooding.
Joints are rain safe in 1 hour on a traditional base and 24 hours on an overlay. For the errors that cause haze and cracking with any water-activated sand, see polymeric sand installation mistakes, and for a product by product look at rain windows, rain after polymeric sand.
How much Gator Maxx Sand you need
Alliance gives coverage per 50 lb bag on pavers 2-3/8 in tall:
| Joint width | Coverage per 50 lb bag |
|---|---|
| 1/8 in to 3/8 in | 65 to 85 sq ft |
| 3/4 in to 1-1/4 in | 22 to 42 sq ft |
The product page gives no figure for joints wider than 1-1/4 in, so for joints toward the 2 in limit check the coverage tables in the Alliance data sheet. Size your order with our polymeric sand calculator, or call (856) 418-4895. The Gator Maxx Sand color samples let you hold Beige and Slate Grey against your pavers before you order.
Warranty and testing
Alliance backs Gator Maxx Sand with a 15 year residential warranty and a 1 year commercial warranty. It also warranties the combination of Maxx Sand over Gator Base panels. The sand meets ASTM C-144 gradation, is OSHA crystalline silica compliant under 29 CFR 1926.1153, and is referenced to ICPI Tech Spec 2 and 10, the latter covering overlay work.
The Alliance technical data sheet, with coverage tables, overlay drainage requirements, installation steps and warranty terms, is listed in our TDS and SDS library.
Watch the manufacturer's video
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Gator Maxx Sand over a concrete slab?
Yes. This is one of only two Alliance polymeric sands rated for overlay work, and the overlay joint maximum is 2 in. ICPI Tech Spec 10 requires 2 in drainage holes roughly every 10 ft in the slab.
What size joint does Gator Maxx Sand fill?
From 1/8 in up to 2 in wide, with a minimum joint depth of 1-1/2 in.
How soon can it rain?
One hour on a traditional install, but 24 hours if you are doing an overlay. Installation and cure need temperatures above 32°F on a surface that is completely dry.
Maxx Sand or Maxx G2?
Both handle overlays. Maxx G2 goes wider on traditional joints, up to 4 in, and is rain safe in 15 minutes rather than an hour on a traditional base.
Can I use it around a pool?
Yes, pool decks and surrounds are intended applications. Pool coping joints are the exception and must be mortared, not sanded.
Laying pavers over a slab or on Gator Base panels? Order Gator Maxx Sand Polymeric Sand, which ships same day from our New Jersey warehouse, or browse the full Alliance Gator range. Call us 24/7 at (856) 418-4895 with overlay or quantity questions, or reach us through the contact page.