Gator Super Sand Bond is the Alliance polymeric sand for standard, tight paver joints. Most paver patios and walkways have joints under an inch, and Alliance rates Super Sand Bond for exactly that range, 1/8 in to 1 in, on residential, traditional-base installations. It is the value pick in the Gator line when you do not need one of the wide-joint grades.
This guide covers what Super Sand Bond is rated for, the surfaces and bases Alliance approves, the three-pass watering method that sets it apart from the newer G2 sands, coverage per 50 lb bag and the warranty, using figures from the Alliance Gator Super Sand Bond 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 Super Sand Bond is an Advanced Haze Free Technology polymeric sand sold in 50 lb bags in Beige and Slate Grey.
- Joint width: 1/8 in to 1 in. Minimum joint depth 1-1/2 in. Residential use and traditional base only, never over a concrete slab.
- Install above 32°F in dry conditions, water in three passes, and it is rain safe 1 hour after water activation.
- 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 in joints. 15 year limited residential warranty.
What Gator Super Sand Bond is
Alliance Gator Super Sand Bond Polymeric Sand is a water-activated polymeric sand graded to ASTM C-144, fine enough to pack the tightest joints properly. Alliance lists these headline traits:
| Trait | What Alliance states |
|---|---|
| Joint range | 1/8 in to 1 in, the standard range for concrete paver patios, walkways and driveways |
| Haze | Advanced Haze Free Technology, sweeps clean so you are not scrubbing white film off the pavers afterward |
| Rain | Rain safe in 1 hour after water activation, above 32°F |
| Gradation | ASTM C-144, OSHA crystalline silica compliant |
| Joint protection | Helps prevent weed growth, burrowing insect damage and erosion from wind, rain and freeze-thaw |
| Watering | Classic three-pass watering method |
| Warranty | 15 year limited warranty for residential work |
Gator Super Sand Bond 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 1 in (3 mm to 2.5 cm) |
| Minimum joint depth | 1-1/2 in (38 mm) |
| Application type | Traditional base only, residential only |
| Installation temperature | Above 32°F (0°C), dry conditions |
| Rain safe | 1 hour after water activation |
| 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 |
| Warranty | 15 year limited, residential |
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 Super Sand Bond for residential, traditional-base installations:
- Paver patios and walkways
- Driveways and parking spaces
- Pool surrounds and pool decks
- Sloping areas and footpaths
- Concrete pavers and wet cast products
- Clay pavers only if 100 percent dry, and only after a test area
The manufacturer's limits, straight from Alliance:
- Residential use only, traditional base only. Alliance states never to use Super Sand Bond where pavers are installed over a concrete slab. For an overlay you need Gator Maxx G2 or Gator Maxx Sand instead.
- 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.
Within the Alliance family, what separates the sands is joint width, application type and how you water them in:
| Alliance product | Joint width | Application and watering |
|---|---|---|
| Gator Super Sand Bond | To 1 in | Residential, traditional base only, three waterings, rain safe in 1 hour |
| Gator Super Sand G2 | To 2 in | Residential and commercial, traditional base only, one watering, rain safe in 15 minutes |
| Gator Maxx Sand | To 2 in | Rated for overlay work over a concrete slab |
| Gator Maxx G2 | To 4 in | Traditional or overlay, one watering, rain safe in 15 minutes |
If you are still deciding, our guide on how to choose polymeric sand walks through joint width and base type.
How to install Gator Super Sand Bond
Alliance publishes the full sequence in the technical data sheet. Work above 32°F on a surface that is 100 percent dry, with the pavers fully interlocked, and test a small area first on clay pavers. Here is the shape of the job as Alliance describes it:
- Spread. Spread the 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 with a rubber pad over the surface, level the joints to at least 1/8 in below the paver surface or chamfer, then top up and repeat.
- Sweep clean. Hard broom first, then a soft broom, then leaf-blow every last grain off the paver faces. Haze comes from sand left on the paver face, so this step is what keeps the pavers clean.
- Water three times. Starting at the low point of the surface, shower 100 sq ft and wait 2 to 3 minutes. Shower and rinse again, wait, then make a third pass until the joints hold water.
Super Sand Bond uses the classic three-pass watering method. The joints are rain safe 1 hour after water activation. If you want the faster single-watering install, Alliance points to Super Sand G2. For the mistakes that cause haze and cracking with any water-activated sand, see polymeric sand installation mistakes.
How much Gator Super Sand Bond you need
Alliance gives coverage per 50 lb bag on pavers 2-3/8 in tall. The narrower the joint, the more area a bag covers:
| Joint width | Coverage per 50 lb bag |
|---|---|
| 1/8 in to 3/8 in | 65 to 85 sq ft |
| 3/4 in to 1 in | 22 to 42 sq ft |
For an exact bag count on your patio, walkway or driveway, use our polymeric sand calculator, or call (856) 418-4895. To compare the two colors on your own pavers before ordering, the Gator Super Sand color samples cover Beige and Slate Grey.
Warranty and testing
Alliance backs Super Sand Bond with a 15 year limited warranty for residential work. 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. Alliance requires a test area before using it on clay pavers, and clay pavers must be 100 percent dry.
The Alliance technical data sheet, with coverage tables, the full watering sequence, limitations and warranty terms, is listed in our TDS and SDS library.
Watch the manufacturer's video
Frequently asked questions
What size joint does Super Sand Bond fill?
From 1/8 in up to 1 in wide, with a minimum joint depth of 1-1/2 in.
Can I use Super Sand Bond over a concrete slab?
No. Alliance is explicit that Super Sand Bond must never be used on an overlay. Use Gator Maxx Sand or Gator Maxx G2 for that.
Is it approved for commercial work?
No, Alliance lists Super Sand Bond as residential only. Super Sand G2 and Maxx G2 carry commercial ratings.
Why does it need three waterings?
That is the activation method Alliance publishes for this grade. The G2 sands were reformulated for a single watering. Rain is fine 1 hour after you water it in, at temperatures above 32°F.
Will Super Sand Bond haze my pavers?
Not if you sweep and blow the surface completely clean before watering. Haze comes from sand left on the paver face. If you end up with a film anyway, see how to remove polymeric sand haze.
Jointing a standard paver patio or walkway? Order Gator Super Sand Bond 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 base or quantity questions, or reach us through the contact page.