Gator Super Sand G2 is the Rapid Set grade in the Alliance polymeric sand line. The weather window is what kills a polymeric sand install, and Alliance built Super Sand G2 to shrink it: rain safe 15 minutes after activation, one watering instead of three, and no blowing equipment needed. It is rated for joints from 1/8 in to 2 in on a traditional base, for residential and commercial work, which is why it has largely replaced the original Super Sand on crews chasing daylight.
This guide covers what Super Sand G2 is rated for, where Alliance says it can and cannot go, the 30-30 watering method, coverage per 50 lb bag and the warranty, using figures from the Alliance Gator Super Sand G2 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 G2 is a no dust, haze free Rapid Set polymeric sand sold in 50 lb bags in Beige and Slate Grey, for residential and commercial traditional-base work.
- Joint width: 1/8 in to 2 in. Minimum joint depth 1-1/2 in. Traditional base only, never over a concrete slab.
- Install above 32°F in dry conditions, water once for at least 30 seconds per 30 sq ft, and it is rain safe 15 minutes 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 1-1/4 in joints. 15 year limited residential warranty.
What Gator Super Sand G2 is
Alliance Gator Super Sand G2 Polymeric Sand is a water-activated polymeric sand graded to ASTM C-144. Alliance describes three things that separate it from the original Super Sand Bond:
| Feature | Original Gator Super Sand Bond | Gator Super Sand G2 |
|---|---|---|
| Rain safe | 1 hour after water activation | 15 minutes after water activation, Rapid Set technology |
| Watering | Three passes | One watering, the 30-30 method |
| Clearing the surface | Sweep, then leaf-blow the paver faces | No blowing needed, one less machine on site and no risk of blowing sand back out of the joints |
| Joint width | 1/8 in to 1 in | 1/8 in to 2 in |
| Rating | Residential only | Residential and commercial |
| Base | Traditional only | Traditional only |
Alliance also lists Super Sand G2 as no dust and haze free, cleaner to sweep with no white film left behind, and OSHA crystalline silica compliant.
Gator Super Sand G2 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 base only, residential and commercial |
| Installation temperature | Above 32°F (0°C), dry conditions |
| Rain safe | 15 minutes after water activation |
| Watering | One watering, a minimum of 30 seconds per 30 sq ft |
| 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 G2 for traditional-base work, residential and commercial:
- Paver patios, walkways and footpaths
- Driveways, parking areas and pool decks
- Streetscape and commercial hardscape
- Steep slopes
- Concrete pavers, natural stone and wet cast
- Clay pavers only if 100 percent dry, after a test area
The manufacturer's limits, straight from Alliance:
- Traditional base only. Alliance states never to use Super Sand G2 where pavers are installed over a concrete slab. Use Gator Maxx G2 or Gator Maxx Sand for an overlay.
- 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, Super Sand G2 sits between Super Sand Bond (joints to 1 in, residential, three waterings) and Gator Maxx G2 (joints to 4 in on a traditional base, overlay rated, one watering, rain safe in 15 minutes). If your joints run past 2 in or your pavers sit on a slab, step up to Maxx G2. For a broader look at picking a grade, see how to choose polymeric sand.
How to install Gator Super Sand G2
Alliance publishes the full sequence in the technical data sheet. Work above 32°F in dry conditions 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, fill the joints and leave a layer on the surface.
- Vibrate. Run a plate compactor with a rubber pad. Roughly 30 to 50 percent of the sand drops on the first compaction, and Alliance says never to skip this step. Top up and repeat.
- Sweep clean. Hard broom first, then soft, until the paver faces are bare. Haze comes from sand left sitting on the paver face.
- Water once, 30-30. Use a shower setting for a minimum of 30 seconds per 30 sq ft, until the product repels water and it pools on the joints.
The joints are rain safe 15 minutes after water activation. For the errors that cause haze and cracking with any water-activated sand, see polymeric sand installation mistakes, and for a product by product comparison of rain windows, rain after polymeric sand.
How much Gator Super Sand G2 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. Use our polymeric sand calculator for an exact count, or call (856) 418-4895. The Gator Super Sand G2 color samples let you hold Beige and Slate Grey against your pavers before you order.
Warranty and testing
Alliance backs Super Sand G2 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 the clay must be 100 percent dry.
The Alliance technical data sheet, with coverage tables, the 30-30 watering method, limitations and warranty terms, is listed in our TDS and SDS library.
Watch the manufacturer's video
Frequently asked questions
How is Super Sand G2 different from the original Super Sand?
Three things: rain safe in 15 minutes instead of an hour, one watering instead of three, and no blowing equipment required.
What is the 30-30 method?
Alliance's single watering instruction: shower each 30 sq ft section for at least 30 seconds, until water accumulates on the joints.
Can I use Super Sand G2 on an overlay over concrete?
No. Super Sand G2 is traditional base only. Gator Maxx Sand and Maxx G2 are the overlay-rated grades.
What size joint does Super Sand G2 fill?
From 1/8 in up to 2 in wide, with a minimum joint depth of 1-1/2 in. Installation needs temperatures above 32°F on a surface that is completely dry.
Will Super Sand G2 haze my pavers?
Not if you sweep the surface completely clean before you add water. Haze comes from sand left sitting on the paver face. If a film does appear, see how to remove polymeric sand haze.
Racing a forecast on a patio or driveway? Order Gator Super Sand G2 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.