Learning how to install paver sand starts with a surprise for many first timers: "paver sand" means two different materials doing two different jobs. One is the bedding layer your pavers sit on. The other is the joint sand swept between them. Use the wrong material in either place and you can end up with sunken pavers, washed out joints or a white haze across the surface.
This guide covers both layers in the order you install them, with the specifications the manufacturers publish for each. Follow your paver manufacturer's installation guide, the instructions on your bag, and the data sheet for the jointing product you choose.
Key takeaways
- Bedding sand goes under the pavers. Alliance specifies C-33 sand or ASTM No. 9 stone, no more than 1 in thick, over a compacted crushed stone base.
- Joint sand goes between the pavers. Polymeric sand is swept in dry, compacted and activated with water.
- Pavers, joints and sand must be completely dry before polymeric sand goes in.
- Fill joints to their full depth (commonly 1-1/2 in minimum) and finish about 1/8 in below the paver surface.
- Match the joint sand to your widest joint, your surface and your weather window.
Paver sand means two different materials
Bedding sand is the thin, screeded layer the pavers are set into. Alliance's Gator Maxx G2 data sheet specifies C-33 sand or ASTM No. 9 stone for this layer, at a maximum of 1 in, and SEK's PolySweep data sheet calls for a concrete sand setting bed that conforms to ASTM C33. Quikrete lists its All-Purpose Sand as meeting ASTM C33 and suitable as underlayment for brick pavers.
Joint sand fills the gaps between pavers once they are laid and compacted. Polymeric sand is graded sand blended with polymer binders that set after watering, which helps the joint resist washout, weeds and insects. You need both layers. Good joint sand cannot fix an uneven bed, and an even bed will not hold loose joints on its own.
What you will need
- Compacted crushed stone base, or a base panel system from our paver base products
- Geotextile fabric, such as SRW SS5 Woven Stabilization Fabric or Alliance Gator Fabric GF4.4
- C-33 concrete sand or ASTM No. 9 stone for the bedding layer
- Two screed rails and a straight screed board
- Plate compactor with a rubber pad or protective plate, plus a rubber mallet
- Stiff and soft push brooms, and a leaf blower
- Hose with a shower or mist nozzle
- Edge restraint from our paver edging and restraints
- Polymeric sand rated for your joint width
How to install paver sand for the bedding layer
1. Build the base first
Bedding sand is a leveling layer, not a base, and it cannot correct soft spots or poor drainage. For a traditional installation, Alliance's data sheet shows at least 6 in of compacted 0 to 3/4 in crushed stone over Gator Fabric GF4.4, with a minimum 2% surface slope for water runoff. For pedestrian projects, Alliance's Gator Base panels are an alternative that Alliance says replace 6 in of crushed stone, set on 1/2 in of compacted sand with 1 in of C-33 bedding sand on top.
2. Set the screed rails for a 1 inch bed
Lay two screed rails on the compacted base so the finished bed comes out at 1 in. Alliance sets 1 in as the maximum bedding thickness, and SRW's SimplyTough data sheet calls for a drainage layer of sand 1 in deep. A thicker bed is not better; it gives the pavers more room to settle.
3. Screed the sand flat
Spread sand between the rails and pull the screed board across them in a sawing motion until the surface is even. Work in sections you can reach without stepping on finished sand, then lift the rails out and fill the grooves with a trowel.
4. Leave the bed loose
Do not walk on or compact the screeded bed before the pavers go down. The pavers are compacted into it afterward, which is what seats them evenly.
Laying and compacting the pavers
5. Lay pavers from the top
Work from the pavers you have already set and place each new one straight down rather than sliding it. Keep joint spacing consistent and check your lines with a string as you go.
6. Restrain the edges, then compact
Install edge restraint around the perimeter so the field cannot spread. Then run a plate compactor over the whole area. Alliance recommends a rubber pad, Techniseal a coated plate or paving pad, and SRW a rubber plated compactor or a woven fabric laid over the pavers. Techniseal suggests compacting from the center of the installation out toward the edges, and Alliance suggests compacting in several directions.
Installing the joint sand
7. Make sure everything is dry
Alliance warns that damp pavers make polymeric sand activate early and stick to the surface, and that damp joints stop it from packing densely. SRW says to wait 24 hours after rain. If there is dew, wait for it to burn off.
8. Sweep, compact and refill
Spread the sand over a small area and sweep it into the joints over short distances. Run the plate compactor to settle it, sweep in more sand, and compact again until the joints stay full. Techniseal notes that a properly compacted joint does not let a finger sink in.
9. Set the height and clean the surface
Leave the sand about 1/8 in below the paver surface or the bottom of the chamfer, as Alliance, Techniseal and SEK all specify. Then clean the surface using the method on your bag. Most brands use a leaf blower; Alliance's G2 sands use a hard broom followed by a soft broom and no blower.
10. Water exactly as directed
Activation methods differ. Alliance's G2 sands call for a shower of at least 30 seconds per 30 sq ft, while SEK PolySweep calls for 3 to 4 light mistings about 5 minutes apart on sections up to 500 sq ft. Use a shower or mist setting, never a jet, and start at the low end of the slope.
Match the joint sand to your joint width
The last decision in how to install paver sand is picking the joint product, and joint width decides which one will hold. These ratings come from each manufacturer's data sheet or catalog.
| Joint width or use | Products to look at |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 in | Alliance Super Sand Bond (1/8 to 1 in), Techniseal SmartSand (1/16 to 1 in) |
| Up to 2 in | Alliance Super Sand G2 and Alliance Maxx Sand (1/8 to 2 in) |
| Up to 4 in | Alliance Maxx G2 (1/8 to 4 in), Techniseal HP NextGel (1/16 to 4 in), Techniseal NOCO (1/4 to 4 in), SEK PolySweep X-Treme (up to 4 in) |
| Up to 6 in, pedestrian stone and wet cast | Alliance Dust Bond (1/2 to 6 in), SRW X-Treme (1/4 to 6 in) |
| Porcelain pavers | Techniseal NextGel Porcelain (1/16 to 1/2 in) |
| Permeable or wet weather installs | SRW WetLok (1/8 to 5 in per SRW's catalog), Techniseal NOCO STORM (1/8 to 2 in, non vehicular) |
Cured color is hard to judge on a screen, so test polymeric sand color samples against your pavers before ordering full bags.
Weather and timing rules
- Check the minimum temperature on your data sheet. Alliance's G2 sands work above 32°F, Techniseal NOCO needs above 50°F for 48 hours, and Alliance Dust Bond needs above 59°F.
- Plan a dry window. Techniseal says HP NextGel and SmartSand need 24 hours or more to dry before rain, while Alliance's G2 sands are rain safe 15 minutes after activation on a traditional base.
- Keep traffic off for the stated time. Techniseal lists vehicles at 48 to 72 hours for HP NextGel and SmartSand.
Frequently asked questions
Can polymeric sand be used as bedding sand?
No. The data sheets specify C-33 concrete sand or ASTM No. 9 stone for the bedding layer. Polymeric sand is a jointing product.
How thick should the bedding sand be?
Alliance sets a 1 in maximum, and SRW calls for a 1 in drainage layer of sand. Screed it evenly and let the paver compaction seat the pavers into it.
Can you top up old joint sand, or must it be removed?
Alliance's instructions for existing surfaces say to remove the old jointing material without disturbing the bedding, then install new sand at least 1-1/2 in deep.
How much joint sand will you need?
Coverage depends on joint width, depth and paver size. Techniseal lists EZ Sand at 40 to 50 sq ft per 35 lb bag on joints up to 1/2 in. Our calculator estimates bags for your project.
When can you walk or drive on the new surface?
It depends on the joint sand. Techniseal allows foot traffic immediately on HP NextGel and SmartSand and vehicles after 48 to 72 hours. Check your product's data sheet in our TDS and SDS library.
Ready for the joints? Browse our polymeric sand collection by joint width, then run your dimensions through the polymeric sand calculator. Questions? Call (856) 418-4895, 24/7.