Polymeric sand vs resin sand is a choice between two different ways of locking a paver joint. Polymeric sand is swept in dry and activated with water. Resin sand comes ready to use, is washed into the joints on a wet surface, and cures in the air. That one difference changes the weather you can install in, how water moves through the joints, the base you need underneath and the traffic the surface can carry.
Below we compare the two using the manufacturers' published data for products we carry, then explain which suits which kind of project. Follow the instructions on your bag or pail and the manufacturer's data sheet for the product you choose.
Key takeaways
- Polymeric sand needs a dry surface, compaction, careful watering and a dry weather window. Many products are rated for driveways.
- Resin sand is installed on a wet surface and can go down in rain. Alliance Gator Nitro, SRW WetLok and ROMEX Ecofine are described by their makers as permeable.
- Permeable joints send water into the base, so resin sand needs a draining base. Alliance says Gator Nitro can only be used on a drainage base.
- The resin sands we carry are limited to foot traffic or light duty residential driveways, depending on the product.
- Resin sand has a short working time once opened: Alliance gives about 45 minutes for Gator Nitro.
How polymeric sand works
Polymeric sand is graded sand mixed with a polymer binder. You sweep it dry into dry joints, compact it, set the level about 1/8 in below the paver surface, clean the surface, then water it. The binder activates and the joint sets as it dries. Examples include Alliance Gator Maxx G2, Techniseal HP NextGel and SmartSand, SEK PolySweep and SRW SimplyTough, all in our polymeric sand collection.
The dry weather window varies by product. Alliance's G2 sands are rain safe 15 minutes after activation on a traditional base. Techniseal says HP NextGel can withstand unexpected rain after 60 minutes but needs 24 to 48 hours to dry completely. Techniseal NOCO, a polymeric joint made for installations where compaction is not possible, needs 24 hours protected from rain. Note that NOCO is a polymeric product, not a resin sand.
How resin sand works
Resin jointing sand is sand coated with a resin that hardens when exposed to air. Alliance describes Gator Nitro Joint Sand as an air cure, permeable jointing material that hardens from the top to the bottom of the joint and can be installed in wet or dry weather. You pre-wet the paving, spread the product, and keep adding water while you squeegee or broom it into the joints. The surface must stay wet throughout, or the resin can stain the pavers.
Other resin and permeable products we carry include ROMEX Ecofine, which ROMEX describes as highly water permeable, and SRW WetLok, a wet applied, permeable jointing sand that SRW says can be installed in the rain. Techniseal's NOCO STORM is a permeable jointing compound that Techniseal says works in wet or dry weather, for walkways, pool decks, patios and non-vehicular areas.
Polymeric sand vs resin sand, side by side
| Factor | Polymeric sand | Resin sand |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Swept in dry, compacted, then watered | Poured on a wet surface and washed into joints with water and a squeegee or broom |
| Surface during install | Must be completely dry | Must be pre-wet and kept wet |
| Rain during install | Needs a dry window, from 15 minutes to 24 hours or more by product | Nitro and WetLok can be installed in rain; Ecofine tolerates drizzle |
| Water through the joint | Not sold as permeable; Techniseal describes NOCO joints as impervious | Nitro, WetLok and Ecofine described as permeable; Nitro-X as low permeability |
| Minimum joint depth | Commonly 1-1/2 in | 3/4 in for Nitro and Nitro-X; Ecofine joints cleaned to at least 75% of stone height |
| Temperature | From above 32°F to above 59°F depending on product | Nitro above 37°F; Ecofine surface between 41°F and 86°F |
| Working time | Set by the watering step | About 45 minutes for Nitro once opened |
| Traffic | Many products rated for driveways; vehicles after 48 to 72 hours on Techniseal sands | Nitro and WetLok list light duty residential driveways; walk on Nitro after 18 hours, full strength at 28 days |
Plan for the water that goes through resin joints
A permeable joint lets rain pass into the bedding and base, so the base has to be able to take it. Alliance says Gator Nitro can only be used on a drainage base, and its data sheet shows traditional drainage, permeable and hybrid base options. The setting bed must be chip stone or sand that locks or chokes itself, and Alliance says not to apply Nitro over aggregate with large voids, because it will migrate into them. Nitro also needs a drainage slope on the paved surface.
ROMEX calls for a water permeable, well compacted base with a slope of at least 2% under Ecofine, and says to avoid permanently wet areas. Before choosing any permeable product, think through where the water will go, particularly next to a house foundation or over soil that drains slowly.
Permeable joints also need upkeep. Alliance says Gator Nitro is permeable when installed but that permeability will be obstructed over time without maintenance, and it recommends periodic pressure washing to clear dirt and debris, starting no sooner than 28 days after installation.
When to choose polymeric sand
- You can count on a dry installation day and the temperature range on the bag.
- The surface carries regular vehicle traffic and you need a product rated for it.
- Joints are very narrow; several polymeric sands are rated down to 1/16 in.
- The site does not drain well enough to accept water through the joints.
- You want to store leftover material; SEK gives PolySweep a 24 month shelf life stored cool and dry.
When to choose resin sand
- Your schedule cannot avoid rain on installation day.
- The project calls for permeable joints and has a draining base designed for it.
- The surface is a patio, walkway, pool area or, for Nitro and WetLok, a light duty residential driveway.
- You can finish each section within the working time and keep the surface wet throughout.
To estimate quantities, use our resin sand coverage calculator for resin products or the polymeric sand calculator for polymeric sand.
Common mistakes with each type
Polymeric sand: installing on damp pavers, skipping compaction, leaving sand on the surface before watering, and overwatering, which Techniseal says significantly lengthens curing. Resin sand: letting the surface dry during installation, which Alliance says can cause staining; working past the product's working time; placing it over open aggregate that lets it migrate; and saving opened product incorrectly. ROMEX says opened Ecofine cannot be resealed and unused material must be fully submerged in clean water or it will harden.
Frequently asked questions
Is Techniseal NOCO a resin sand?
No. NOCO is a polymeric joint that is swept in dry and activated with water, designed for installations without compaction. NOCO STORM is the Techniseal product described as a permeable compound that works in wet or dry weather.
Can resin sand be used on a driveway?
Some can, with limits. Alliance lists Gator Nitro for residential driveways with light vehicular use, and SRW lists WetLok for light duty residential driveways. Techniseal NOCO STORM is for non-vehicular areas.
Can polymeric sand be installed in the rain?
No. Polymeric sand needs a dry surface and a dry window after watering. If rain is unavoidable, a resin product rated for wet installation is the alternative.
Is resin sand better than polymeric sand?
In the polymeric sand vs resin sand comparison, neither is better in general. They suit different conditions: polymeric sand for dry installs and many driveways, resin sand for wet weather installs and permeable designs on a draining base.
How long before you can walk on resin sand joints?
Alliance says a Gator Nitro surface can be walked on after 18 hours and reaches full strength at 28 days. Check your product's data sheet in our TDS and SDS library.
Weighing both options? Compare products in our resin and permeable jointing sand collection, or call (856) 418-4895, 24/7, and we will help you match a joint product to your base, schedule and traffic.