Techniseal HP NextGel Polymeric Sand: No Haze Install Guide

Techniseal HP NextGel is the high performance polymeric jointing sand in the Techniseal ProSeries line, and the one Techniseal positions as its hardscape industry leading polymeric sand. What sets it apart is the NextGel technology, which Techniseal describes as a true no dust, no haze, no waste formula that wets fast, starts setting within minutes of water activation, and holds up under heavy vehicular traffic and high humidity. It is the Techniseal sand for driveways, pool decks, steep slopes, porcelain and large slabs, and joints out to 4 in.

This guide covers what HP NextGel is rated for, where Techniseal says it can and cannot go, the installation sequence, how to think about coverage, and the warranty, using figures from the Techniseal product page and data sheet. Where the product page and the technical data sheet differ, Techniseal states plainly that the TDS wins, so download the current sheet from our TDS and SDS library before you start.

What Techniseal HP NextGel is

Techniseal HP NextGel is a water-activated polymeric sand, but it is built to answer the three things Techniseal says most polymeric sand failures trace back to: haze left on the paver, sand washing out before it sets, and joints breaking down under traffic. Here is how it compares with an everyday polymeric sand for standard patios, using the way Techniseal itself positions the two products in its literature:

Feature	Everyday paver jointing sand	Techniseal HP NextGel
Intended use	Everyday paver installations not exposed to substantial vehicular circulation	Vehicular traffic, high humidity, steep slopes, porcelain and large slab work
Haze and dust	Depends on the formula and how clean the surface is	NextGel technology, which Techniseal calls the first true no dust, no haze, no waste jointing sand
Set time	Varies by product	Starts to set a few minutes after water activation, then quickly resists water erosion from rain, splashes and sprinklers
Joint width	Varies by product	1/16 in to 4 in, intersecting spaces to 2 in
Traffic	Pedestrian and light traffic	Pedestrian, light vehicular and heavy vehicular
Packaging	Usually 50 lb bags	50 lb bags

Techniseal also states that the mix is specially sorted so it flows down the joint instead of bridging, and that once cured it resists weeds, insects and erosion. For a standard backyard patio with no vehicle traffic, Techniseal points to SmartSand as the cost-effective alternative. If a car will drive on it, or if it is near a pool, HP NextGel is the answer.

Techniseal HP NextGel specifications

Specification	Per Techniseal
Product type	High performance polymeric jointing sand, NextGel technology
Bag size	50 lb
Colors	Granite, Tan, Urban Grey, Black, Ivory
Joint width range	1/16 in to 4 in
Ideal joint width	1/16 in to 1 in, with intersecting spaces up to 2 in
Joint types	Regular and false joints
Compaction	Mechanical compaction required
Traffic rating	Pedestrian, light vehicular, heavy vehicular
Installation areas	Normal and high humidity
Surface level	Flat and sloped, including heavy slopes
Approved surfaces	Concrete pavers, wet cast pavers, clay pavers, natural stone, slabs, highly textured surfaces, porcelain tile, concrete slab, interlocking pavers
Also rated for	Concrete overlay, pool decks, commercial, industrial and public projects
Set time	Begins setting a few minutes after water activation
Warranty	20 years

Techniseal does not publish an installation temperature or a rain-safe window on the product page. For the current temperature and weather window, check the manufacturer data sheet in our TDS and SDS library.

Where to use it (and where not to)

Techniseal describes HP NextGel as the one to reach for when the job has any complication to it. The product page lists these applications:

• Driveways and any surface seeing regular vehicle weight
• Commercial entries, plazas and industrial installs
• Pool decks and other constantly damp surfaces
• Steeply sloped patios, walkways and driveways where sand tends to wash
• Porcelain tile and large format slab installs
• Natural stone and clay paver work
• False joint installations
• Concrete overlay projects
• Wide irregular joints up to 4 in

Techniseal specifically rates HP NextGel for high humidity areas, pool decks and heavy sloped surfaces, which is where a combination of humidity and grade washes ordinary jointing sand out of the joint. For porcelain in particular, see our guide to how NextGel handles porcelain paver joints; Techniseal also makes a dedicated NextGel porcelain tile jointing sand.

The limits come straight from the manufacturer:

• Mechanical compaction is required. Techniseal rates HP NextGel with mechanical compaction. If the install cannot be plate compacted, Techniseal directs you to its NOCO no-compaction polymeric sand instead.
• Stay inside the joint range. Do not use it on joints narrower than 1/16 in or wider than 4 in. Outside that range you are outside the rated product.
• Clean before water. Do not water activate before the surface and joints are swept completely clean. Sand left on the paver face is what causes residue, even with a no-haze formula.
• The TDS governs. Read the technical data sheet for the current temperature and weather window before you start.

How to install Techniseal HP NextGel

Follow the official Techniseal installation guide and the data sheet current at the time you install. This is the shape of the job as Techniseal lays it out:

1. Check the surface. Confirm the pavers are laid, the surface is clean, and the joints are dry and free of debris.
2. Sweep it in. Pour the sand out and sweep it into the joints, working it fully to the bottom. HP NextGel is formulated to flow down rather than bridge.
3. Compact. Plate compact the surface so the sand settles, then refill the joints and compact again as needed.
4. Clean the face. Sweep and blow the surface completely clean. Every grain has to be off the paver face before water touches it.
5. Water activate. Activate per the technical data sheet, working in manageable sections and starting at the low point.
6. Let it set. HP NextGel begins setting within minutes and gains water erosion resistance quickly.
7. Keep traffic off. Stay off the surface through the cure period specified in the TDS.

Techniseal's own summary is that the single biggest determinant of how the job looks in a year is how clean the surface was when the water hit it. That is true of every polymeric sand, and it is still true of a no-haze one. See our guide to polymeric sand installation mistakes.

How much Techniseal HP NextGel you need

Techniseal does not publish a single flat coverage number for HP NextGel, and that is the honest answer: polymeric sand coverage swings with paver type and joint width far more than it does with square footage. A 50 lb bag on a tight 1/16 in porcelain joint goes much further than the same bag on 4 in irregular flagstone joints.

To work out a bag count, use our polymeric sand calculator with your paver size and joint width, or call us with your paver and joint dimensions and we will work the bag count out with you. To see the five colors against your pavers before ordering, the HP NextGel color samples are the way to do that.

Warranty and testing

Techniseal backs HP NextGel with a 20 year warranty. The product page does not list specific laboratory test results, so for any testing detail check the manufacturer data sheet in our TDS and SDS library. Techniseal's no haze claim is the manufacturer's claim for the NextGel technology, and it still depends on the installer sweeping the surface fully clean before water activation.

Techniseal also notes that HP NextGel pairs with its HD Paver Prep before sanding and its NS or JS paver sealer once the joints have fully cured.

Frequently asked questions

Does HP NextGel really not haze?

That is Techniseal's claim for the NextGel technology and the headline feature of the product. It still depends on you sweeping the surface completely clean before water activation; no formula saves a dirty paver face. See our guide to what causes white haze on pavers.

Can I use HP NextGel on a driveway?

Yes. Techniseal rates HP NextGel for pedestrian, light vehicular and heavy vehicular traffic, which covers driveways, commercial entries and industrial installs.

Will it work on porcelain tile?

Yes. Porcelain tile is on Techniseal's approved surface list for this product, along with natural stone, clay pavers, concrete pavers, wet cast pavers, slabs, highly textured surfaces and concrete slab.

Do I have to compact HP NextGel?

Yes. HP NextGel is rated with mechanical compaction. If you cannot plate compact the surface, Techniseal directs you to Techniseal NOCO instead.

How soon is HP NextGel rain safe?

Techniseal says it begins setting within minutes of activation and becomes water erosion resistant quickly. For the exact window, check the current technical data sheet.