Techniseal NOCO Polymeric Sand: No Compaction Flagstone Guide

Techniseal NOCO is a polymeric jointing compound made for flagstone and other paving materials where running a plate compactor is impossible, impractical, or simply too risky for the stone. Techniseal states it does not require mechanical compaction at all. It handles joints from 1/4 in to 4 in, stays flexible so it follows soil movement through freeze and thaw cycles, and Techniseal calls it the first true alternative to mortar and stone dust.

This guide covers what NOCO is rated for, the surfaces and base types Techniseal approves, the installation sequence, coverage per 50 lb bag, and the warranty, using figures from the Techniseal product page and data sheet. Techniseal states that where its website and the technical data sheet differ, the data sheet governs, so download the current sheet from our TDS and SDS library before you start.

What Techniseal NOCO is

Techniseal NOCO is a water-activated polymeric joint with high compressive strength that skips the one step conventional polymeric sand cannot: the vibrating plate. Flagstone is the install where conventional polymeric sand causes the most trouble. You either skip compaction and the joint never locks, or you compact and risk cracking the stone. Here is how NOCO differs from a typical compacted polymeric sand:

Feature	Typical polymeric sand	Techniseal NOCO
Compaction	Mechanical compaction required	Not required; surface compaction optional, never mandatory
Best suited surface	Concrete and clay pavers	Flagstone, natural stone, large slabs and highly textured surfaces, plus pavers, concrete slabs, porcelain and wet cast
Joint width	Varies by product	1/4 in to 4 in, regular and false joints
Movement	Varies by product	Stays flexible and follows soil movement through freeze and thaw
Bond to the stone	Varies by product	Bonds strongly to the inner walls of pavers and stones and does not shrink back
Base	Varies by product	Approved on hard base and on cement or sand base

Techniseal also states that the formula is built to spread easily and run smoothly and uniformly into irregular joints rather than bridging over them, and that once cured the joint is impervious and repels weed growth and insect infestation. Where a plate compactor can be used, Techniseal points to HP NextGel instead; where you need a permeable jointing compound, it points to STORM.

Techniseal NOCO specifications

Specification	Per Techniseal
Product type	No compaction polymeric jointing compound
Bag size	50 lb
Colors	Iron Grey and Desert Tan
Joint width range	1/4 in to 4 in
Joint types	Regular and false joints
Mechanical compaction	Not required
Traffic rating	Pedestrian, light vehicular, heavy vehicular
Installation areas	Normal and high humidity
Surface level	Flat and sloped
Approved surfaces	Natural stone, flagstone, large slabs, highly textured surfaces, clay pavers, concrete pavers, concrete slabs, porcelain tile, wet cast pavers
Base types	Hard base, and cement or sand base
Warranty	20 years, limited

The product page does not state an installation temperature, a rain-safe time or a cure period. For the weather and temperature window, check the manufacturer data sheet in our TDS and SDS library. Our guide to polymeric sand temperature limits explains what to look for on the sheet.

Where to use it (and where not to)

NOCO exists for the installs where a plate compactor is the wrong tool. Techniseal lists these applications:

• Irregular flagstone patios, walkways and terraces
• Natural stone where compaction would risk cracking the material
• Pool decks and other high humidity areas
• Sloped patios and graded walkways
• Wide and irregular joints from 1/4 in to 4 in
• Commercial and residential stone installations
• Large format slabs and highly textured surfaces
• Porcelain tile and wet cast stone
• Jobs where mortar or stone dust was the only previous option
• Installations over hard base or over cement and sand base

Our guide to polymeric sand for flagstone and natural stone covers the wider question of jointing irregular stone. The limits on NOCO come straight from the manufacturer:

• Not for joints narrower than 1/4 in. Below that you are outside the rated range and should be looking at a standard jointing sand such as SmartSand.
• Do not exceed 4 in joint width.
• No compaction is not no preparation. The base still has to be right, and the joints still have to be clean and properly filled.
• The TDS governs. Read the current technical data sheet for the weather and temperature window before you start.

Not sure if your project qualifies? Call us at (856) 418-4895 before you order. We will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is that this is not the right product for your job.

How to install Techniseal NOCO

Follow the official Techniseal NOCO 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 base and joints. Confirm the stone is laid on a properly prepared base and the joints are clean and dry.
2. Broom it in. Spread NOCO across the surface and work it down into the joints with a broom. It is formulated to flow rather than bridge.
3. Fill fully. Fill the joints fully to the specified level. There is no compaction step to settle it for you, so filling properly matters more here than on a compacted install.
4. Clean the stone. Sweep and blow the stone surface completely clean before water touches it.
5. Water activate. Activate per the Techniseal instructions, working in manageable sections.
6. Keep traffic off. Stay off the surface through the cure period given in the technical data sheet.

Surface compaction is still allowed if you want it. Techniseal simply removes the requirement, which is what makes NOCO viable on stone that a plate compactor would damage. As with any polymeric joint, the cleanliness of the stone face when the water hits it decides how the job looks; see our guide to polymeric sand installation mistakes.

How much Techniseal NOCO you need

The coverage spread on NOCO is wide because flagstone joints are wide and irregular. These figures are from Techniseal:

Joint width	Coverage per 50 lb bag
Joints under 1/2 in	Up to 120 sq ft
Wide joints, up to 4 in	20 to 40 sq ft

On irregular flagstone, plan against the low figure and you will not come up short. For a bag count based on your stone size and joint width, use our polymeric sand calculator and compare against the figures above, or call us and we will work it out with you. To see Iron Grey and Desert Tan against your stone before ordering, the NOCO color samples include both.

Warranty and testing

Techniseal backs NOCO with a 20 year limited warranty. The product page does not list laboratory test results, so for testing detail check the manufacturer data sheet in our TDS and SDS library.

Techniseal also notes that NOCO pairs with its HD Paver Prep for surface cleaning before jointing, and with its NS paver sealer to seal natural stone once the joints have cured.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really not need a plate compactor for NOCO?

Correct. Techniseal states mechanical compaction is not required. You may still surface compact if the job suits it, but it is optional rather than mandatory.

What is the widest joint NOCO handles?

4 in. The rated range is 1/4 in to 4 in, for regular and false joints.

How much will one bag of NOCO cover?

Up to 120 sq ft for joints under 1/2 in, and 20 to 40 sq ft for wide joints. Irregular flagstone lands at the low end.

Will NOCO crack through winter?

NOCO is formulated to stay flexible and follow soil movement, which Techniseal specifically aims at preventing joints crumbling during freeze and thaw cycles. It also bonds to the stone without shrinking back.

Can I use NOCO on a driveway?

Techniseal rates NOCO for pedestrian, light vehicular and heavy vehicular traffic, over hard base or cement or sand base.