Techniseal SmartSand Polymeric Sand: Residential Patio Guide

Techniseal SmartSand is the everyday polymeric jointing sand in the Techniseal line. It is built on the same NextGel technology as Techniseal's high performance HP NextGel, which Techniseal says gives it cleaner application and faster wetting than ordinary jointing sand, and Techniseal positions it plainly as the cost-effective alternative to HP NextGel for smaller duty jobs. It is made for residential interlocking paver work, joints under 1 in, flat surfaces, and pedestrian to light vehicular traffic.

This guide covers what SmartSand is rated for, where Techniseal says it belongs and where it does not, the installation sequence, how to size the order, and the warranty, using figures from the Techniseal product page and data sheet. The data sheet is the authoritative source, so download the current one from our TDS and SDS library before you start.

What Techniseal SmartSand is

Techniseal SmartSand is a water-activated polymeric sand for standard residential hardscape. Techniseal draws the line between SmartSand and HP NextGel in its own literature, and the comparison below follows that line:

Feature	Techniseal SmartSand	Techniseal HP NextGel
Technology	NextGel	NextGel
Intended use	Everyday paver installations not exposed to substantial vehicular circulation	Heavy vehicular, high humidity, pool decks, slopes, natural stone and porcelain
Joint width	Less than 1 in	Out to 4 in
Surface level	Flat	Flat and sloped
Humidity	Normal conditions	Normal and high humidity
Traffic	Pedestrian and light vehicular	Pedestrian, light and heavy vehicular
Warranty	15 years, limited	20 years

Techniseal's guidance is that most residential patio and walkway jobs do not need a high performance polymeric sand. They need one that goes down clean, wets fast and holds, and that is the job SmartSand was built for. If a delivery truck will use the driveway, if the patio is beside a pool, or if the grade is steep, Techniseal points you to HP NextGel instead.

Techniseal SmartSand specifications

Specification	Per Techniseal
Product type	Polymeric jointing sand, NextGel technology
Bag size	50 lb
Colors	Granite, Tan, Urban Grey
Joint width	Less than 1 in
Joint type	Regular joints
Surface level	Flat
Installation area	Normal conditions
Traffic rating	Pedestrian and light vehicular
Approved surfaces	Interlocking pavers, concrete pavers, clay pavers, wet cast pavers
Typical uses	Residential driveways, pathways, patios
Warranty	15 years, limited

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

Where to use it (and where not to)

SmartSand is the right call on standard residential hardscape where the conditions are normal. Techniseal lists these applications:

• Residential paver patios
• Walkways and garden paths
• Residential driveways with light vehicular use
• Interlocking concrete paver installations
• Clay paver and wet cast paver work
• Flat installations in normal, non-humid conditions
• Larger residential jobs where the budget matters

The limits come straight from the manufacturer, and each one points to a different Techniseal product:

• Not rated for heavy vehicular traffic. Techniseal lists SmartSand for pedestrian and light vehicular only. For commercial entries, industrial installs or anything carrying real weight, step up to HP NextGel.
• Not rated for high humidity areas. The installation area is listed as normal. Pool decks and constantly damp surfaces call for HP NextGel.
• Not rated for sloped surfaces. Techniseal lists flat only. On a graded patio or a sloped driveway, use HP NextGel.
• Not for joints wider than 1 in, and not listed for natural stone or porcelain tile. For natural stone, Techniseal points to NOCO. For porcelain, look at NextGel Porcelain.

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 SmartSand

Follow the official Techniseal installation instructions 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 joints. Confirm the pavers are laid and the joints are dry, clean and free of debris.
2. Sweep it in. Spread the sand over the surface and sweep it fully into the joints.
3. Compact. Plate compact so the sand settles, then top up any joints that dropped.
4. Clean the face. Sweep and blow the paver surface completely clean before any water touches it.
5. Water activate. Activate per the Techniseal instructions, working in sections and starting at the lowest point.
6. Keep traffic off. Stay off the surface through the cure period.

Sweeping the surface truly clean before water activation is the single step that decides whether the finished patio looks professional. NextGel makes that easier, but it does not make it optional. Our guide to polymeric sand installation mistakes covers the ways that step goes wrong, and what causes white haze on pavers explains why it matters.

How much Techniseal SmartSand you need

Coverage depends on your paver size and joint width, so Techniseal does not publish a single figure for SmartSand. A 50 lb bag on tight joints between large pavers covers far more area than the same bag on narrow pavers with more joint per sq ft.

Use our polymeric sand calculator with your paver dimensions and joint width, or call us and we will work out the bag count with you. To see Granite, Tan and Urban Grey against your pavers before ordering, the SmartSand color samples cover all three.

Warranty and testing

Techniseal backs SmartSand with a 15 year limited warranty, compared with 20 years on HP NextGel. 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 SmartSand pairs with its HD Paver Prep to clean the surface before sanding, and with its NS or JS paver sealer once the joints have cured. Our guide to how to seal pavers covers that later step.

Watch the manufacturer's video

Frequently asked questions

Can I use SmartSand on a driveway?

On a residential driveway with light vehicular use, yes. For heavy vehicular loads, Techniseal rates HP NextGel instead.

Is SmartSand the same as HP NextGel?

No. They share the NextGel technology, but SmartSand is rated for lighter duty, narrower joints, flat surfaces and normal humidity, and it carries a 15 year warranty rather than 20.

Will SmartSand work on flagstone or natural stone?

Techniseal lists interlocking, concrete, clay and wet cast pavers for SmartSand. For natural stone, look at Techniseal NOCO. For porcelain, look at NextGel Porcelain.

What joint width does SmartSand handle?

Less than 1 in, in regular joints. Wider joints need HP NextGel or NOCO.

Do I need to compact SmartSand?

Follow the Techniseal instructions for your installation, which include plate compacting after sweeping the sand in. If mechanical compaction is not possible on your job, NOCO is the Techniseal no compaction option.