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Joint sand gives paved areas on the property the necessary strength and helps to keep them weed-free. The product range is large. We will show you which product best suits your project.
In a nutshell
- Joint sand keeps paved surfaces free of weeds and moss
- The recommended quality and grain size of the sand depends on the wear and tear on the covering and the width of the joints
- different sand colors enable creative design of paths and areas
- the addition of a binding agent is recommended for wider joints
joint sand
Weeds or moss in the paving joints do not look nice, endanger the building structure and pose a risk of accidents. Mechanical removal is time-consuming and tiring. Sweeping in joint sand promises relief. The specialist trade offers property owners a wide range for this purpose. Which product is the right one depends on:
- the type of use
- the place of use
- the required strength
- the width and depth of the joints
Narrow joints
If the paving joints are less than five millimeters wide, fine joint sand with a grain size between 0.1 and 0.5 millimeters is the right product. The joint depth should be at least 40 millimeters for this quality. The fine material ensures weed-free, radiantly clean joints. The water permeability is not affected by sweeping in the sand.
Notice: Completely fill the gaps between pavers or flagstones with jointing material. Avoid contamination with soil or debris from weeds, leaves or grass.
Sweep in sand
manual
- Clean the paved area.
- Spread the joint sand over the surface.
- Sweep it diagonally into the joints. Work until the panels are free of sand.
- Stabilize newly laid slabs or paving stones with a vibrator after applying the joint sand.
- Fill the gaps again and then sweep the surfaces free with a soft broom.
wide joints
With joint widths between five and ten millimeters, loose quartz sand would wash out quickly. They can be filled with coarser material or with special joint sand products for wide joints.
Self-hardening joint sand mixtures
Even hardening products or joint mortar are suitable for filling and strengthening joints up to ten millimeters wide. These mixtures consist of sand and some binder. They are easy to use and remain flexible despite their high stability. Alternatively, quartz sand can be mixed with a binder and water yourself. Ready-made jointing sand mixtures for wide joints do not require the addition of water, which means that contamination from material residues on the covering can be prevented.
Manual:
- Clean the paved area.
- Mix the joint sand mixture well once.
- Spread the product over the area.
- Sweep the grout thoroughly into the joints.
- Clean the floor covering and remove the sand residue.
- Shake the paved surface with a vibrator.
- Refill with the joint sand product so that all gaps are completely filled.
Notice: As a rule of thumb, the wider the joints, the coarser the filling material should be.
Joint grit or coarse sand
Wider joints can be filled with coarse joint sand or fine chippings with a grain size of up to three millimeters. We recommend using basalt chippings.
Coarse sand is suitable as a filling material for wide joints.
Manual:
- Clean the paved area.
- Distribute the fine grit and sweep it into the joints.
- When all the gaps are well filled, remove the remaining grit on the stones.
- Shake the clean, dry surface with a surface shaker.
- Top up with grit if necessary and remove the remains from the paved surface.
Notice: In addition to the type of product, the depth of the joints also has a significant impact on the strength of the paths and terraces.
Calculate sand consumption
In order to plan consumption, the size of the joints and the type and dimensions of the floor covering must be taken into account. Ask your builders' merchant to calculate the consumption or use the joint sand calculator on the Internet.
frequently asked Questions
What should be considered when caring for paved surfaces with joint sand?Do not use a high-pressure cleaning device. The hard jet of water can loosen the joint filling and impair the joint strength. Sweep sidewalks and patios with a broom. Make sure that no organic material gets into the joints.
When does the joint material have to be renewed?We recommend regularly filling the joints with sand or grit. This way you maintain the strength and strengthen the barrier against the weeds. Moss can settle in the joints when it is wet. Remove this and fill in grout.
What properties of sand prevent weed growth?The basis of the weed-inhibiting properties of the joint sand is the pH value. Low-nutrient sand with a high pH value is suitable for paved paths on the property. Plant roots cannot find a foothold in round-grained material. Products containing clay also inhibit weed colonization.
How does joint sand differ from ordinary quartz sand?Joint sand products contain special mixtures of nutrient-poor minerals with a very high pH value. These mixtures bring desert-like conditions into the gaps, which prevent weed growth in the long term without any chemicals. The addition of binders increases the strength and proves to be particularly helpful with wide joints.