Stingray Paver Sealing Services Sarasota FL

All About Sand

There is a big misconception about sand levels and how much sand should be in the cracks of your brick pavers. Brick pavers are designed to lock together once laid down, making them “Interlocking”. This means that the bricks are locked together by ridges on the sides of the bricks. Sand is STRICTLY to help keep your brick pavers stabilized, nothing else.The correct levels should be a 1/4 – 1/2 inch below the brick paver edge. A lot of people think the sand levels have to be really high and look like grout lines, this is not true. With sand levels being this high you run a risk of the sand being sealed to the actual surface of the brick. Sand has nutrients in it that promote mold growth, which overtime becomes stained and your once white sand is now black. The sand levels should also be about 1/4 – 1/2 inch below the paver edge for drainage! The brick pavers are designed for water to flow through the cracks and get out as fast as possible, with high sand levels this makes it so the water has essentially no place to go and slows down the drainage. You want a good drainage system because the less water, the less moisture, the less MOLD!

Incorrect Sand Levels

Sand Levels

Correct Sand Levels

Correct Sand Levels

Interlocking Portion of Brick

Interlocking Portion of Brick