I live in northern Ohio (U.S.). The temperature reaches 17 degrees (F) in January and sometimes lower. I am building a patio with tumbled pavers, 4 inch limestone base, and a 2 inch sand base. My question is whether I should use polymeric sand? Will it heave more because it is a bonded unit or should I use fine limestone. I am not sure if you guys can help being in the U.K. but I would appreciate your expertise. Your site was the most informative on this topic that I found after hours of searching. Everyone just wants to sell the stuff not necessarily give the right advice.
polymeric sand
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paul challinor
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2003 6:14 pm
- Location: liverpool
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84-1093879891
Although polymeric sand is more popular (and much cheaper) in N.America than it is in the UK and Ireland, I can't see that it offers any advantages in dealing with frost heave in a continental climate: in fact, I suspect it would be more of a problem than would loose sand.
As the frost lift the pavings, it also lists the jointing material. If you have used a loose sand joint, then, when the paving re-settles with the thaw, the jointing material will find its way back into the joint. However, with a bound jointing material, such as polymeric sand, the jointing material is, effectively, a solid mass, and therefore cannot be used to re-fill the joints.
Because we don't have a problem with frost heave in these islands, I haven't seen the effect at first hand, but a colleague in Europe tells me that, when there is significant heave within an elemental pavement, some of the polymeric jointing material is left on the surface after thaw, and the joints re-fills with less suitable material and detritus, which, in turn, reduces the lifespan and load-carrying capability of the pavement.
A polymeric sand will not grant any additional protection from frost heave. I think, if it were me, I'd use an unbound jointing sand and be prepared to top-up each spring.
As the frost lift the pavings, it also lists the jointing material. If you have used a loose sand joint, then, when the paving re-settles with the thaw, the jointing material will find its way back into the joint. However, with a bound jointing material, such as polymeric sand, the jointing material is, effectively, a solid mass, and therefore cannot be used to re-fill the joints.
Because we don't have a problem with frost heave in these islands, I haven't seen the effect at first hand, but a colleague in Europe tells me that, when there is significant heave within an elemental pavement, some of the polymeric jointing material is left on the surface after thaw, and the joints re-fills with less suitable material and detritus, which, in turn, reduces the lifespan and load-carrying capability of the pavement.
A polymeric sand will not grant any additional protection from frost heave. I think, if it were me, I'd use an unbound jointing sand and be prepared to top-up each spring.