Unfinished driveway - Driveway not sanded

[Holiday]

Have completed a tegula driveway but have been unable to fill the joints with kiln dried sand because of the weather.Is it alright to drive on it and if it is driven on what problems might occur.Help please!

[Pablo]

The short answer is no because the sand plays an integral part in the final strength of the paving. If you can't finish due to snow then scrape it off throw some salt from a BM down and then slurry sand it. with lots of water. Best to use a pressure washer on low power and get it fully compacted before you start with the water.



Edited By Pablo on 1261515466

[matty brock]

I presume that you havnt whacked it yet then ?

If not then defo dont drive on it, personally I would cover it with dpm or tarpaulin and leave it till the weather improves, then wack it, then sand it.

If too much water gets into the sand before you wack it then it will just turn to jelly and bring the water to the top, then you have got real problems. So just bide your time and enjoy your turkey !

[lutonlagerlout]

I am still waiting to sand an argent drive completed on the 8th of december, wacked it dry then slurry jointed as best i could but before the snow just couldn't get that last top up in.
I have asked him not to drive on it till the last hit of sand goes in
in a word we are bolloxed
LLL

[Holiday]

Thanks.I hadnt realised the sand was so important

[Tony McC]

Too many people share your predicament, especially those in the burgeoning 'Drive Cleaning' businesses who seem to think that they are doing homeowners a favour by blasting out all "that dirty sand".

The jointing sand increases the vertical interlock between adjacent paving units and so imparts a large degree of its strength to a block pavement. Remove or omit the jointing sand and you severely weaken the pavement.

[RAPressureWashing]

Too many people share your predicament, especially those in the burgeoning 'Drive Cleaning' businesses who seem to think that they are doing homeowners a favour by blasting out all "that dirty sand".

The jointing sand increases the vertical interlock between adjacent paving units and so imparts a large degree of its strength to a block pavement. Remove or omit the jointing sand and you severely weaken the pavement.

Totally agree with you Tony, far to many "cowboys" out to make a fast buck coming into the business and not caring or knowing how to do the job properly.

[nick65]

We also had a delay in sanding the joints of our last job before xmas.
Not because of the weather but because some git nicked 8 bags off the job.