Polymeric sand is one of the best things that you could possibly use to seal pavers. That said, using polymeric sand does come with problems and disadvantages. When polymeric sand gets wet, it will stick to the top of the pavers.
Moreover, using it in the first place can be a bit messy. Therefore, if you get this material on your pavers, you need to remove it. Therefore, how to remove polymeric sand from pavers is what we are going to cover right now.
6 Best Ways to Remove Polymeric Sand from Pavers
Let’s take a closer look at all of the different methods that can be utilized to remove this particular substance from pavers.
1. Using a Broom
If the polymeric sand has not yet been wet or hardened, then using a broom is the easiest way to go about it. All you have to do is sweep the dry sand off of the papers using a soft bristle broom while being careful not to remove sand from in between the paver joints.
2. Using a Leaf Blower
Another option you have at your disposal to remove sand from pavers before you get it wet is to use a leaf blower. That said, you do want to use the leaf blower on its lowest setting. This is because you do not want to blow sand out from in between the paver joints.
3. Using Compressed Air
If you do not have a leaf blower, something else you can try doing is using compressed air. Using compressed air will allow you to quickly blast away any sand that is on the pavers. However, this method really only works if the sand is not yet wet and if it has not yet hardened. If the sand is still dry, you can easily blow it away.
4. Using Boiling Water
If it has been a while since you applied the sand, and it has already been wet and started to harden, one method at your disposal is to use boiling water. If you just have a small area that you need to remove polymeric sand from, using buckets of boiling water will do just fine.
Boiling water will reactivate the polymers in the sand, causing it to become soft once again. You can then use a variety of methods, such as flushing the sand away with water or using compressed air to blow away the softened sand.
5. Using a Combination Steam and Pressure Washer
If the polymeric sand has already hardened, one of the best options at your disposal is to use a steam and pressure washer. Now, keep in mind that a pressure washer alone will not remove polymeric sand from the pavers if the sand has already hardened.
The water needs to be very hot, which is why we say that you need to use a combination pressure washer and steam cleaner. That water not only needs to have plenty of pressure but also needs to be boiling hot.
6. Physical Removal with Tools
If all else fails, and the polymeric sand cannot be removed with hot water, using physical tools to remove it is another option at your disposal. Here, we’re talking about any kind of scraping tool that you can use to scrape the hardened sand off of the pavers. However, technically speaking, this method is not really recommended as you may scratch or damage the pavers.
How to Remove Polymeric Sand from Pavers Right After Installation
Let’s go through a quick step-by-step tutorial on how to remove polymeric sand from pavers before it has hardened.
Step 1: Use Your Leaf Blower
You are going to use a leaf blower to blow away excess sand from the top of the pavers. Make sure that you level the blower so that it is virtually horizontal. This will help you avoid blowing sand out from in between the pavers.
Step 2: Sweep the Area
You are now going to use a shop broom or any kind of soft bristle broom to sweep away any remaining sand from the top of the pavers. If you accidentally remove sand from in between the pavers, now is when you will have to refill the cracks.
Step 3: Use Your Hose
If there is any sand remaining, you can always hose the area down to wash away any remaining sand on the pavers. Just be sure to start at the highest paver and work towards the lowest one, as the water will flow downhill.
How to Remove Polymeric Sand from Pavers After It Hardened
Let’s go through a quick step-by-step tutorial on how to remove polymeric sand from pavers if it has already hardened. Technically speaking, this is just going to involve one simple step.
By far the easiest way to remove polymeric sand from pavers after it has hardened is by using a combination pressure washer and steam cleaner.
Here, you’re going to connect your pressure washer to a hose, so it has a water supply, and then set it to the maximum possible temperature.
With everything up and running, use a fairly direct spray and start spraying down the pavers. Make sure to get the nozzle quite close to the pavers, and blast away any sand. Once again, make sure to start at the highest paver and move to the lowest.
Mistakes to Avoid, Tips and Tricks
Lastly, here are some tips to make the process easier:
- When using any kind of compressed air, leaf blower, or pressure washer, make sure that you don’t blast the sand out from in between the pavers. If you do, you will have to refill the joints.
- If you want to avoid having sand harden on the pavers, make sure that they are completely dry when you apply the polymeric sand in the first place.
Summary
You should now know all of the best methods for removing messy polymeric sand from pavers.
In addition to this, you might also want to read my article about how to remove polymeric sand haze.