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It is not intended to be used on walls, but for small areas you can mix the Gator Sand with water to about the consistency of cookie dough. Mist the vertical joint with water and trowel the mixed sand into the joint. When doing this you have about 20 minutes open time before the material becomes unmanageable
If the Sand is properly cured the de-icing salt will not hurt it.
This will depend on how long ago it was first activated. Let your sprinkler run on it water the surface for about 1 hour. If there is a crust on the top of the polymeric sand, make small holes in the joints in order to allow the water to seep in. If it doesn’t harden after a few days of good weather, you will have to remove the sand and redo it.
Our product contains oil-based polymers (synthetic) that are more durable and have better erosion resistance than organics. Our Gator polymeric sands do not contain any cement.
As long as it is dry, it can be driven or walked on in 24 hours.
For Alliance polymeric sands, If the proper installation procedure is followed in terms of paver installation according to the ICPI and the Polymeric Sand installation according to Alliance, then 15 years. The area needs to be maintained and cleaned from time to time dirt should not be allowed to accumulate on the joints.
It needs to be installed the full depth minus 1/8’’ (3mm) lower than the top or chamfer of the paver or stone. On a repair where an existing sand joint is being removed and replaced. The existing sand should be removed a minimum of 1 ½ inches deep.
Normally a pressure washer. If the moss or mildew has been there for a long time it may have damaged the sand. Remove the damaged sand, where it can be readily removed using the pressure washer, allow the area to dry and replace missing sand and activate as per our directions. We recommend regular cleaning with Gator Shampoo to prevent this issue from getting worse.
The material should not be walked on, or driven on – it needs to be protected by the paver so that it does not become damaged.
No. We have not done any testing on adding any colorant. We do not recommend doing this because the color additive might not be compatible with our Polymeric Sand. The colorant may also stain your pavers or stone. The color of our sands are the natural color of the aggregate in the product.
Hard means that the area is dry – soft means that the area is still damp or wet. The reason some areas that are staying wet is because they are not draining as fast as the dry areas.
Note: Polymeric sand is not a mortar and it is designed to transition from hard and dry to soft when wet, this is how it is able to be self-healing
No this is very bad to do; it will cause the joint surface to peel and to flake off and voids any warranty.
Strongest and hardest are not necessarily the most important requirements of polymeric sand. Polymeric sand is not measured by strength; there is no accepted industry test method to test for the strength and durability of polymeric sand. If a polymeric sand is too hard, it can also make it too brittle, causing cracking from ground movement. Our Gator Maxx G2 sand is our most resilient polymeric sand product.
Note: Polymeric sand is intended to be a cohesive joint material and do three things: help prevent weeds, insects and erosion.
Pavers and slabs must be installed according to ICPI Tech Spec #2 traditional (www.icpi.org) before Gator Maxx G2 Sand installation. For Overlays ICPI recommends 2 inches diameter drainage holes spaced approximately 10 feet apart and at the lowest elevations in the slab. Holes should be filled with #8 stone and covered with a 1 foot x 1 foot patch of Gator Fabric GF4.4. Drilled holes should allow any water entering the bedding layer to freely flow out. ICPI Tech Spec #10 Overlay (www.icpi.org)
Strongest and hardest are not necessarily the most important requirements of polymeric sand. Polymeric sand is not measured by strength; there is no accepted industry test method to test for the strength and durability of polymeric sand. If a polymeric sand is too hard, it can also make it too brittle, causing cracking from ground movement. Our Gator Maxx G2 sand is our most resilient polymeric sand product.
Note: Polymeric sand is intended to be a cohesive joint material and do three things: help prevent weeds, insects and erosion.
Pavers and slabs must be installed according to ICPI Tech Spec #2 traditional (www.icpi.org) before Gator Maxx G2 Sand installation. For Overlays ICPI recommends 2 inches diameter drainage holes spaced approximately 10 feet apart and at the lowest elevations in the slab. Holes should be filled with #8 stone and covered with a 1 foot x 1 foot patch of Gator Fabric GF4.4. Drilled holes should allow any water entering the bedding layer to freely flow out. ICPI Tech Spec #10 Overlay (www.icpi.org)
Gator Maxx G2 is formulated to repel water and does not absorb much water. This makes it the ideal product for overlays.
White residue can be efflorescence, caused from wetting the pavers to activate the sand – it can also be from the polymer residue that was not properly cleaned off.
Note
Caution must be taken when applying the sand to clay paver joints. Clay pavers are more porous and can still be damp when they appear dry.
Note: be aware that cleaning the entire project with Gator Efflorescence cleaner after the sand has set may be necessary. We recommend our Gator Maxx G2 polymeric sand for clay pavers as it is very clean and most resistant to water and moisture issues. Never use Gator Dust on clay pavers; it will certainly stain and be difficult to clean.
Alliance Polymeric sand is engineered to be installed – at above 32°F (0oC). If installed at lower temperatures, it may never set up and be weak and not function as it is intended to.
This is a normal condition, the crust acts like a protective layer that is on top of the densely packed polymeric sand, this flexible crust is spanning from one paver chamfer to another. This crust allows for some movement, much like a hinge. Making these products ideal in freeze thaw conditions.
Usually it means that there is still water in the product. If the sand does not dry, it will not harden properly.
Any joint that grows mold and mildew does so because of an underlying moisture problem. Simply stated, the area remains wet and any area that remains wet will grow mold and mildew. There is nothing in the product that can cause mold or mildew growth. A diluted pool algaecide is an excellent solution to the problem, simply spray it on several times a year to prevent growth.
Our Gator Supersand G2 and Gator Maxx G2 are both rain safe in 15 minutes when installed on a conventional drainage bed. Gator Maxx or Gator Supersand (non G2 versions) are rain safe in 1 hour on a conventional drainage base. GATOR MAXX & GATOR MAXX G2 are rain safe in 24 hours in overlay applications.
Gator Dust requires 24 hours on a conventional drainage base, it is not for use on overlays.
We do not recommend doing this, we recommend that the entire joint depth be filled with our sand product in order to ensure that you have a successful installation. Without a firm densely packed base, water and ice can work their way into the joint and cause the material on top to fail. It is also next to impossible to evenly fill up half a joint with one material – you will have some areas halfway and some areas where they are 7/8 of the way full. We refer to this as topping, this can cause the sand to fail and come out of the joint. Furthermore, doing this is also a false economy as the work in attempting this procedure will greatly outweigh any anticipated savings in material.
Use Eurostone Bond Polymeric Sand.
Alliance manufactures the only products on the market approved for use over existing concrete: Gator Maxx and Gator Maxx G2. These products are less permeable to water and specifically engineered to shed water. Gator Maxx or Gator Maxx G2 can be installed on non-drainage bases and on conventional drainage bases.
Polymeric sand should be installed 1/8’’ (3mm) below the surface of the paver and set 1/8’’ (3mm) below any chamfered edge. Polymeric sand will expand slightly when wet and could possibly expand above the surface of the surrounding material resulting in it being tracked out of the joint.
Polymeric sand will not crack on its own. Any cracking that occurs is a result of movement. Movement of the pavers such as a rocking motion will cause cracking. Polymeric sand is intended to help prevent weeds, erosion, burrowing insects, and does not have shear strength like concrete. Pavers need to be properly supported by the base and in the case of pavers, they must touch each other to function as they are intended.
Using a utility knife cut the polymeric sand all around the paver. Then, scrape out as much material as possible. Use a paver extractor to wiggle the paver back and forth until the paver can be removed. An alternative method is to break one paver into pieces, then adjoining pavers can be removed manually by hand. Or wait until after a rainfall softens the material or run a sprinkler on the surface for a couple of hours the evening before, do not allow the area to dry before attempting removal.
The best way to remove polymeric sand from a paver surface is to use a hot water pressure washer at 180°F (82oC) or higher. The heat will reactivate the polymers in the product and allow the sand to be stripped away. If it is a smaller area, use boiling water.
Polymeric sand cannot be installed in pavers placed on stone dust. Stone dust traps and retains moisture which causes polymeric sand to fail. A paver installation should be performed to ICPI specifications, i.e. installed over 1 inch (25 mm) of bedding sand, which will allow proper drainage and a successful polymeric sand installation.
Note: Stone dust is basically a by-product from processing other stone products.
So, there is no consistency in the quantity of dust (fines) that it contains. When the fine content is higher, as it usually is, it tends to hold moisture much longer. This is not good for the pavers or for the performance of the polymeric sand.
See links to instructions for each specific product
High humidity or damp pavers can cause a white haze, make sure pavers are completely dry before installing polymeric sand and try to work in low humidity. A propane torch is great for drying out small wet areas. If humidity is high, work small sections and do not allow the sand to remain on the surface for a long time. White haze can also be caused by improper cleaning of the paver surface, prior to water application. A fine bristle broom cleaning and blowing with a leaf blower until dust does not rise from the surface is necessary before activating the product. You should blow the dust off from several different directions. If the paver or stone surface is textured, use a leaf blower on the surface after the final watering to prevent any white haze.
A white haze can be removed with an efflorescence cleaner or a hot pressure washer. Alliance Gator products do not contain any Portland cement, so any hazing which is a rare occurrence, is possibly caused from installing on a damp surface. This is easily removed using an efflorescence cleaner or will weather away naturally with time and rain. Pockmark type stains occur due to ponding water in clefts and crevices.
Our G2 products are not going to leave a white residue, even our non G2 sands will not leave a residue if you follow the directions.
Gator Dust is different from installing any of our sands. Follow the instructions on the Gator Dust TDS to avoid any hazing issue.
NEVER SKIP THE COMPACTING STEP! 30% to 50% of the polymeric sand is missing in the joints if not compacted. Compacting the sand after installing ensures that the material is densely packed in the joints and eliminates air pockets, which results in a better-finished installation. If the material is not properly compacted it remains too “fluffy” and vulnerable to water penetration and failure. In the case of a slab or stone that cannot be compacted, tapping with a 2×4 or rubber mallet is required to ensure proper consolidation. Lack of proper compaction is a common cause of joint failure.
It is not intended to be used on walls but for small areas you can mix the Gator Dust with water to about the consistency of cookie dough. Mist the vertical joint with water and trowel the mixed dust into the joint. When doing this you have about 20 minutes open time before the material becomes unmanageable
If the Dust is properly cured the de-icing salt will not hurt it.
This will depend on how long ago it was first activated. Let your sprinkler run on it water the surface for about 1 hour. If there is a crust on the top of the dust, make small holes in the joints in order to allow the water to seep in. If it doesn’t harden after a few days of good weather, you will have to remove the Gator Dust and redo it.
Our product contains oil-based polymers (synthetic) that are more durable and have better erosion resistance than organics. Our polymeric Gator Dust does not contain any cement.
As long as it is dry, it can be driven or walked on in 24 hours.
For Alliance polymeric Gator Dust, If the proper installation procedure is followed in terms of stone installation according to Alliance, then it will last 15 years. The area needs to be maintained and cleaned from time to time, dirt should not be allowed to accumulate on the joints.
You will need to be patient and give it time to dry out in order to evaluate, if it has not washed out of the joint and is hardening everything will probably be alright
Note: in our instructions we recommend 24 hours without rain.
It needs to be installed the full depth minus 1/8’’ (3mm) lower than the top or chamfer of the paver or stone. On a repair, where an existing sand joint is being removed and replaced, the existing dust should be removed a minimum of 1 ½ inches deep.
Normally a pressure washer. If the moss or mildew has been there for a long time it may have damaged the sand. Remove the damaged sand, where it can be readily removed using the pressure washer, allow the area to dry and replace missing sand and activate as per our directions. We recommend regular cleaning with Gator Shampoo to prevent this issue from getting worse.
The material should not be walked on, or driven on – it needs to be protected by the stone, so that it does not become damaged.
No. We have not done any testing on adding any colorant. We do not recommend doing this because the color additive might not be compatible with our Polymeric Dust. The colorant may also stain your stone. The color of our dust is the natural color of the aggregate in the product.
Hard means that the area is dry – soft means that the area is still damp or wet. The reason some areas that are staying wet is because they are not draining as fast as the dry areas.
Note: Polymeric dust is not a mortar and it is designed to transition from hard and dry to soft when wet, this is how it is able to be self-healing.
No this is very bad to do; it will cause the joint surface to peel and to flake off and voids any warranty.
White residue can be efflorescence, caused from wetting the pavers to activate the dust – it can also be from the polymer residue that was not properly cleaned off. Note: If the Polymeric Dust is installed on wet pavers, you will have a white residue on the paver surface. This is because the polymers are reacting and dissolving and sticking to the wet paver surface.
Note: Whether you are dealing with efflorescence from the pavers or residual polymers on the surface, a good cleaning with Gator Efflorescence cleaner should remove these from the surface. If the Efflorescence is especially bad, additional applications may be necessary. If there are physical sand particles left on the surface, they will require use of a pressure washer to remove before the efflorescence cleaning. None of Alliance’s polymeric sands contain any cement therefore will not cause any permanent stain.
Alliance Gator Dust is engineered to be installed at temperatures above 59°F (15°C). If installed at lower temperatures it may never set up and be weak and not function as intended.
This is a normal condition, the crust acts like a protective layer that is on top of the densely packed polymeric Gator Dust, this flexible crust is spanning from one stone chamfer to another. This crust allows for some movement, much like a hinge. Making these products ideal in freeze thaw conditions.
Usually it means that there is still water in the product. If the Gator Dust does not dry, it will not harden properly.
Polymeric Gator Dust cannot be installed with stone on a stone dust bed layer. Stone dust traps and retains moisture which causes polymeric Gator Dust to fail. A stone or paver installation should be performed to ICPI specifications, i.e. installed over 1 inch of bedding sand, which will allow proper drainage and a successful polymeric sand installation.
We do not recommend doing this, we recommend that the entire joint depth be filled with our Gator Dust product in order to ensure that you have a successful installation. Without a firm densely packed base, water and ice can work their way into the joint and cause the material on top to fail. It is also next to impossible to evenly fill up half a joint with one material – you will have some areas halfway and some areas where they are 7/8 of the way full. We refer to this as topping, this can cause the sand to fail and come out of the joint. Furthermore, doing this is also a false economy as the work in attempting this procedure will greatly outweigh any anticipated savings in material.
Gator Dust is not intended for vehicular traffic as it does not have the compressive strength to resist the tremendous loads placed on the joint by a vehicle. Instead, use Eurostone Bond Polymeric Sand.
Stones can’t be installed with Gator Dust on a concrete base.
If Gator Dust forms a thin crust it was under-watered during its initial activation, or the temperature was below 59° F. Gator Dust requires one watering of 50 sq.ft.( 4,6 sq.m.) for 90 seconds or until water ponds in the joints. Never allow the surface of the stone to dry during the application of water.
A coverage chart is provided on the pail and our TDS. Gator Nitro is sold in a 40 lb pail and will cover approximately 80% of the area covered by a 50lb bag of Alliance Gator Polymeric Sand.
Gator Nitro is practically rainproof as soon as it is installed in the joints since we use water to install it.
Gator Nitro needs at least a 3/16″ (5 mm) wide joint – because the resin is premixed with the aggregate it can’t fit into as tight a joint as Alliance Gator polymeric sands. Maximum joint is 2″.
Gator Nitro is a strong but rigid jointing material. If there is excessive movement with the pavers or stone then a crack may develop where the movement is occurring.
Simply giving it sometime – natural weathering and UV light will break down and dissipate the dark stain.
Yes, but Gator Nitro needs to be installed on a wet surface and G2 needs to be installed on a dry surface. Nitro is permeable and G2 would be non-permeable. The colors will be slightly different, Nitro colors are darker than G2 colors. The G2 section will need to be work on first. Ideally wait 24 hours prior proceeding with the Nitro sand.
Yes, Gator Nitro allows water to flow through it, however, over time, Nitro will clog up from dirt and debris – we recommend a light pressure washing as needed to maintain permeability.
No, due to its strength and rigidity, Gator Nitro is brittle and not suited for vehicular traffic. For driveway use we recommend using Gator Maxx G2 polymeric sand.
Yes, Gator Nitro is ideal for a hybrid base installation because it will set up top to bottom and not migrate into the bedding material over time.
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