I am about finished with an 8 ft x 13 ft patio, and the plan is to bond the pavers with polymeric sand. It’s just starting to get down to freezing temps overnight, and I’m willing to take some chances with some creative solutions to cure the sand before it gets even cooler....
Yeah… this is my inner voice, too. I’m kinda thinking that I should just sweep utility sand into the pavers and not worry too much about the polymeric stuff. Honestly, the only reason why I’m thinking of poly sand is because I’m kinda thinking that the pavers would stand up better to legs of outdoor furniture. Although, perhaps if I work enough utility sand into the pavers with lots of tamping and brushing, it shouldn’t be a big deal? I mean, it’s not like all patios done right without poly sand are failing.
Yeah, it does sound like a bad idea, and I’m thinking more and more that I should just sweep utility sand between the pavers instead and call it a day.
Why not just wait until late spring?
The only reason I’m trying to get ahead of this now (instead of waiting for warmer weather) is because I’m building a structure around the patio that will make it difficult to sweep or blow off the sand as it cures. It’ll probably get everywhere and get nasty.
Although, it’ll be a covered area too, so perhaps the advantages of the poly sand are marginal. There won’t be any weed or moss issues, and it won’t be exposed to weather basically ever. So perhaps I just shouldn’t bother and sweep regular sand in. The benefits of poly sand probably isn’t worth the very real risk of making my patio really nasty.
You know what?? I figured that I miss all the shots I don’t take, and thought I’d give it a try. I built a makeshift tent from two tarps held by a steel tamper and a handtruck held down with buckets of water. I have an automated home, so I put one of the temperature/humidity sensors out there and hung in the lower area of the tent with a coat hanger. I set a ceramic space heater on a couple bricks, and fired it up.
The results? It’s currently sitting at 65F with 43% humidity, which is less than inside our home. I think the thermostat is even oscillating, so I’m going to go out there and turn it up. I’ll have a graph of the temperature and humidity all throughout the night, but this is hotter and drier than a summer night! And it’s in the 30s outside!
Here’s a screenshot of the data from me bringing the sensor outside, handling it, and letting it be in the tent:
So yeah, this is going to work great. I’m letting the pavers warm up and dry out overnight, then sometime midday, I’m definitely doing the poly sand. I’ll make sure I get it cleaned up and ready to leave alone, then I’ll cover it just like I did. Seriously, this is going to work better than waiting for the spring.
I often hear science-adjacent folks stating that a tree needs to be 30 years old before it starts absorbing CO₂, usually paired with the statement that it’s therefore pointless to start planting tons of trees now for slowing climate change....
Over the past 20 years, Kevin Ford from Las Vegas virtually never took a sick day because his job didn't offer paid sick leave. People across social media chipped in for him to finally afford a break.
Polymeric sand in cold weather! Creative solutions to helping it cure? ( lemmy.world )
I am about finished with an 8 ft x 13 ft patio, and the plan is to bond the pavers with polymeric sand. It’s just starting to get down to freezing temps overnight, and I’m willing to take some chances with some creative solutions to cure the sand before it gets even cooler....
[Solved] Trees supposedly take 30 years *before* they absorb CO₂. Why?
I often hear science-adjacent folks stating that a tree needs to be 30 years old before it starts absorbing CO₂, usually paired with the statement that it’s therefore pointless to start planting tons of trees now for slowing climate change....
Burger King gave candy to a worker who never called in sick. The internet gave $400K ( www.npr.org )
Over the past 20 years, Kevin Ford from Las Vegas virtually never took a sick day because his job didn't offer paid sick leave. People across social media chipped in for him to finally afford a break.