Block paving sand.

[Wacky Racer]

Just spent a very enjoyable hour with the Karcher powerwash "carefully" blasting all the weeds and moss off my fairly large driveway. The blocks are the larger Marshall's type, not standard brick size, (not that it makes much difference.)

It now looks much better, very nice in fact, but it will want resanding as soon as we have a decent dry day.

So, is it really worth paying extra for the "proper stuff", or will ordinary builders sand do the job just as well? Can't really see what the difference is, the moss grows through just the same after a while from what I can see.

I think in future I will have to invest in some "Pathclear" or similar, and try to keep on top of it more.

The driveway cost me around £20k three years ago, so I don't want to spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar, but on the other hand I don't want to waste money....

[TheEnd]

You can, but it might not be as good.
Block paving sand is single size, and kiln dried so it runs down between all the gaps.
Damp builders sand won't fall down between the blocks.

What you can do though is spread the builders sand out somewhere to dry, anything large and flat but it can take a lot of time for it to dry up and resand small areas as you are waiting for more to dry out.

Damp or sand with bits in can block the top gaps, and leave the bottom unsanded.

[Dr_Gonzo]

Kiln-dried sand is a must. I'd also recommend putting down some block paving sealant while your at it.

[Wacky Racer]

^^
OK, thanks very much for that useful information, looks like for the relatively small additional cost block paving sand it is then.

[Mr GrimNasty]

No, the proper stuff is kiln dried and very fine, ordinary building sand, even if you dry it, just won't flow into all the little gaps nicely. Unless you have permeable paving with the wider gaps, then you'll need some sort of grit, not sand.

[MJG280]

All proper PHers should have a plastic tub of dried ordinary sand to soak up oil spills!!

I use cement between 2ft slabs but that will mark blocks.

[gsfrontera]

Get to the builders merchant and buy a bag of Silica Sand. A dry day and away you go

[Mr GrimNasty]

gsfrontera said:

Get to the builders merchant and buy a bag of Silica Sand. A dry day and away you go

Yer, I hate that non-silica sand.

[Aviz]

Anyone know roughly how much you need? I have just pressure washed mine, and wondering how many standard bags i might need.

Edited by Aviz on Friday 7th October 08:35

[mrmaggit]

6-6.5m2 per 25kg bag is the rate I use.

Don't forget the weeds grow downwards, not upwards.

Sprinkle with weedkiller early in the season.

Don't seal unless you want a plastic-looking drive.