Block paved drive - sealing
Discussion
We recently had our drive redone in blocks. Looks great, our builder wants to seal it with some special stuff to stop staining/discolouring etc (can't remember what it's called but it's got xylene/toluene in!).
Anyway, it needs to be dry to do this and of course the day he finished it it peed with rain
We have been waiting ever since, 2 cars still parked on road and one at inlaws!
It hasn't rained since about last Monday with us, but the blocking still looks damp in places (north facing drive not seeing much sun). Every morning it looks damp again (time of year I guess).
He has come back a few times this week but declares it too damp each time.
How critical is it? Can't imagine the sand will dry out except with months of dry weather...
He is coming back tomorrow to have a look but I have a feeling the weather will just get worse and if he can't do it tomorrow we may be waiting until April
Presumably we will be OK to park on it then, just have to be careful not to mark it (oil spills, dirty tyres, etc).
What a pain.
Anyway, it needs to be dry to do this and of course the day he finished it it peed with rain
We have been waiting ever since, 2 cars still parked on road and one at inlaws!It hasn't rained since about last Monday with us, but the blocking still looks damp in places (north facing drive not seeing much sun). Every morning it looks damp again (time of year I guess).
He has come back a few times this week but declares it too damp each time.
How critical is it? Can't imagine the sand will dry out except with months of dry weather...
He is coming back tomorrow to have a look but I have a feeling the weather will just get worse and if he can't do it tomorrow we may be waiting until April
Presumably we will be OK to park on it then, just have to be careful not to mark it (oil spills, dirty tyres, etc).
What a pain.
There is a guy on here that does this for a living.
But in the meanwhile
The sealer only gives the blocks a "wet look" it does not seal the sand.
Are you sure it is sand and not the new(er) poly stuff they use. The poly sets to a plasticy hardness and needs no top up like sand.
I have two lots of blocks one with sand that I brush over some sand once or twice a year and another with the poly stuff that I do nothing to.
Neither are sealed.
One 10 years old, other is 3 both look the same as the day they were laid.
But in the meanwhile
The sealer only gives the blocks a "wet look" it does not seal the sand.
Are you sure it is sand and not the new(er) poly stuff they use. The poly sets to a plasticy hardness and needs no top up like sand.
I have two lots of blocks one with sand that I brush over some sand once or twice a year and another with the poly stuff that I do nothing to.
Neither are sealed.
One 10 years old, other is 3 both look the same as the day they were laid.
I will ask the builder tomorrow how critical it is.
No Porsche (although have been looking at 944 turbos in the classfieds earlier!), just a 19 year old Saab and an MX-5. (To be fair, it's usually coolant with the MX-5, but the Saab has been leaking something that I can't identify but none of the levels seem to be dropping!
)
No Porsche (although have been looking at 944 turbos in the classfieds earlier!), just a 19 year old Saab and an MX-5. (To be fair, it's usually coolant with the MX-5, but the Saab has been leaking something that I can't identify but none of the levels seem to be dropping!
)NiceCupOfTea said:
I will ask the builder tomorrow how critical it is.
No Porsche (although have been looking at 944 turbos in the classfieds earlier!), just a 19 year old Saab and an MX-5. (To be fair, it's usually coolant with the MX-5, but the Saab has been leaking something that I can't identify but none of the levels seem to be dropping!)
A bit OT, but a new rad cap (or header tank cap) along with a flat stone across the the top of the neck will often cure that problem.No Porsche (although have been looking at 944 turbos in the classfieds earlier!), just a 19 year old Saab and an MX-5. (To be fair, it's usually coolant with the MX-5, but the Saab has been leaking something that I can't identify but none of the levels seem to be dropping!
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