[Roland S]

i've got a driveway that i resanded and i been called back by the customer twice because the sand is washing out of the joints with the rain in places. i use the hanson kiln dried sand, and it's not an issue i normally have with other drives. the blocks are similar to the tegula blocks. i'm going back friday to top it up but has anyone got any ideas what the issue is?

[chris scott]

 It's not a "sealer" but should help you out of your problem at little cost.
http://www.marshalls.co.uk/homeowners/view-keybond-joint-stabiliser-for-block-paving
Becareful useing it on steep inclines else you could end up in a mess!


Bed time reading here  http://www.pavingexpert.com/jointing14.htm

[Roland S]

thanks chris, yes i'm aware of keybond, that would be a last resort. i'm hoping that when i top it up again on friday that will be enough. i'm just wondering if anyone else has had a repeated issue like this and what they did or if they just walked away from it.

[Kenny83]

I would tell them that it's not your fault, the sand is loose naturally, it would have been the same when laid, unless the gaps have got bigger through bad installers or poor maintenance in the past, either way it's not your fault, if they want the sand to stay put then give them a price for resiblock 22

[Griffus]

Heavy rain will do this, as will rain running off parked vehicles on the driveway. It is just as easily swept back in afterwards.

It can and will happen for months after resanding, are you going to go back every time it happens.

In future, just be sure to advise beforehand.

[Roger Oakley]

Roland
Can you post a picture of the paving?
Is it on a bad incline? or pretty level, how long has the paving been down.
Would you say the paving has been laid properly, as in professional or pikey?

[Roland S]

Roland
Can you post a picture of the paving?
Is it on a bad incline? or pretty level, how long has the paving been down.
Would you say the paving has been laid properly, as in professional or pikey?

i haven't got a picture unfortunately, its on an incline although not that steep. the paving has only been down about 2 years and didn't need cleaning to be honest, however she wanted the moss in all the joints removed but didn't want any chemicals whatsoever used. so at her request i just went over it with a flat surface cleaner at relatively low pressure so as not to damage the face of the new blocks which removed the moss and then i resanded. i would say the blocks have been laid very professionaly.

she was very picky to be honest when i went to price the job and even before starting i commented to my wife that i feel like i'm going to have some issues with this customer.

she has been in contact with the people who laid it originally and she asked them how far a bag off sand goes when LAYING the blocks. the customer then rang me and said the problem was because i hadn't used enough sand, at which point i pointed out that i was only replacing the top 10-20mm and was only topping up and would be using half of what the installers used originally. they then suggested that my sand was different - finer - to what was used originally, which it is slightly, however the hanson sand i use that travis perkins stock, i've used loads of times and never really had an issue before.

anyway i'm going back friday when its nice and dry - it was too damp when i went to look at it again today - and give it hopefully a top up again.

can i just ask, can the public (i.e. my customers lol) read this forum or can only registered users read it?

[Roger Oakley]

Roland
Can you post a picture of the paving?
Is it on a bad incline? or pretty level, how long has the paving been down.
Would you say the paving has been laid properly, as in professional or pikey?

i haven't got a picture unfortunately, its on an incline although not that steep. the paving has only been down about 2 years and didn't need cleaning to be honest, however she wanted the moss in all the joints removed but didn't want any chemicals whatsoever used. so at her request i just went over it with a flat surface cleaner at relatively low pressure so as not to damage the face of the new blocks which removed the moss and then i resanded. i would say the blocks have been laid very professionaly.

she was very picky to be honest when i went to price the job and even before starting i commented to my wife that i feel like i'm going to have some issues with this customer.

she has been in contact with the people who laid it originally and she asked them how far a bag off sand goes when LAYING the blocks. the customer then rang me and said the problem was because i hadn't used enough sand, at which point i pointed out that i was only replacing the top 10-20mm and was only topping up and would be using half of what the installers used originally. they then suggested that my sand was different - finer - to what was used originally, which it is slightly, however the hanson sand i use that travis perkins stock, i've used loads of times and never really had an issue before.

anyway i'm going back friday when its nice and dry - it was too damp when i went to look at it again today - and give it hopefully a top up again.

can i just ask, can the public (i.e. my customers lol) read this forum or can only registered users read it?

If only slight, then the incline shouldn't be the problem, when you see it tomorrow, let us know where the sand that she says is coming out is, IE all over or at the bottom of the incline, you could if you have one or know of someone with one re-wacker the paving.

[G O Cleaning]

Roland
Can you post a picture of the paving?
Is it on a bad incline? or pretty level, how long has the paving been down.
Would you say the paving has been laid properly, as in professional or pikey?

i haven't got a picture unfortunately, its on an incline although not that steep. the paving has only been down about 2 years and didn't need cleaning to be honest, however she wanted the moss in all the joints removed but didn't want any chemicals whatsoever used. so at her request i just went over it with a flat surface cleaner at relatively low pressure so as not to damage the face of the new blocks which removed the moss and then i resanded. i would say the blocks have been laid very professionaly.

she was very picky to be honest when i went to price the job and even before starting i commented to my wife that i feel like i'm going to have some issues with this customer.

she has been in contact with the people who laid it originally and she asked them how far a bag off sand goes when LAYING the blocks. the customer then rang me and said the problem was because i hadn't used enough sand, at which point i pointed out that i was only replacing the top 10-20mm and was only topping up and would be using half of what the installers used originally. they then suggested that my sand was different - finer - to what was used originally, which it is slightly, however the hanson sand i use that travis perkins stock, i've used loads of times and never really had an issue before.

anyway i'm going back friday when its nice and dry - it was too damp when i went to look at it again today - and give it hopefully a top up again.

can i just ask, can the public (i.e. my customers lol) read this forum or can only registered users read it?

We have cleaned several recently all have suffered to various degrees one actually down my street, driveway is steep std concrete blocks we vibrate all drives but the rain we have had recently was torrential it can happen probably more noticeable if you leave sand above the bevels. We cover ourselves as our quote has a disclaimer if the paving is not sealed and it requires a 're sand this will be chargeable - if it was my problem I would re sand for free but if it happens again I would charge.

[Roland S]

thanks guys for the advice. out of interest do many of you vibrate the sand in after brushing it in? i know they do after laying it but i don't after just cleaning, although in this instance it would probably help.

[BDCS]

Tell the fussy cow to stop moaning and brush the sand back in herself - man up to her. You probably use too soft a brush which leaves excess in the vee at the face of the blocks - try a stiffer denser broom and then a petrol blower, leave nothing to run off. What does she expect with the rain we've had recenty. No need to wack if you've only cleaned if you have only cleaned because you have not disturbed the sharp sand under the blocks - thats still compacted

[Roger Oakley]

Where is all this rain you are talking about?
Carl, you do them the same way as me, brush then blow end of, the re-wacking was just a thought if he had a pain in the arse customer, who thinks she is an expert.
But all in all I don't think there is any need to re wack, after cleaning IMO.

[BDCS]

I use the blower when I seal to make sure there is no sand on top of the blocks - the petrol in my wacker is stale ! We have had some monster thunder storms in the last week - I had a hive open when one sneaked up, no wonder the girls were grumpy !

[G O Cleaning]

thanks guys for the advice. out of interest do many of you vibrate the sand in after brushing it in? i know they do after laying it but i don't after just cleaning, although in this instance it would probably help.

We vibrate, obviously whilst washing you havent touched the bedding sand, but whilst using the plate the blocks do vibtrate / move no question, hence it helps to compact killn dry. We try to cover all angles - anyone can simply brush sand in 
We dont use a blower just use the right brush, dont like the idea of blowing kiln dry even to the small degree its used and would certainly not add that to any RAMS.
We have had torrential downpours very localised, if you have a storm after re sanding as oposed to light rain this would be obvious factor causing runoff, as the light rain will help with settlement.

[Griffus]

I find using a blower too messy and it also leaves sand uneven, ridging up against the block being blowed against. I'd much sooner use brushes.

Wacker plate great when the job suits. Also helps when the gaps between blocks remain damp. Watch the guys laying block, they just throw the sand down, damp or not and switch between the wacker and brushing.

[geefree]

Wacker plates for cleaning and brush sanding a driveway, ??

Im sorry , but heard it all now..... just brush the sand in with a soft yard brush,  take any excess sand with you , and go.!..... and any sand issues after rain, sun or snow is not your concern

But be sure to explain the job ...properly.... to the customer before you start,

[G O Cleaning]

Wacker plates for cleaning and brush sanding a driveway, ??

Im sorry , but heard it all now..... just brush the sand in with a soft yard brush,  take any excess sand with you , and go.!..... and any sand issues after rain, sun or snow is not your concern

But be sure to explain the job ...properly.... to the customer before you start,

wow and you have been cleaning drives for how long