We use one of two techniques when installing patios and walkways. Read below to find out why we use these techniques and how it benefits you the homeowner.

The first technique is using an open grade base instead of dense grade. No idea what that means? Let me explain from the beginning. All hardscaping requires a base of stone underneath. Traditionally this was six inches of dense grade stone and one inch of concrete sand to lay pavers on. The dense grade base can be referred to as 2A or three quarter modified. The modified is made up of stone measuring three quarters to one inch in size down to dust. While dense grade base has been the standard and must common for hardscape base, it does come with its challenges. When installing the base for hardscape, compaction is the key to making the project last and prevent settling. When compacting modified it has to be at the right moisture content. Too dry or wet and it won't compact properly. Also the fines in the modified hold onto moisture that then freezes in the winter causing damage. The concrete sand has the same moisture issues.

Now lets look at what open grade base is and how it addresses these issues.

Open Grade Base

Open Grade Base is often referred to as clean stone or number fifty seven stone. It is made soley of three quarter inch stone with no fines. The advantages of open grade base start with compaction. Clean stone is almost completely compacted when it is dumped off the truck. Meaning little compaction is required to make a solid base. It also does not suffer from having to be at the right moisture to compact. It can be dry as a bone or soaking wet, doesn't matter. The biggest advantage is that clean stone does not retain moisture. Because there are no fines any moisture is allowed to drain threw the base. This helps prevent the freeze thaw damage. In open grade base we do not use the concrete sand . Instead we use a quarter inch to three eighths clean stone that again has no fines. Having a free draining bedding layer helps prolong the life of the poly sand and prevent efflorescence( white salt deposits on the surface of the paver). One down fall of both bases is the requirements of deep excavating and importing tons of stone. This means large equipment, trucks, and piles of stone on the street and your driveway. Which all causes damage to your existing landscape. What if there was a way to install a quality patio or walkway without needing tons of stone.

There is and we here at A.R.Shane hardscapes love it.

The answer to not needing tons of stone is using a synthetic base. What synthetic base is is a lightweight high-density polypropylene panel that replaces the six inches of stone base. With synthetic base we excavate four inches instead of nine. Which means less soil needs to be removed. We then install geo-fabric to sperate the soil from the gravels and install one inch of stone instead of six inches. Each synthetic panel replaces 288lbs of stone, while weighing under two pounds. On a typical patio we would need to bring in roughly 16,000 pounds of stone and remove 12,000 pounds of soil from the site. On the same patio if we use synthetic panels we would remove 6,000 pounds of soil and bring in only 4,000 lbs. of stone. Plus the panels would only weigh 82 pounds. What dose this mean for you the homeowner. No giant piles of stone in the street or your driveway and less disturbance to your lawn and existing landscape. Less destruction means less to fix at the end of the job. Allowing you to enjoy your hardscape sooner.

Synthetic Base Cross Section

Synthetic Base Panel

Open Grade vs. Synthetic Base

Saved Excavation

Sand vs. Polymeric Sand vs. Resin Sand

No matter which base is used, all pavers require the joints between them to be filled to provide full strength to the project. The original joint fill was plain sand. Standard joint fill today is polymeric sand (poly sand). There is a third option that is gaining popularity and that is resin based sands. Resin based sand is the default choice for joint fill here at A.R.Shane for all projects that allow it. Let's look at the differences between the three and why we choose resin sand.

Plain sand:

Plain sand technically works as a joint fill, but is the least durable of the three. Plain sand is installed by sweeping the sand into the joints dry with a push broom. Plain sand can wash out of the joints during rain events and has no way of preventing weed growth. Because of these reasons polymeric sand became the standard fill.

Polymeric Sand:

Polymeric sand is fine sand mixed with additives that when exposed to water bond the sand together and is available in multiple colors. Polymeric sand is installed by sweeping the polymeric sand into the joints dry with a push broom, Then consolidating the sand into the joints with a vibratory compactor. After compaction the joints are topped off with additional polymeric sand. The consolidation and refilling steps may need to be done multiple times for a proper install. Once the joints are filled the additives are activated by wetting the pavers and polymeric sand with water. When installed properly polymeric sand is more durable than regular sand. Forming a hard crust that keeps the sand from washing out in a rain storm and helping prevent weed growth. There are some drawbacks to polymeric sand. Since the additives are activated by water, polymeric sand can not be installed in the rain or on wet pavers. If the pavers are wet the polymeric sand will begin to stick to the surface of the pavers. Another issue is if not enough water is applied the polymeric sand may only form a thin crust on top of the joint. This thin crust can wear away prematurely and expose loose sand. This loose sand can then wash out and weeds can begin to grow. Polymeric sand works very well and has been the standard joint fill for years.

Resin Sand:

Resin sand is a mix of sand (larger grains then that used in polymeric sand) and a resin that cures when exposed to air. Resin sand is installed by wetting the pavers with water and washing the resin sand into the joints along with using squeegees and brooms to move the resin around the surface. There is no need to consolidate the resin sand with a vibratory compactor. There are advantages the resin sand has over the polymeric sand that we feel make it a better choice. The resin sand hardens from top to bottom, no crust that can wear away. Also when first installed and if kept clean the resin sand is permeable. Meaning water can drain through the joints and into the stone base underneath, to be absorbed by the ground. This is good for the environment. Unlike polymeric sand, resin sand can be power washed. Thus allowing the pavers to be kept looking their best, with less manual work. Another advantage is since water is used in the installation process, Resin sand can be installed in the rain. Keeping the project on schedule. The only drawbacks are price and not being compatible with all pavers. Resin sand requires a larger joint between pavers than polymeric sand. However there are many pavers on the market that can work. The price of resin sand is higher than polymeric sand but we feel the resin is a superior product. In the life span of the resin sand you would need to replace polymeric sand at least once if not twice. Which makes the resin sand cheaper over the life of the project.