Polymeric sand haze is binder dust glued to the paver face. How to remove it safely, when acid cleaners are needed, and how to dig old poly sand out of joints.
Landscape fabric for paver patio builds goes under the gravel base, never under the sand. Woven vs non-woven, when clay soil needs it, and how to lay it.
How to install a paver drain: channel drains, catch basins and French drains beside pavers, setting the grate 1/8 to 1/4 in below the pavers, and covers.
Paver cutting tools compared: cut off saw, wet tile and masonry saws, angle grinder, paver splitter, chisel and circular saw, with a table and job-by-job picks.
How to cut pavers without a saw: use a paver splitter, a hammer and brick chisel, or score and snap. What each does well, and where it fails.
How to cut pavers cleanly: mark with a chalk line, cut in place or on the ground, cut thick pavers from both faces, avoid slivers in the last row, control dust.
How to compact gravel so it never settles: damp not wet, 2 to 4 inch lifts, overlapping passes in two directions, and simple tests that prove it's done.
How to cut pavers for curves: mark the arc with a hose, cut in straight facets with a wet saw, keep pieces over 1/3 and pick patterns that need fewer cuts.
Building a paver patio on slope ground: how much pitch it can have, measuring the yard, cut and fill, terraces, when you need a retaining wall, and walkways.
How long does polymeric sand take to dry? About 24 hours for foot traffic, 48-72 for cars and around 30 days to fully cure. Rain, heat and humidity explained.
