Said It Here

Polymeric sand or concrete for paver joints?

Choosing between polymeric sand and concrete comes down to whether you want a flexible joint material that resists weed growth or a rigid edge that locks pavers firmly in place. This uncertainty often halts patio and walkway maintenance projects because homeowners worry about cracking, shifting, or choosing a material that won't hold up to weather.

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

  1. 1
    Using a row of brick with polymeric sand
  2. 2
    Pouring a concrete slab
  3. 3
    Using 1/4 minus crushed rock and top dressing with 1/4 clean
  4. 4
    Using polymeric sand specifically rated for wide joints
  5. 5
    Planting creeping thyme or moss
  6. 6
    Using screenings or decomposed granite on a budget

In their words

Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.

Can’t settle on a joint type.source ↗

Earl-from-Impanema · r/Landscaping · 6 upvotes

I am thinking of fixing/lining these pavers and adding some polymeric sand or continue the concrete.source ↗

Muted_Macaron615 · r/HomeMaintenance · 2 upvotes

Where this came up

People with this problem also raised