Cracked polymeric sand and weeds in a new paver patio
Polymeric sand settling and cracking slightly after a few months is common, and can be fixed by sweeping fresh sand into the gaps and misting it down. Weeds usually happen if seeds blow in before the sand sets or if the base wasn't compacted perfectly, requiring you to pull them out and monitor the area.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 31.7× more often in r/homeowners than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Pulling or spraying the weedsDid this help you?
- 2Sweeping more polymeric sand into the gaps and misting it downDid this help you?
- 3Asking the contractor to return, add more polymeric sand, and apply a sealant.Did this help you?
- 4filling cracks with sandDid this help you?
- 5using polymeric sandDid this help you?
- 6blending sand, grass seed, compost, and topsoil over crushed stoneDid this help you?
- 7blending moss with milk and spraying it downDid this help you?
- 8torchingDid this help you?
- 9power washingDid this help you?
- 10hand pullingDid this help you?
- 11digging out with a knifeDid this help you?
- 12applying a heavy black tarpDid this help you?
- 13applying vinegar or 30% vinegarDid this help you?
- 14pouring boiling waterDid this help you?
- 15using baking soda and vinegarDid this help you?
- 16using bleachDid this help you?
- 17sealing gaps with polymeric or masonry sandDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I have this brick path here and since the day I owned the house I’ve been fighting against the weeds. I’ve tried torching, power washing, hand pulling, and nothing works. The roots are so deep even using a knife it’s hard to dig it up. I don’t wanna use chemicals because I’m on well water, what would you do?”source ↗
“Had paver patio installed a few months ago- now I am noticing some cracks between the pavers where the polymeric sand goes and even a weed growing.”source ↗
“The sand settling and cracking a little after a couple months is pretty normal honestly I'd just sweep some more polymeric sand into those gaps and mist it down”source ↗
“The weed though that sucks but it happens if the base wasn't compacted perfectly or some seeds blew in before the sand fully set pull it and keep an eye out for more”source ↗
“Same. We have flagstone with mortar. Weed even grow through the joints. We tried hot water, baking soda + vinegar, bleach (yes we dripped bleach in the cracks)…still fighting them til this day”source ↗
“looking for advice on how to “finish” our flagstone path.”source ↗
“This didn’t hold up over the winter because we didn’t seal it in any way.”source ↗
“it was so hard to get them all level due to the varying thickness of the stone.”source ↗
“Looking for any advice on finishing this path so it doesn’t get destroyed by another PNW winter (and our dogs lol)”source ↗
“Had paver patio installed a few months ago- now I am noticing some cracks towards one side which does seem slightly lower (maybe collecting water?) between the pavers where the polymeric sand goes and even a weed growing.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 21How to clean up acorns from loose gravel without losing stones
- 2Can you use a plate compactor on travertine pavers?
- 13How to clear thick grass overgrowing a paved driveway
- 6How to fix yard grading under existing paving stones
- 8How to get rid of a bunch of old landscaping rock
- 5Why does polymeric sand keep washing out of pavers?