Everyone take note to the product names and buy them. They are supporting a brother and should be treated as such. Obviously they are a good company. Rarely does a manufacturer take accountability for a liability an installer could easily be blamed with. God Bless them!!!!!

 

I heard about this problem.

Did your sand stay soft and mushy, never harden up?

 

We have used Alliance and have had that same problem on some projects.

Chris

 

Thanks for the info

 

Yea, the sand stayed soft and mushy on a few jobs, and I knew it wasn't right cause on a different job we did, the sand hardened up like mortar.

 

just a FYI -

I tread very lightly with a sales pitch for poly sand.

I am very careful what I promise with the product.

I have had a few problems with polly sand over the last 5 yrs, we do still use it, and I plan to continue to do so, yet I personally am not 100% sold on the product / concept, for reasons that would take too long to type.

 

Polysand is a standard install with us. We use it on every job and as I go back for inspections, I see that it does not always stay hard, in fact, most times due to torrential rains the polymers wash out and then the sand ends up splattered all over your flatwork.

Chris

 

We use poly- sand as a standard and I also usually educate the customer why we use the product, but the only thing they seem to care about is the weed prevention and low maintenance. I usually let them know it's not proven to stop weeds and not guaranteed to last for the life of the patio. However, on that note, I usually will recommend they seal their patio.

 

...I usually will recommend they seal their patio.

curious, with sealing don't you have to reapply every couple years or so like a deck?

I normally use polymeric sand but this past year I did a flagstone install and because of the larger joints I went with the stabilizing sand. Well by the time fall came around and with all the rain we had 1/2" of it washed out. I thought this was just the difference in the product but now I am wondering if it has to do with a lack of glue?

Here is a pict of the walk:

 

Alliance did have a few problems with their mixtures in 2005 and early 2006. Every issue I have come across has been fixed by the Manufacturer in a timely fashion. Alliance solved their mixing issues in May of 2006 and I have not has an issue with their new batches. Alliance is a great company and I highly recommend their "new" Polymeric sand.

 

I too have grown more cautious about how I pitch it to the customer, making sure I don't sell it as a miracle product. I also agree that most of my recent projects have come out fine, with all the sand setting up as it should. The failure was sort of strange with the old stuff as half a job would be fine, and the other half would just wash out or never harden up. I guess they just had some early QC issues. Glad to know I wasn't the only one.

 

has anyone had a problem with poly sand from unilock

 

Funny you should mention unilock - I used Techniseal on a job once, then the customer had me add to the job several months later, the Unilock rep sold me Unilock sand that was supposedly the same as the Techniseal but it was garbage. Different color, different texture, and it didn't work well at all. Very unhappy with them, despite several angry phone calls, they won't admit its different. Go figure.

 

I have a guy coming down from canada to look at a couple of my jobs where the sand didn't really work, I'll keep you guys posted on what happens, hopefully he shows up.

 

I'm new here on LawnSite and have joined to share and get outside views on product. I used Techniseal poly on a few jobs and found that the product is not holding with time. It does go soft with rain, lifts, separates, ect. It is failing on two separate jobs that are now coming three years old. Is there better luck with the Gator Dust? The application is for an irregular bluestone patio. Also is there a sealer that is recommended for bluestone and possibly seal the poly as well? I've just about thrown in the towel with the poly. I don't oversell it to the customer but need a good joint filler (a solid product) for irregular bluestone patios. I started years ago with the Belgard poly and it was terrible, switched to Techniseal still not so good. Is there a better product out there? Any answers?

 

I'm new here on LawnSite and have joined to share and get outside views on product. I used Techniseal poly on a few jobs and found that the product is not holding with time. It does go soft with rain, lifts, separates, ect. It is failing on two separate jobs that are now coming three years old. Is there better luck with the Gator Dust? The application is for an irregular bluestone patio. Also is there a sealer that is recommended for bluestone and possibly seal the poly as well? I've just about thrown in the towel with the poly. I don't oversell it to the customer but need a good joint filler (a solid product) for irregular bluestone patios. I started years ago with the Belgard poly and it was terrible, switched to Techniseal still not so good. Is there a better product out there? Any answers?

Same here.

Did a 400ft paver sidewalk with technoseal and it failed after 2 seasons. I've added sections to the walk and now use gator sand and like the results so far.

I think I might be making a phone call tomorrow to air some grievances.

.......

 

Never used Poly. Never will. Completely unnecessary product.

 

Never used Poly. Never will. Completely unnecessary product.

Maybe not putting the geo textile could save you some money as well.

 

Never used Poly. Never will. Completely unnecessary product.

Do you use anything else besides pure sand?
More and more customers nowdays ask and know bout polysand, might be that not all claims are tru, could be but I think even with some failure rate an a flexible installation, polysand is the only way to go for now

 

Never used Poly. Never will. Completely unnecessary product.

This is very true and I could not agree more.

The people that think using poly sand is a live or die issue - are people that are NOT what I consider veteran contractors.

Two points:

1) I am in my 16th year working with pavers. Not 16 years in business, I have been in business for 22 years. When we started installing pavers there was NO poly sand. We used #2 Silaca sand. It works perfect. I've been back to jobs and have seen the sand be as hard as mortar.

2) Europe. All public sidewalks in Germany are pavers. Always has been always will be. Who here has been to Europe? I have not SEEN one interlocking pavement in Europe where Poly sand is used.

.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

Do you use anything else besides pure sand?
More and more customers nowdays ask and know bout polysand, might be that not all claims are tru, could be but I think even with some failure rate an a flexible installation, polysand is the only way to go for now

Definitely not "the only way to go"

That's a very mis leading statement

.

.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

I'm new here on LawnSite and have joined to share and get outside views on product. I used Techniseal poly on a few jobs and found that the product is not holding with time. It does go soft with rain, lifts, separates, ect. It is failing on two separate jobs that are now coming three years old. Is there better luck with the Gator Dust? The application is for an irregular bluestone patio. Also is there a sealer that is recommended for bluestone and possibly seal the poly as well? I've just about thrown in the towel with the poly. I don't oversell it to the customer but need a good joint filler (a solid product) for irregular bluestone patios. I started years ago with the Belgard poly and it was terrible, switched to Techniseal still not so good. Is there a better product out there? Any answers?

We're talking an ingredient that is at the top 2" of the ground. It's gonna freeze. The rain is gonna beat on it. The sun is gonna melt on it. I have NO high expectations for poly sand.

Even mortared pavements go bad. Water freezes in the winter, an the mortar cracks.

Are you 110% sure you've applied it to spect to a Tee? I can't tell you how many times I've seen poly sand incorrectly applied. And the immigrants workers are notorious for not doing it right.

.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

wasn't there a thread or post saying something to the effect that Techniseal was having issues with their sand at one time ??

 

We've put down pallets of Techniseal polysand on a few jobs and we've never once had a problem with installing it. We all took their "class" and became certified applicators.
The only time we don't use poly sand is on Clay pavers because of how porous they are.

 

We've put down pallets of Techniseal polysand on a few jobs and we've never once had a problem with installing it. We all took their "class" and became certified applicators.
The only time we don't use poly sand is on Clay pavers because of how porous they are.

That's what I used it on, but the pavers were Whitacre/Greer pressed clay pavers. Had a haze for a week or so, but went away after a while.

....