Paver Polymeric Sand
Polymeric sand is a mixture of graded sand and polymer binders that, when moistened and compacted, hardens into a firm-but-flexible joint filler between pavers, bricks, and stone. Unlike regular sand, which washes out with every rain and allows weeds to take root in the joints, polymeric sand resists erosion, inhibits weed growth, and prevents ant and insect infiltration into the joint space. It is the standard jointing material for modern paver patios, driveways, and pool decks.
In depth
Pressure washing a paver surface with incorrectly matched equipment — particularly a turbo nozzle, high-angle stream, or surface cleaner directly over the joints — can blast polymeric sand out of the joints in a single pass, requiring expensive re-sanding and compaction. Correct paver cleaning uses a low-angle fan nozzle, lower PSI (typically 800-1,500 PSI), and sweeping strokes that go over the pavers without concentrating force on the joint edges. When joints are depleted from previous cleanings or age, we recommend re-sanding before sealing.
How this shows up on our jobs
We clean hundreds of paver patios and driveways in Madison and have never blown out polymeric sand. The technique matters — we use a low-angle fan nozzle and check joint depth before and after every paver job.
Services where this matters
Related terms
Concrete Sealer
A concrete sealer is a penetrating or film-forming coating applied to cleaned, dry concrete to reduce its absorption of oil, road salt, staining agents, and water. Penetrating sealers (silane, siloxane, or silane-siloxane blends) chemically bond below the surface to repel liquid without changing the appearance or traction of the concrete. Film-forming sealers (acrylic, epoxy, polyurethane) create a surface coating that is visible as a sheen and provides excellent stain resistance but requires periodic reapplication as it wears.
Efflorescence
Efflorescence is the white, chalky, powdery deposit that forms on the surface of brick, concrete, stone, stucco, and block masonry when water dissolves mineral salts inside the material and carries them to the surface. As the water evaporates, the salts are left behind as a crystalline residue. It is cosmetic — not structural — but it is frustratingly persistent because every rain cycle can push more salts to the surface.
Acid Wash
An acid wash in exterior cleaning is the application of a dilute acidic solution — most commonly muriatic (hydrochloric), phosphoric, oxalic, or a proprietary masonry blend — to dissolve mineral-based staining that bleach and surfactants cannot touch. Typical targets include efflorescence on brick, heavy rust from fertilizer or irrigation, mortar haze on new brickwork, mineral deposits on glass, and battery acid on concrete. Acid wash is not a general cleaning method — it is a targeted chemistry tool for specific stains on specific substrates.
Polymer Sealer
A polymer sealer is a protective coating applied to a cleaned and dried surface — glass, concrete, wood, metal, brick — that forms a long-molecule chain on the surface to repel water, dirt, and staining. In window cleaning, glass-specific polymer sealers (often silicon-dioxide based, sometimes called "glass coats" or "hydrophobic treatments") cause rain to bead and sheet off, which keeps windows cleaner 2-3x longer between professional cleanings. On concrete, acrylic or urethane sealers protect against oil, rust, and de-icing salt.