If you are thinking of applying a sealer to block paving to stop the weeds growing in the sand joints you can now skip the sealer and just use a weed killing sand. Which, where weeds are concerned, Allows you to have a driveway or patio that does not allow weeds to grow between the paving gaps and joints.
A sealer is applied to paving blocks on a driveway or patio to stop weeds from growing. The sealer not only seals the concrete but also is absorbed by the jointing sand. When the sealer is dry the resins that are left behind when all the liquid (solvent or water) has evaporated, set hard, thus setting the joined sand hard, such as kiln dried sand. This then forms a barrier against amongst other things, Weeds.
If you do not want to use a sealant but still want a weed free driveway or patio then a company called Dupont ©now manufacture a silica sand for block paving that contains a growth inhibiting combination of dried silica sand and special minerals that are a very high PH value. This has the effect of keeping weeds out of the sand joints. This then should stop the need to apply a weedkiller to your blocked areas a few times every year. The sand is also harmless to animals and children and has what I think, an excellent lifespan of 10 years.
The company, who are based in Belgium, say they will quarry 90% of all the sand from the UK. Which is good news.
So will this new wonder sand get rid of the need to apply a sealer. No, but this sand, if it does what it claims to do is very good news for owners of a block paved driveway or patio who like to keep their paving weed free You can buy weed free paving sand here
