If you're doing a DIY travertine installation project with natural stone pavers, you may have a few questions that you need answered before you start out. After researching the best methods of installation, regardless of whether you're paving a driveway, patio or pool deck, you'll need to know how to lay out the pavers. The pattern is up to you, but once you decide on your preferred design, you might be wondering how much space you're supposed to leave in between the pavers. After all, travertine tiles need grout lines – do pavers, too?
The short answer is no, you don't need to leave any space in between the pavers. You should fit them together snugly to create the pattern of your choice. However, you shouldn't end the project there. To prevent weeds from sprouting in between your pavers and keep them from shifting, you should use polymeric sand to fill in the cracks between the pavers, also known as the joints. Here's how to accomplish that task.
What is polymeric sand and what does it do?
Polymeric sand is usually made up of quartz and crystalline silica, according to Ground Trades Xchange. It also has a polymer ingredient that is water activated to bind the sand particles together. The sand in between the pavers works to not only prevent unsightly weeds, but deter ants from getting under and around the pavers and prevent water from seeping underneath. This ensures that your travertine driveway, walkway or patio looks perfect for a longer amount of time.
How is it applied?
After you lay your travertine pavers in the pattern you decided on, there will be small cracks in between the pavers (you should try to make them as small as possible by fitting each paver snugly to the next). All you have to do is sweep the polymeric sand into the joints using a stiff brush. Make sure that your pavers aren't wet and it's not supposed to rain while you're doing this, because the sand will stick to any surface it touches when it's wet. Fill the joints all the way to the top with the sand, then make sure that there isn't any sand left on top of the pavers. Once the sand is filling the joints, use a hose to wet the sand – a mist is all you need, as you don't want to disturb the sand in the joints. This will make it harden and complete your installation project.
