How often should I re-sand the joints on my interlock driveway and what kind of sand do I use?

Joint sand is the unsung hero of your interlock driveway. Without it, pavers shift, weeds invade, and ants build colonies underneath. In Ottawa's climate, re-sanding is a regular maintenance task, not a one-time job.

How Often to Re-Sand in Ottawa

Plan on inspecting joints every spring and topping up as needed. Most Ottawa interlock driveways need significant re-sanding every 2 to 3 years. However, heavy plough traffic, salt use, and our freeze-thaw cycles (40+ per winter) can accelerate sand loss. Homeowners in Barrhaven and Stittsville with long driveways that get ploughed frequently often need annual touch-ups.

Polymeric Sand vs. Regular Sand

There are two main options:

• Polymeric sand ($25 to $45 per 20 kg bag) — The recommended choice. Contains a polymer binder that hardens when wet, creating a firm joint that resists weeds, ants, and washout. One bag covers 10 to 15 square metres depending on joint width. Brands like Techniseal and Alliance are widely available in Ottawa.
• Regular jointing sand ($5 to $10 per bag) — Much cheaper but washes out easily, offers no weed or insect protection, and needs replacing far more often. Only use this as a temporary measure.

For Ottawa driveways, polymeric sand is worth the extra cost. Our heavy rain, snowmelt, and freeze-thaw conditions destroy regular sand within one season.

How to Re-Sand Your Interlock Driveway

Choose a dry day with no rain forecast for 24 hours. Temperature should be above 15°C for polymeric sand to activate properly.

Clean the joints — Use a pressure washer (2,000 to 2,500 PSI max) or a stiff broom to remove old, loose sand, debris, and weed roots. Joints should be at least 25mm deep for new sand to bond.

Make sure pavers are completely dry — Polymeric sand bonds to wet surfaces prematurely, causing a hazy film on your pavers that's nearly impossible to remove. This is the number one DIY mistake.

Pour and sweep — Dump sand onto the driveway and sweep it into joints using a push broom. Work in small sections. Sweep diagonally across the joint pattern.

Compact — Use a plate compactor (rent for $50 to $80 per day) to vibrate sand deep into the joints. This step is critical and often skipped by DIYers.

Sweep off excess — Remove ALL sand from paver surfaces before wetting. Any polymeric sand left on top will harden into a permanent haze.

Mist with water — Use a gentle shower setting on your hose. Soak the joints without flooding them. Water activates the polymer binder.

Stay off it — Avoid foot traffic for 24 hours and vehicle traffic for 48 hours.

Common Mistakes

• Applying polymeric sand to damp pavers (causes white haze)
• Skipping the plate compactor (sand settles and leaves gaps)
• Not cleaning out old sand first (new sand sits too high and won't bond)
• Applying before rain (washes out before curing)

Cost for a Typical Ottawa Driveway

A standard two-car interlock driveway (40 to 50 square metres) needs 3 to 5 bags of polymeric sand: $75 to $225 in materials, plus $50 to $80 for compactor rental. Total DIY cost: $125 to $305.

If your pavers have shifted significantly or the base has settled unevenly, re-sanding alone won't solve the problem. Ottawa Driveways can connect you with interlock professionals in your area who handle joint restoration and paver relevelling.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects Ottawa homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Homeupgraders
• RenoMotion Inc.
• Somar Contracting Inc.
• Prism Services
• Transitions Renovations

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