Q1. How does your jointing material differ from Polymeric Sand?
The primary difference between our jointing material landscape design products and Polymeric Sand is that our Organic-Lock™ is a biologically-based binder as opposed to the chemically-based polymeric binder. The organic material that makes up the Organic-Lock™ will establish self-healing biological bonds upon activation of the Organic-Lock, which will allow all segmental systems to remain flexible. The chemical polymer that is used to make up the polymeric binder will establish permanent bonds that will not self-heal when cracked. The permanent polymeric binder will not allow a paver or flagstone application to remain segmental and will actually create a monolithic paving system which is prone to cracking. In addition to self-healing, the biological bonds established by the Organic-Lock™ are renewable in that the bonds can be broken apart and will effectively re-establish when water is applied to the broken bonds. This is very beneficial when a section of a paver or flagstone application must be replaced or re-laid; our jointing material can be easily removed from a joint in a saturated state and replaced in the joint to achieve stability once again upon saturation. Aside from the difficulty that may arise when attempting to remove polymeric sand from the joints, the polymeric sand will not achieve stability a second time and will have to be replaced with new material.
Q2. Are the Envirobond products supposed to harden like concrete?
No, stabilized joint sand does not have to be hard to be working; it just has to stay in place. The Organic-Lock™ binder found in the Envirobond products will swell into a gel with the addition of water. It is in this gel form that the Envirobond landscape design products actually demonstrate the strongest ability to resist erosion. The gel swells around the sand particles and also produces a protective film on the surface of the joint to effectively shed away the rainfall runoff and allow the joints to remain intact.
Q3. Should I store your jointing product indoors or can I leave it outdoors?
Our landscape design products should not be stored outdoors where it will be subjected to rain or other sources of water. When moisture gets inside a bag of our material it will become confined and cause the Organic-Lock™ to break down. If properly stored in a dry place, our product will remain usable for many years.
Q4. Why are there loosened particles from the EnviroSTONE on the surface of my flagstones?
It must first be recognized that most flagstones have uneven surfaces and the EnviroSTONE depth will only remain as deep as the lowest part of the flagstone surface. As well, the impact caused by regular foot traffic and heavy rainfall may loosen the uppermost aggregate particles from the EnviroSTONE. Do not be alarmed if this happens as only a small amount becomes detached from the joint, and the majority will remain stabilized in place. If regular sweeping of your flagstone surface becomes necessary, it may be time to replace the old EnviroSTONE with new EnviroSTONE.
Q5. Why is there a weed growing in the EnviroSAND/EnviroSTONE?
Situations may arise from time to time where there is an accumulation of organic matter and/or soil debris on top of the EnviroSAND or EnviroSTONE. Insects and wind can transport seeds over your application and deposit them on this layer of foreign debris, where they can germinate. The Envirobond landscape design products contain an elevated pH, which makes it extremely difficult for the seeds of most plant species to germinate. Any existing weeds or root material in the joints and bedding material will most likely not be affected by the elevated pH. It is important to recognize that most weeds grow in a top-down manner. Weeds do not come up from underneath pavers or flagstone.
Q6. Why is there moss growing on the EnviroSAND/EnviroSTONE?
Moss growth is an indication of excessive moisture. Moss prefers to grow in moist environments which are typically found in areas that exhibit water accumulation and insufficient drainage. Envirobond landscape design products do not contain any additives that will prevent moss growth. Given that moss will grow on almost any type of surface, the best way to prevent moss growth is to remove the growth conditions by improving drainage and sun exposure to keep the material from remaining damp.
Q7. Why are ants burrowing in the EnviroSAND/EnviroSTONE?
Rare occasions can arise where ants will find a void in the joint, which will facilitate the burrowing process. The binder component in the Envirobond products makes it very difficult for ants to detach sand particles and create burrows. Any activity can further be minimized by ensuring that the joints in your application are properly filled with EnviroSAND/EnviroSTONE, leaving no void spaces.
Q8. How long will your product last before I have to follow up with maintenance procedures?
The lifetime of our landscape design products is influenced by the amount of traffic that it is subjected to on a regular basis and the climatic conditions that it experiences. Those two variables can be very diverse, so it is often difficult to gauge the question at hand. Generally speaking, you will find that the products will be maintenance free for about 2 to 3 years. Simple maintenance procedures involve adding new product to the joints and saturating the new material with a mist; the new material will bond to the old material to become one stabilized mass in the joints.
Q9. How do I get excess material off the surface of my pavers after it has dried?
To remove stabilized EnviroSAND or EnviroSTONE from the surface of your pavers, simply wet the material with a sufficient amount of water and scrape it off using a small putty knife. After the bulk of the material is removed from the paver, rinse the area with water to remove any remaining material.
Q10. What type of traffic can your product withstand after installation?
Our landscape design products can withstand stresses applied by frequent small vehicle, foot, and bicycle traffic. Keep in mind that the lifetime that you receive from our product is in part dependant on the amount of traffic or stress that it receives on a regular basis.
Q11. Can I use a sealer on your jointing product?
Sealers can be used on our jointing products, but be aware that a sealer will remove some of our product’s natural features, including permeability, reusability, and self-healing nature.
Q12. Can I use a dye on your product?
No, we do not recommend using a dye to colour any of our products. The colour that is provided by our products is the natural colour of the aggregate, which will always remain intact.
Q13. Can I use your product in an area where there is heavy runoff when it rains?
Yes, our product can be installed in an area where there is heavy runoff flow when it rains so long as an effective watershed management plan is in place. Avoid having downspouts or other sources of concentrated water (i.e. drip edges) output directly onto the joint material.
Q14. Can I power-wash areas where your product is installed?
A power-washer can be used to clean off the surface of pavers where an Envirobond product has been installed as long as the water jet is not applied directly on the joints. Please be sure to apply the water jet using a constant back-and-forth motion at a very low angle.
Q15. Can I install your jointing product around my pool?
Yes, our product(s) can be installed around a pool, however be aware that constant wetting of our products can lead to premature breakdown and loosening of sand particles. For this reason we do not recommend the use of our product in large jointed systems around pools. Ensure that there is a minimum three-foot concrete skirt around the perimeter of the pool so that splashing and constant wetting will not heavily disturb the jointing material that is closest to the pool. Additionally, many pool areas are built on a concrete base which does not allow water to properly drain. Envirobond products should not be installed on a concrete base.
Q16. Can I install your product on my patio/driveway if I have a concrete base?
Our landscape design products should not be installed in any application where there is a concrete or similar impervious base. Our products remain permeable following stabilization and an impervious base completely eliminates this beneficial feature. As well, if there is no pathway for water to escape at the base of the jointing material, then jointing material will hold water for lengthened time periods, which may result in destabilization of our product and an overall shorter lifetime.