I hope you can solve a problem I have. I installed 16x16x2 cement pavers over well compacted stone dust at my home in Connecticut. A lot more work than it looks I may add. The pavers I purchased have a 1/2" wide by 1/2" deep grove making each block look like it is 4 individual pieces similar to these....
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I would like to use something like dry pack cement or mortar between all the joints so they actually end up looking like individual blocks. I was told that using cement or mortar between the 16x16 blocks is not a good choice on a stone dust base. I was told the joints will crack. How bad will they crack? Will it become a disaster?
The other choice is some type of polymetric sand I would assume. The problem with that filler material is the brand I looked at said it is not recommended for filling the shallow groves. Do any of these work in the shallow groves?
I would have picked another block if I knew all this before . Now I am in a real jam because I have all 200 blocks installed.
H E L P !!!!
Thanks a bunch,
Ken Silvestri
kenneth.silvestri@snet.net
I hope you have a suggestion that will solve my problem.
I'm not sure there is anything you can use that will last. The problem is that you're using a different material to fill the grooves than what the pavers are made of. This is a recipie for cracking and unsightly joint lines. My advise would be to leave it alone, as nothing you use will ever look right or last very long. Normal expansion and cooling of the pavers will ensure that. You could experiment with staining the grooves, but I'm not sure that would look right.
