# Cleaning a Paver Patio Without Ruining the Sand | Pressure Wash 901 > Pressure washing can blow the joint sand right out of a paver patio. Why that happens, polymeric sand versus regular sand, and the correct approach. ## Cleaning a Paver Patio Without Ruining the Sand Pavers can handle real pressure, but the sand in the joints cannot, which is why technique around the joints matters as much as the pressure itself. Published 2026-08-16 by Pressure Wash 901 · Memphis & the Mid-South ## Why Pressure Washing Blows Out the Joint Sand Sand between pavers looks solid, but it is just compacted sand sitting in a narrow joint, not glued or bonded to anything unless it is polymeric sand. Standard pressure washing, especially with a narrow tip or a surface cleaner run too aggressively over the joints, can blast that sand right out in seconds. It is one of the most common mistakes in paver cleaning, whether it is done as a DIY project or with professional equipment if the technique is not right. It is an easy mistake to make because the pavers themselves seem to invite more pressure. Dirt, algae, and dark staining on a paver face often need a firm pass to lift, and someone cleaning their own patio for the first time will naturally turn the pressure up to get results faster, without realizing the joints right next to that same pass are far more vulnerable than the paver surface is. ## What Happens Once the Sand Is Gone Joint sand is not just cosmetic. It locks the pavers together, keeps them from shifting or rocking underfoot, and blocks the gaps that weeds and ants use to get established. Once it washes out, weeds start growing in the empty joints within a season, ants often move in and build nests that further hollow out the base, and the pavers themselves can start to shift, rock, or settle unevenly since they have lost the interlock that kept them stable. None of this shows up immediately. A patio can look fine the day it is washed and only start showing the effects weeks or months later, once rain has washed loose material further out of the joints and weed seeds that landed in the gaps have had time to sprout. By the time the problem is obvious, the fix usually involves more than just cleaning again, it means digging out whatever is growing in the joints before new sand can go in. ## Regular Sand vs Polymeric Sand Regular sand is just sand. It compacts into the joint but has no binder, so it is more vulnerable to washing out, wind, and ants digging through it. Polymeric sand has a binding agent mixed in that activates with water and hardens once it cures, so it holds up to weather and light traffic much better and resists weed growth more effectively. It still is not indestructible, and aggressive pressure directed straight into the joints can still damage it, especially if it is already aged or was not installed correctly. Knowing which type is already in the joints matters before cleaning starts. Polymeric sand can generally tolerate a closer, firmer pass near the joint line than regular sand can, so a patio with older regular sand needs more conservative technique around the joints to avoid stripping it out entirely. ## The Correct Approach to Washing a Paver Patio The pavers themselves can generally handle real pressure since they are a hard, dense material, so we use pressure with a surface cleaner attachment to clean the flat faces of the pavers efficiently and evenly. The difference is in the technique around the joints, keeping the nozzle angle and distance controlled so the force is doing its job on the paver surface rather than blasting directly down into the sand lines, and easing off near joints and edges. Even with careful technique, some joint sand loss is normal on an older patio, particularly if the sand is old, dried out, or was regular rather than polymeric sand to begin with. That is a normal part of maintaining a paver patio over the years, not a sign that anything went wrong, and it is the reason resanding periodically is part of caring for pavers rather than a one-time installation step. ## When Resanding Makes Sense If a patio's joints are visibly low, if weeds or ants have already moved in, or if pavers are starting to rock or shift, resanding after cleaning is worth doing. It restores the interlock between pavers, closes the gaps that weeds and ants use, and gives the patio a finished look again. Resanding is generally done right after a proper cleaning, once the surface is dry, so the new sand goes into clean joints rather than getting swept over dirt and debris. A patio that gets cleaned and resanded together tends to look and function like new again, since both problems, the surface staining and the loosened joints, get addressed at the same time rather than leaving one to undo the benefit of fixing the other. ### Free quote in 24 hours Send a few photos and your address. Written price, no obligation, valid 30 days. ### Related services - Patio & pool deck cleaning ## Questions **Q: Why does pressure washing pull the sand out of my paver joints?** Joint sand is not bonded to anything unless it is polymeric sand, so it is vulnerable to being blasted out by pressure aimed directly into the joints. It is one of the most common mistakes in paver cleaning, which is why nozzle control around the joints matters as much as the pressure itself. **Q: What is the difference between regular sand and polymeric sand in paver joints?** Regular sand has no binder and compacts into the joint on its own, which makes it more vulnerable to washing out, wind, and ants. Polymeric sand has a binding agent that hardens once it is watered in, so it holds up better to weather and resists weeds more effectively, though it can still be damaged by aggressive pressure. **Q: Do I need to resand my patio after it is cleaned?** If the joints are visibly low, weeds or ants have moved in, or the pavers are starting to shift or rock, resanding after cleaning is worth doing. It restores the sand that locks the pavers together and closes the gaps that let weeds and ants get established. ## Send a photo. Get a price. Flatwork at 12 cents per square foot, house washing around 18 cents, $149 minimum per visit. Written quote within 24 hours. --- Pressure Wash 901 · (901) 264-0572 · pressurewash901@gmail.com Collierville, TN 38017 · Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm Request a quote: https://pressurewash-901.com/quote.html Source page: https://pressurewash-901.com/paver-patio-cleaning-resanding.html