[RickG]

A quiock question. I completed my patio just about a year ago, with hal of it under a deck, teh other half out in the open. I have noticed that the part under the deck constantly is kicking up sand while the open part is not. Same sand, same construction, same everything between the two areas (admittedly same level of "expertise" as well - mine).

I am guessing that the rain is collecting and falling harder or bigger or something under the deck. Whatever the reason, I am considering pulling out the sand via the methods often discussed on the site and replacing it with polymeric.

so the questions are:

1) is my assumption of cause and effect reasonable
2) is my answer effective, or am i going to just get poly kicked up?
3) given the deck covers this area, and during the summer it receives no direct light (high angle of sun) will I have any trouble getting the poly to cure correctly?

As always,

Thanks

[jshilan]

The only thing that makes sense is that the water falling through the deck is limited to the spaces between the decking. I would guess that the sand is forming in lines similar to the deck spacing above and just accumulating in these areas as opposed to the rest of the patio. The area that is not under the deck has sand kicking up but is either dispersing on the paver's or working their way back into the joints. The polymeric sand should resolve this.

Unless you see water accumulating at the house there shouldn't be any real problems. You can always drop a 4' level on it and make sure you are pitching away from the house and there has been no settling or low points.

Besides that my only guess is that you started the patio at the outermost end (away from the house) and did it on a Saturday. Once you factor in the coefficient of a six pack or two you probably would believe that you worked consistently throughout the project. The best way to determine this is pull up a few paver's under the deck and see if the screed pipes are still there .

Good luck with it.

[RickG]

Agree on the water analysis in your first paragraph. Have not seen any pooling or water running toward the house, real concern was will the poly correct it. The point about what is REALLY happening to the sand elsewhere is a good point.

And now that you mention it, I am a pipe short.....

Thanks