Install Edge Restraints and Polymeric Sand

A. Finished Project Specification

Deliverable: one completed paver walkway or patio field with edge restraint fastened along the full perimeter into the compacted aggregate base, initial compaction performed with a protected plate compactor, joints filled with the specified joint or polymeric sand, polymeric sand activated per manufacturer instructions where used, and a documented field-lock inspection covering joint fill, edge security, haze, washout, loose units, and overall lock.

B. Field-Lock Record Schedule

Record	Required Content	Source
Restraint specification	Product, fastener type, spacing, corner-reinforcement requirement	Manufacturer product data
Base exposure check	Confirmation that compacted base is exposed at the full perimeter before fastening	Field inspection
Fastening record	Actual fastener spacing achieved along each restraint run, corner reinforcement installed	Field measurement
Pre-compaction correction	Broken, low, or high units replaced or reset before compaction begins	Field inspection
Compaction record	Compactor model, protective mat used, pass direction, pass count	Field record during compaction
Joint-sand record	Product, sweeping method, number of sweep-and-compact cycles	Field record during jointing
Weather and activation record	Temperature, moisture condition, forecast at time of activation, watering method and quantity used	Field record and manufacturer instructions
Cure protection record	Barricade or protection method and duration through cure	Field record
Field-lock inspection	Joint fill, edge security, haze, washout, loose units, overall lock	Final field inspection

C. Governing Document Checklist

• Edge-restraint product data: confirms restraint type, fastener spacing, and corner-reinforcement requirement.
• Fastener specification: confirms fastener length, diameter, and material compatible with the compacted base.
• Joint or polymeric-sand manufacturer instructions: confirm sweeping condition, activation method, quantity, and weather window.
• Weather forecast: confirms the activation day and post-activation dry period meet the manufacturer's stated window.
• Chapter 7, 8, and 9 field-acceptance records: confirm the paver field and cut units are accepted before restraint and jointing begin.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Restraint installation	Edge restraint is fastened into the compacted base along the full field perimeter, tight to the paver field, with fastener spacing meeting the manufacturer's maximum and corner reinforcement installed where specified
Pre-compaction condition	No broken, chipped, rocking, high, or low units remain in the field at the start of compaction
Compaction	The field is compacted with the specified plate compactor and protective mat, following the manufacturer's required pass direction and count, without displacing restraint, cut units, or drainage components
Joint fill	Every joint across the field is filled to the paver's full depth with the specified joint or polymeric sand, with no visible gaps after sweeping and recompaction
Surface cleanliness	No residual sand remains on paver faces, edges, or adjacent surfaces before activation
Activation	Polymeric sand is activated using the manufacturer's exact watering pattern and quantity, within the stated temperature and weather window, with no runoff, ponding, or washout observed
Cure protection	The field is protected from rain, irrigation, traffic, and disturbance through the manufacturer's stated cure period
Field-lock inspection	Joint fill, edge security, haze, washout, loose units, and overall field lock are inspected and documented, with no unresolved deficiency remaining

E. Preparation — Review and Confirm Field Acceptance

1. Review edge-restraint type, base extension, fasteners, compactor, protective mat, joint-sand product, weather, activation, and cure. Confirm every product and condition against the manufacturer instructions and record them on the Field-Lock Definition Record above.
2. Confirm all field and cut pavers are accepted. Review the Chapter 7, 8, and 9 acceptance records and reinspect the field visually for any unit that has shifted, cracked, or rocked since those chapters were completed.

F. Edge Restraint Installation

1. Expose the compacted base at the paver perimeter. Remove loose bedding sand, soil, or debris from the base extension along the full perimeter so the restraint will fasten directly into the compacted aggregate.
2. Position edge restraint tight to the paver field. Set the restraint against the outer edge of the field with no gap that would allow the outer course to shift before fastening.
3. Cut or bend restraint for curves according to the product. Use the restraint manufacturer's specified method for curved sections, maintaining continuous contact with the paver edge through the curve.
4. Fasten into the compacted base using the specified spikes or anchors. Drive each fastener fully seated and perpendicular to the base surface.
5. Maintain fastener spacing and corner reinforcement. Measure spacing along each run against the manufacturer's maximum and install additional fasteners at corners as specified.
6. Do not anchor only into loose bedding sand. Reinstall any fastener found to be seated in sand rather than the compacted base.
7. Inspect full perimeter restraint before compaction. Walk the entire perimeter, checking tightness to the field, fastener seating, spacing, and corner reinforcement before proceeding.

G. Initial Compaction

1. Clean the paver surface and joints. Remove construction debris, cutting slurry residue, and loose material from the field before compaction.
2. Perform initial compaction with the specified plate compactor and protective mat. Install the protective mat on the compactor base plate before the first pass.
3. Follow the required pass direction and count. Compact in the manufacturer-specified pattern, overlapping passes and covering the full field including areas near restraint and cut units.
4. Replace broken pavers and correct low or high units. Identify any unit that cracked, chipped, or settled unevenly during compaction and replace or reset it before continuing.

H. Joint Sand Installation

1. Spread approved joint or polymeric sand on a dry surface. Confirm the paver surface and joints are dry using the moisture meter or manufacturer gauge before spreading sand.
2. Sweep diagonally into clean, dry joints. Use the stiff broom to work sand into every joint across the field, sweeping at a diagonal angle to the joint lines.
3. Compact again to settle sand. Run the plate compactor with the protective mat over the field to vibrate sand fully into the joints.
4. Refill joints and repeat as specified. Add additional sand to any joint that has settled below the paver's finished surface and repeat sweeping and compaction until joints are fully filled.
5. Remove all sand from paver faces, edges, and adjacent surfaces. Use the leaf blower or soft push broom to clear every trace of surface sand before checking weather conditions for activation.

I. Polymeric Sand Activation

1. Check weather and moisture conditions before activation. Confirm the current temperature, joint dryness, and forecast meet the manufacturer's stated activation window before beginning.
2. Activate polymeric sand using the exact watering pattern and quantity. Apply water using the specified nozzle setting, pattern, and volume per unit area exactly as the manufacturer instructs.
3. Prevent runoff, ponding, washout, and residue. Watch for water pooling on the surface or running off the field during application and adjust the watering rate immediately if either occurs.
4. Protect from rain, irrigation, traffic, and disturbance through cure. Barricade the field and confirm irrigation systems will not run during the manufacturer's stated cure period.

J. Final Field-Lock Inspection

1. Inspect joint fill, edge security, haze, washout, loose units, and field lock. Walk the full field after the cure period, checking every joint for full depth fill, every restraint run for tightness and fastening, and every paver for rocking or shifting.
2. Document product, weather, passes, watering, and cure. Complete the Field-Lock Record Schedule with the actual products, conditions, and counts used, and attach photographs of the restrained and jointed field.