I think you might want to use Envirostone, not polymeric sand. Polymeric sand is for tight joints, and envirostone is used for flagstone paths. Kristine (who has been researching this for her own flagstone path!) Here is a link that might be useful: Envirostone

We had the screenings delivered by a dump truck. We used a construction quality wheelbarrow (tires never go flat) to haul and dump the screenings onto the landscape fabric. When you sprinkle the screenings with water, they compact down. Layer the screenings no more than an inch deep per layer sprinkle the screenings with water use the hand tamper tool (a heavy square, flat weight on the bottom) and just go along and tamp the screenings Repeat with the next layer. When the screenings are tamped down and still damp from the water, you can walk on them to lay your brick. Tools: construction wheelbarrow hand tamper (or rent a mechanized one) stakes and a Sharpie pen to mark the levels (screenings, brick) string string level work gloves rubber mallet chisel and mason's hammer (you'll have to cut to fit so ask if you need a wet saw for brick -- flagstone is casual and no straight lines were needed) You'll need the tools for mortar. Ask your brick masons how to do that. Here's the formula to calculate the amount of screenings: for a 14x20 patio with a 4-inch deep bed of screenings, the formula would be 14 x 20 x 0.33 = 92.4 cubic feet divided by 27 = 3.42 yards. You may have to purchase in full yard increments. Diana -- no serious problem with weeds at all. My husband uses a leaf blower to keep the dirt/pollen/mulch from settling on the patios and walkways. I think without dirt settling in the joints, it's hard for weeds to take hold. If the polymeric cracks years later, you can just re-apply a thin layer as done during the install. Easy to patch. We haven't had to do that, but a guest drove a car over one end of our walkway, so I may have to patch that in a few months.

Evenin' Eleena, Yes, on this kind of project, ONE skim-coat of Joint-compound rarely does it. There may be "humps" in the wall, or other ridges not noticed the first time 'round. * Are they gonna be doing the VERY dusty sanding after 2nd skim-coat's dry?? * Will they be removing the sanding dust too?? * If so, they'll have to come back a 3rd time (2nd coat has to dry first b4 final sanding). * If you're gonna be doing this vacuuming phase, buy a "fine-dusts" bag for your Shop-vac!!! * Obviously, when wall is clean, prime & paint away!! * Lay a flashlight against the wall, & shine the beam's "stripe of light" various directions to spot any missed dings, etc. Faron

Carefully loosening the sand in the joints and shop vac'ing out. Time consuming but should be damage free.