QUESTION: We recently had a new home built that includes a large screened-in patio with concrete pavers on the floor.

After almost four months, there are still a lot of areas where sand needs to be added between the pavers or where sand has risen and thus there is loose sand on the surface.

Is this normal for these types of floors? How long should it take for all the sand to settle? Also, should pavers be sealed, and is there anything that can be done to keep the sand in place?

Answer: This is normal. Patios of interlocking pavers need periodic maintenance, especially weeding between the pavers in the spring.

Sand has a tendency to wash out between the cracks.

A few years back, when I had a couple of free days, I decided to remove all the growth and moss between the patio pavers and add more sand, which is done simply by sweeping it around until the cracks are filled.