Little piles of sand on top of your pavers usually mean one thing: ants. In Tampa Bay, fire ants and several other species love the warm, loose sand under patios, driveways, and pool decks. Left alone, they can hollow out the joints and the bedding sand and cause pavers to shift or sink.
Why Ants Love Paver Patios
- Loose, dry sand is easy to dig through and drains well, so nests stay dry.
- Pavers hold heat, which ants use to warm their eggs and larvae.
- Open joints give them an easy way in, especially where sand has washed low.
- Lawn edges and planters are natural highways from nests in the yard.
How Ants Damage Pavers
Ants carry sand up from below and dump it on the surface. Each pile is sand that used to hold your pavers in place. Over time that leads to empty joints, weeds, rocking pavers, and low spots. Fire ants also make the area unpleasant to use, which is a real concern around pool decks and play areas.
How to Get Rid of Ants in Pavers
- Treat the colony, not just the mound. Ant baits labeled for outdoor use and hardscapes are carried back to the queen. Follow the label and keep kids and pets away during treatment. For large or recurring infestations, a licensed pest control company is the best call.
- Wait until activity stops before fixing the joints; new sand on an active nest just gets dug out again.
- Sweep away the excavated sand and check for low or rocking pavers.
- Repair any settled areas. If ants have hollowed out the bedding sand, the pavers may need to be lifted and reset. See paver repairs and leveling.
How to Keep Ants Out for Good
Ants avoid joints that are full and firm. The same steps that stop weeds keep ants out:
- Refill joints with clean ASTM C144 joint sand, washed deep into the joints.
- Seal with a joint-stabilizing sealer that binds the top of the sand, or use polymeric sand on fully re-sanded areas. Compare them in polymeric sand vs. joint-stabilizing sealer.
- Keep mulch and soil from spilling onto the pavers along beds.
- Treat the yard around the patio so new colonies don't move back in.
Our brick paver sealing includes wet-sanding every joint and a joint-stabilizing seal, which is why most of our customers stop seeing sand piles after we finish. Read more about keeping weeds out of paver joints, too.
When to Call for Help
If you see sinking, rocking pavers, or sand pouring out along an edge restraint, the problem is below the surface. We'll measure, check the base, and coordinate repairs with top-rated local installers before cleaning and sealing. Free written estimates across Riverview, Lithia, Wesley Chapel, and the rest of Tampa Bay.
Steve and his brother came by and did my patio pavers all in a day. The job looks phenomenal and they revived life into my pavers. Very happy with how professional and detailed they were with the job. All spots that had any plant growth were thoroughly dug out, chemically handled to kill the growth and then re sanded. Very pleased with their work and I will definitely be calling Steve again when it’s time to reseal.
Ants in Pavers: Why They Nest and How to Stop Them FAQs
Why are there sand piles on my pavers?
Small piles of fine sand on top of pavers are almost always ants carrying sand up from their nest below the joints.
Do ants damage pavers?
Yes. By removing joint and bedding sand, ants can cause empty joints, weeds, and pavers that rock or sink over time.
Will sealing pavers stop ants?
A joint-stabilizing sealer over full joints makes it much harder for ants to dig in. Treat any active colony first, then re-sand and seal.
What is the safest way to kill ants in pavers?
Ant baits labeled for outdoor use are carried back to the colony and usually work better than spraying mounds. Follow the label, and call a licensed pest company for big infestations.
Should I re-sand pavers while ants are still active?
No. Wait until the colony is treated and activity stops, or the ants will dig the new sand back out.
Are fire ants common under pavers in Tampa Bay?
Yes. Warm, sandy soil and loose joint sand make paver patios and pool decks a favorite nesting spot.