[TriCountyLawn]

The company I worked for prior to starting my own company I worked as a foreman on a landscape crew. And I have to admit this company provided really high end work but NONE of it has come close to the pics of the work done by members of this site.

The Project-

Were doing a flagstone walkway from a driveway to the front steps of a home. (maybe 300sq ft). All the outer edges of this walk will be a radius so in other words this walk starts wide and curves and gets smaller. Were going to use large Penn. Bluestone Flagstone.

The Plan-

Im planning on excavating out the current soil (black dirt) laying fabric, then laying 6-7 inches of compacted #73 gravel for base. Prevously (at the other company) we would then screet out 2-3 inches of sand then set the flagstone and rake in sand or real fine ag lime.

The location of this project is in a low river land area. The customers and myself are somewhat worried about the freeze and thaw. So with that in mind im looking at setting these in mortor instead of a bed of sand.

Also I would love to grout this walk BUT with out laying this on a soild concrete slab I foresee it cracking with the freeze/thaw. So im open to suggestions as to what to sweep into the joints.


Far as the out side radius goes im thinking about laying them long them cutting them to the radius of the walk. The other joints im thinking of keeping a natural look and try to keep thumb joints.

The customer is framiler with several other projects we have compleated and is letting me make the decisions on the flagstone. So im just looking at my options and trying to furthur my knowlage in the hardscaping area. Im sure there are 1000 details that I have forgot to add and will check this thead often.

Thanks alot!

Nick Stone
Tri-County Lawn & Landscape

[Fine Edge]

I'm not sure about the exact prep for Indiana but I would think that a bed of mortar would be worse than a bed of sand since the mortar would crack during any severe freeze /thaw. But I'm not sure how a sand base would heave, buckle, twist, etc.. during your Winter.
Of course the ultimate would be a good compacted base, as you spoke of, and a solid rebar reinforced concrete ( depth to be determined by those more familiar with your climate, I would pour 5" - 6" for mine )Then a mortar base under the flagstone would allow you to grout the joints.
I'm trying to envision your mortar base on top of the #73 and it just doesn't seem like it would hold up for any amount of time.
But then again, I'm from the South and don't have to worry about it!!!!!
Hopefully some other replies will correct any erroneous information I may have given you but that's my thoughts anyways.

[Stonehenge]

Fine Edge is on the money - mortar over a dry stone bed would be the least likely to give you the long term results you'd want. Even a poured slab is going to crack in places (which is why you see relief cuts in concrete walks, drives and basements).

So I'd either pour a slab and mortar the stone in, or dry lay the stones and use poly sand between the joints. The latter is going to give you a great project for far less labor than the former method is, but each has their pros and cons.

[TriCountyLawn]

Thanks for the response guys. To pour a slab isnt really going to be an option for this project so as ive said im going to go with a very good #73 base.

So my best option would be to set the stone's in sand? Then sweep in poly sand? I have never worked with the poly stuff but have read alot about it while searching this site.

[HardDaysKnight]

Can you use grass seams?

[earthscape on]

i have found that using a non compressable material for screeding produces less rocking of the stones( 1/4 inch stone chips) versus sand

[Stonehenge]

We prep like we would a paver patio, but with a 1" bedding sand course (we don't use a bedding sand course for pavers), then place each stone, dishing the sand in the middle of each stone to help them seat well.

[letsgetstoned]

I used standard concrete in a flagstone patio 5 years ago here in Michigan. The patio is in a low lying area that is always wet...actually a shade garden at the bottom of a slope where all runoff ends up. I used a good base...same as the driveway. There have been no issues with the freeze thaw winters we have here, and the patio is as solid as the day I built it.

[TriCountyLawn]

Letsgetstoned- What kinda base did ya lay under the walk you speak of?

So let me make sure I understand Poly sand. Once ya sweep it in you wet it down and it sets up hard ? I would assume my local block & brick dealer would sell poly sand? What a good price per bag? 50lb bags ?


Thanks.

[letsgetstoned]

Crushed limestone base by the driveway contractor, so I don't know the exact designation, but I think it is 21A or one of those types (44?). There was about a yard leftover after the paver drive went in, so I had them put it where the patio is. I put it to about 4 inches depth. The concrete I used was simple readyMix you buy at the store....maybe Quickcrete is the same stuff. I was told not to use mortar because it will crack in the freeze/thaw cycle.

I just finished putting down polymeric on the driveway today. I paid about $64 for four bags at Unilock over the counter sales. If you use it be sure to read the directions on the bag. Barely mist the surface the first time you spray, wait 5 minutes, repeat the spray ever so slightly more the second time, wait another 5-10 minutes, now give it a little more, but don't create any flooding or puddling. The reason is the acrylic binder will become leached out of the sand and flow away with any drainage. However, it is easy to repair any spots later...it won't show at all. Also, I did 2000 ft2 over a 2 day period...just look to see where you left off if you don't do it all in one day. You could mark with chalk to keep track of what still needs to be done. Also, they tell you to remove the excess sand before misting, but you don't really have to get every single speck. Simply scrape the pavers with your shoe/boot later to rough up and remove any sand you missed earlier. you will be able to see it as a grainy material on top of the pavers. Good luck and let me know what you end up doing.

[Nyx]

Anybody know who sells this stuff in the Dallas, Texas area?
Thanks!

[TriCountyLawn]

Probally your local block supplier.


Well this project is schedualed to start monday. Were going to be re-landscaping this whole house. there will be 2 flagstone walks. I will take plenty of pics as we go along. I will forewarn....The customer asked for red mulch ......the horror! ..haha

I dont care, pepole pay good money for landscaping they should get red mulch if they want it.

[Nyx]

Let me know how the poly sand works for you. I'm a few weeks away from my job. Good luck and send photos.

[TriCountyLawn]

Update, Progress with this project has been somewhat slow since we have alot of other work going on so heres a few pics.


The area we dug out,



Flitler fabric and some #73 Stone in there We ended up with about 7-8" once compacted.



Heres a fast forward, Plants and mulch are in, Now the edging in this pic looks horrible in the pic, I think the grass needing trimmed has somthing to do with it. Strange.......

Anyrate heres a few feet of the walk done. Not a real detailed pic.