[tdlandscape]

Hey guys,
I am redoing my own walkway from the street to my front door. Some previous owner had poured concrete (poorly) and water always pooled just in front of the step off the porch.
I work mainly with plants, so this project is a new beast for me.
I have busted up and removed the concrete, and dug the edges in preparation for the river rock. My goal is to have a decorative gravel walkway lined with river rock, with maybe some flagstone stepping stones.
Browsing the hardscape posts, I keep seeing the use of gravel and sand as a base. What would be the problems if I graded my walkway to be slightly higher in the center to the sides, and graded slightly(1/2" per 4') down from the house to the street, the just applying 4" of decorative gravel? If I need a base, what is appropriate? How neccesary is it to rent a tamper, and what sort should I look for? The walkway is about 4' wide x 13' long. I live in Asheville NC, where ground freezes occasionally and rarely for more than 2 days at a time. Any pertinent info that I'm leaving out?
Thanks,
t

[Pelican]

Your soil conditions will best determine what is required. If your soil is good draining gravel, I'd just excavate 4", tamp the excavated area, put down geotextile and then your decorative stone.

If your soil is clay, I'd excavate 9", add 5" of compacted base material (we call it item 4). The base material should be a blend of crushed stone, 3/4" to fines which will compact well. Compact in a maximum of 3" lifts for most plate tampers. Then lay geotextile (filter fabric) over your base and add your decorative stone. you could tamp the stone too to make the walk a little more firm.

The geotextile will prevent your decorative stone from migrating into your base over time. You should be aware that a gravel walkway will be extremely difficult to clear snow from. If your ground freezes at times then I assume you have exposure to snow.

[tdlandscape]

Thanks for the help. I am familiar with landscape fabric, but where would I go to look for geotextile? Would plastic with holes poked in it do?
My soil is on the clay side, so, would my local sand and gravel yard have item 4?
So I should rent a plate tamper?
And yes, it used to snow here. Its been about 10 years since we've had more than a dusting. Global warming has screwed us on that, but at least there are more days a year I can work in the field!

Thanks again,
t