[syzer]

Hey guys, we have been asked to bid on a job which is usually great! We do however lack the the knowledge on this type of walk way. We have done small paver jobas before, but we have never laid any blue stones for stepping stones.

As you can see in this plan, we need to put quite a few down, and I was wondering what the best way to go about this is. The steps are to be planted in between with mazus.

I was considering putting a base down placing the stepping stones, then adding soil on top to plant the mazus, but that seems like a lot of waste for steps. I however never want to get a call back on a job.

Any information you guys can give is very welcome, maybe some pointers on the job at all if you wish =).

Here is a link to a high res of the design:

http://www.precision-aquatics.com/ga..._residence.jpg

[syzer]

Anyone?

[GLAN]

Not sure what your soil is like...

I have success just tamping the existing soil to firm it up for placement of walks.........Holds up pretty well

[TrickyDick]

I don't know if it is the designer or homeowner asking you to bid but my opinion is that the designer should spec the bluestone how they want it. There is a huge price difference between laying on a base and just setting in loam and obviously there is a big difference in the long term stability of the stones. If there is no one to tell you how they want it I would give a price for laying on a four inch base scraping out between the stones a couple of inches and filling with loam and maybe give a second price for setting directly in loam with a description of the advantages of each method. If you're bidding against someone else it's pretty hard to get an apples to apples bid without specs on the bluestone.

[syzer]

Thanks guys!

Tricky, this is one of our problems. Its not spec'ed on the design, and the darn architect refuses to return my calls so I can see how they want it done. The customer is growing impatient, looks like I will have to price both.

So, I can just do a standard paver base, and dig a bit out for the mazus between the stones? I assume I would want to stay at least 6" away from the parameter of the stone?

Thanks!

[Matt Kulp]

Originally posted by syzer


So, I can just do a standard paver base, and dig a bit out for the mazus between the stones? I assume I would want to stay at least 6" away from the parameter of the stone?

Bluestone are not pavers and you will not have to worry as much about staying 6" away from the stone. If you do that you are not going to get much of a planting bed for the Mazus. We take ours back to about an inch from the Bluestone and just pack the soil well. In the past in this situation we will mix portland with our setting bed and that usually holds the material well from migrating after the soil joints have been installed.

[syzer]

So, we should just do a base like we do for pavers, put the blue stones down, dig a few inch trench around them a inch or so away from stone and put a soil/portland mix in its place? There wont be any problem with stone migration with the soft soil so close?

The other option is what, seeing what type of soil he has and possibly compacting that for the bluestone base?

[Matt Kulp]

You won't be actually taking much or any of the base out, it will mostly be the setting bed. I would use a 1.5-2" stone, and would use 1.5" of bedding that way you will have atleast 3-3.5" of topsoil for your planting. How deep do you need the topsoil for the planting?