[zullo-design]

Originally Posted by TrickyDick

Don't be too quick to assume that everything you hear at ICPI is gospel. Remember that they are an organization that has an agenda, part of which is standardizing the installation of their products to make it easier for a lot of inexperienced contractors (and homeowners) to install them so they can sell more blocks.

exactly, take everything with a "grain of sand".......... pun intended.

[Stoneage3000]

Originally Posted by GLAN

All of what I have done with with natural stone paths and patios......set right into the soil.....We excavate what needs to be removed. Tamp and then set stones using soil.

Ok.......may seem strange.......for me it works, and it works well.

I also try to have something growing between the stones.

The few brick jobs we have done......of which was some time ago.......Same process.......only excavate what I needed for depth of brick and about an inch of sand. Tamp the soil and then proceed.

This is why I do what I do..............Earth / soil that has been a constant through time......where's it going?......is it settling?........NO...........I considered it to be a base. I have had very little or no settling or shifting over the years.

I have installations that go back 25+ years.....they still look pretty damn close to as it was when installed..........I can't say that for most all paver jobs I have seen.....and were done by others......I've seen far to many pavers go to crap 5 years after install.

You've got to be joking right!!! Did you also build your house w/o a foundation? After all earth/soil doesn't move; doesn't settle; doesn't shift... Now I've heard everything!!!

[sandim]

All makes sense to me. I think what I got out of ICPI being a newbie is the soil and compaction importance. I think the setting bed is relatively minor, but just wanted to ask what everyone was doing.