[jwholden]

I think I've got it. I'm leaning toward laying the fabric under the pipe, adding gravel, pipe, gravel, to keep base material from leaking into the drain.

Something like this

[Paul]

Long time not posting here but, I have a question for you JW...........
Why did you install the stones with a concrete curb? It's gives you no frost heave protection and still allows some lateral movement.
A neater and more controlling way would have been to trench a concrete footing, leaving exposed rebar to drill into the granite then set the stones on a thin mortar bed (to adjust the height) and epoxied the bars into the stones.

[Stonehenge]

JW, that's kinda how I was thinking.

Paul, how far would you go into the stone with the rebar? I can see aligning the holes with the rebar might be difficult. And how often? 1 bar per foot?

[Paul]

I would like to see 2 bars per stone. As for the bars I would use 5/8" or 3/4" bar at least 4" into the stone and the same or deeper into the concrete. I would drill the stone first then use the rebar in the stone to mark the concrete for drilling.

[jwholden]

Paul,

I've been wondering where you've been.

I went with the concrete curb because frankly it's the best I could come up with. I considered the footing idea (though I was thinking along the line of Rebar popping out the back of the footing and tied to a horizontal rebar in the concrete at the back or front of the stone). Drilling the granite and epoxying the rebar never would have crossed my mind, though I'll send you a pm for more info on that before the next job.

I have a 2 pieces of rebar under the granite which is set in 2" of cement. There is a minimum of 3" of 3/4" clear gravel under that. The concrete in the front and back of the granite has rebar running through in the middle of the concrete as well.

Too often I see walls like that pushed over by gravity, the concrete monolith is there to prevent that force from tipping the stone. None of the concrete will be visible when the job is completed.

[Paul]

I just was thinking of all that great looking granite buried under all that concrete .......................


If you look at the photo of the mill stone we installed at the river park we did this winter Do it yourselfers call it quits. you'll under stand a bit more of what can be done.

[jwholden]

Paul,

I posted the picture and my process of installation thinking there may be differing opinions of how the job could be done. It's a great way to exchange ideas!

[jwholden]

I installed the pipe on part of the patio today. I ended up going with 4" schedule 40 after trying, and aborting, greenpipe or carlon(sewer pipe). The schedule 40 kicks but as far as ease of installation and availability. Big orange has a ton of that stuff! Thanks Bill.

I found myself staring at the granite thinking about epoxying it to a footing several times. Sounds more and more appealing.

[Stonehenge]

Got anymore progress shots? I'm interested to see the pavers you selected and how they coordinate with the granite.

BTW, kudos for trying something you hadn't done before. For me that's part of the fun. We've never done anything quite like what you're tackling in this project.

[jwholden]

Jeff,

Here's a shot of where I am these days.

I have learned that installing a 5' long piece of granite is a piece of cake, however a 4' radius with a pitch is a bear.

Overall, I'm happy with the way the project is coming out. My clients are very pleased as well.

[Stonehenge]

Hey, I love how the bluestone is coming out. I can see where 2-3 of the cuts you made in the path probably took you as long as the rest of the cutting you've had to do.

This one should be a portfolio show-stopper when it's done.

[jwholden]

When I first made the swoop in the walk I tried measuring from the curve on the right in the same direction as the cut. It came out better (and the walk didn't get thinner) by keeping the tape paralell to the steps and marking every 6 inches and connecting the dots.

I made the cut with my 4" angle grinder with a blade I got as a FREE gift from Garden State Diamond (love that guy). The blade cut through the stone about 1/2 way and then I dug a little under the waste side and a few good wacks with a malllet and it snapped off.

I can't wait to take some shots with the plantings, I'll be putting a big boxwood in each radius and I'm thinking of some Fairy Roses on either side of the stairs.

[jwholden]

I've completed three walls on the patio and will begin laying the infill this week. I met with my clients tonight and got a greenlight on the full plantings around the patio, with some minor changes.

Although the patio part of this project is a break even for me, the experience I've gained is priceless along with the pictures I'll get when the project is completed. It's been a pleasure working for these people as well.

I'll have to post some shots of the completed project in the private gardens (was that the shameless plug you wanted Jeff?).

[Stonehenge]

I'll take any plugs I can get, but no, no fishin' going on here.

[jwholden]

Moving along...