[tfld]

VC,

Are you messin with me?

We do a pretty good job with our patios, but there are definitely others who do just as good work if not better. In saying "better" I mean mainly some others ability to build more complex project involving stairs and multiple levels.

Check these guys out (way out of my league, my hero):

http://www.marpaland.com

When we're not using demo saws and diamond blades, we use standard cold chisels and a combination of 5lb. sledgehammers and regular claw hammers. Nothing special. Sand stone can be very difficult to cut precisely, you have to kind of work with it.

I find that first scoring with a brick chisel, then laying the stone on flat grass or something soft that can absorb the vibration, usually with a knee or body part on the center of the stone and making swift solid blows works best.

If larger sections of stone need to be removed we'll just use a claw hammer and smack of chunk inch by inch. Its hard to explain, but you definitely need to get a feel for this.

Demo saws are the easiest to use, but you still need to focus on fitting the stone as best you can w/out cutting or else you'll be burning up blades on 2 inch thick stone.

I'd say we probably spend about 2/3rds of our time selecting the next stone than we do actually fitting it.

Nick

[BJR]

Yep, that's the colour.

I see why Marpa is your hero. He does magnificent work.

[Stonehenge]

Voodoo - you'd never be able to chisel limestone like that. Coincidentally we just put in a patio that included some stone that the supplier called Arizona Flagstone, which was a sandstone and had similar color tones to TFLD's pics. I can see how it'd be possible to work that stone with hammers and chisels.

For that project, we'd cut the stone with saws, then use stone hammers to mottle the edges a bit.

[VoodooChile]

tfld,
No man, not at all. That patio has a real sleek, "paver-like" look, much cleaner and less rustic than what I do. What would you say the average tolerance for that patio is? I mean, what's the average gap between stones?

As for your heros...that's a great looking-website. I'm just wondering whether they should get all the credit for the old-growth trees and weathered structures they made brilliant use of....

I don't know that I want to get into cutting individuals stones to lay my paths/patio. I think I get decent tolerances without cutting. The larger gaps I plant with pearlwort, ajuga, creeping thyme, moss and so forth.

I would think cutting would be more important on patios constructed exclusively out of flagging, versus the easier to assemble stepper patios and paths...

[tfld]

Our average tolerances are probably 1/2" or less.

Marpa is pretty incredible. The owner/founder is a Buddhist Monk who teaches at a small university here in Boulder. If you ver see their work in person its pretty impressive.

There are probably a handful of guys in the area that do this caliber/scale of work.

Thanks again for the compliments.

Nick

[Stonehenge]

I found that site, and in particular the Buddhist Monk, very interesting. The fact that he's a truly a monk is a marketing windfall. Yet I was under the impression Buddhists didn't pursue personal wealth through ventures like a landscaping company.

The work looks great, and I imagine being there is better than seeing the photograph.

[VoodooChile]

Ok. I took a second look. Marpa is pretty awesome...

[dandyliondancer]

nice stonework, tfld. natural looking, but tight. also thanks for the link to marpa. anyone needing inspiration should check it out.

the link you listed isn't working anymore, but i found him through google at

http://www.marpa.com/projects.html

stonehenge, i don't find it strange at all to find a buddhist monk running a large landscaping company. buddha realized that everyone needs to make a living to survive in this world, which is why "right livlihood" is one of the major components of his philosophy/practice (The Eightfold Path). in simplified terms it means finding a job that is conducive to your personal growth and helpful and brings happiness to others. i think landscaping could certainly fit the bill, if approached in the right way. the idea of making money isnt really looked down on, as much as being greedy and stingy are discouraged.

ps. tfld, do you have any jointing material in your arizona flag patio. can't tell from the pic. if so what do you use and how do you keep it from running out the edge of the steps?