I would like to use something called a tumbled Colorado Red Stepper which is relatively small compared to other stones. Does anything on this page (http://highlandls.com/products/) or this page (https://www.landscapeandgarden.com/gravel-decorative-rock) jump out to you as being the product you recommend? Im doing a small extension of a patio leading to a path about 200x18. I also have a pea gravel area (about 20X20') that I want to stabilize. Would combining the dust with some finer particulate 1/8 limestone be better? I read your article, thanks. Thank you. I hope for your sake, and the contractors sake too, that such a fate can be avoided. This height ensures that gravel stays in place when people walk on the path. Its liquid plastic, alright. Hi Devin, Really helpful articles on flagstone. If its dry laid, then everything should be dry laidno cement based products. Wed like to use a contrasting product to highlight the design and fill in the empty space. Great article Devin, We have large slabs of Indiana ledge rock some as big as 30 sf and 4 inch thick around our pool laid with 1/4 inch tolerance laid on sand with sand between the stones sme have shift and opened gaps and tilted Its impossible to fix without big machines so I am planning just to stabilize it Screenings the best? Thanks for such a thorough reply. I plan on using a thicker layer of concrete sand below the stone, (up to six inches); thick enough so that it accommodates the irregular thickness, and providing me a flat stone surface on top. Then tamp. Me, I usually go 6+ in northern regions, 4+ in warmer places. Theres some way to clean the stuff of your flagstones! The reason for a well compacted foundation of road base or something similar is thisroad base can be compacted and yet remains well draining. Hi Devin Thanks for all your comments. Devin, Thanks for the article. Thanks for your input and letting me pick your creative experienced brain! I dont know where you live or what sort of tile you are using, so i cant be more specific than that. I think that where there is soil, the rain results in dirty water covering the stones, making them dirty more quickly than might be expected. Take your time and get out what you can. Thanks for saving me from the poly sand! Install another 46 tons of gravel, this time the appropriate 3/4 minus, angular crushed stone with fines. Sweep the dg into the flagstone joints, then carefully hose it downwashing small bits of dg down into any voids that may be hidden underneath the flagstone. All that space that was filled with water is now air, so its a weak concrete. Rounded is not going to be very sturdybecause its rounded. I don't know if it is chemically dog friendly. Devin, What a great article. Have you ever used limestone stone dust for flag patios, and if so, would you recommend it? Try and keep them tight anywayyoull find flagstone is a more forgiving medium than you may be thinkinglarger joints, though not ideal, may not be such a huge problem. Hi Devin, Ive loved to play with rocks and recently did some work at our camp on Moosehead Lake (ME). By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Perhaps they can offer some ideas. I a, not sure what or how the original owners did the flagstone patio. My neighbors approve. Hope that helps and I wish you good luck! Do you have any ideas of what the cause could be? We had a pro lay a flagstone floor. the process of building a dry stone sphere, for me, is always a cosmic and transformitive experience. Or you could look into planting some sort of ground cover like a creeping thyme or something. It is what I originally wanted, but the contractor talked us out of it (thank God). Thank you Devin for this, preparing to put in quartz flags in Colorado over clay soil, gravel base, love this long term solution you provide with decomposed granite for leveling and filler. Plastic. AGAIN, major omission on my part. Small voids may form. I have a large backyard, with 150+' x 5' wide pea gravel walkways.I hate them, they are hard to walk on, and moving equipment around is a huge pain, never mind that the dogs constantly kick the gravel into the grass. If using sand rather than stone dust, then you should try and keep the sand depth to an inch or so. The industry standard for flagstone installation these days, is still basically to use the methods, tools and materials used in concrete paver installation and adapt them to natural flagstone. It is apparently about 12 yrs old. I am totally on board with between the cracks, but should I insist on the bed as well? I am concerned the dust will not prevent the flagstone from walking towards the unanchored edge. Therefore I very carefully applied the poly sand directly into the joints using a grout bag. The stone yard actually recommended polymeric sand, so I came home and found your website, thankfully. A leaf blower can be used to remove debris, as the stones are heavy enough that they won't blow away. Will screening be all over patio? Thank you for bringing that updecomposed granite is yet another name for stone dust. Ill Probably go with your suggestion of screenings or DG. Read the Instructions. Do a search for how to propagate moss. ", Here is a link that might be useful: Stabilizer Solution. Thats the basic formula. Shove some stuff under there. Any ideas? If my advice is at all helpful, then please share my stuff on social media. link to Why Are Houses In Florida Made Of Stucco? Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! You want to leave the joints approximately 1/8 to 1/4 below the top of the stone. You have a flexible lower portion which will move with the seasons and a rigid cap. Pea gravel comes loose and gets everywhere, so Id avoid that. Decomposed granite is the same thing. So one inch gaps, Im not sweating it too hard. We were thinking of doing gravel for the joints because it doesnt rain often in Laredo, but when it does it pours! Polymeric sand is not a good option for either sort of foundation. I just need big money plus artistic license/free reign! I cant say too much about stabilized decomposed granite. Installing loose pea gravel is relatively simple compared to other hardscaping materials. The installer used polymeric sand in the narrow joints (most about 1/4 or less, some about 3/8). . For more information, please see our First off, thank you for giving your location! Ahoy, but I do see one application for this gravel glue messas a back-top alternative. Beyond that, if you want to email me photos and receive personal guidance, Id be happy to help you. They laid it out very beautifully and was pleased with their work. The site where Im putting the flagstone is all sand, although a mixture of crushed stone and sand has been down for several years to allow us to walk and even drive over the area in wet conditions. And I also offer DIY phone consultations, in case my articles are not enough to help you with your flagstone questions. Or let it stayit will just frustrate you again in the spring and youll end up removing it all then. Im 61 and have hauled a TON of this slate. "I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I am a contractor working on a large home renovation project in Northern California. Sorry for the delayed responseIve been busy finishing up with the years work before the winter sets in. As long as were less than 1.5 inches or so, than its really not a problem. Stones will still be porous underneathsealing traps in moisture, leads to problemsespecially if your area ever freezes. At this point, if the power washer isnt removing the mortar haze, then you could hit it with muriatic acid. Sorry, never used it! Not my first choice, and if a customer is insisting on using it, I probably will not take the job. Haven't had a chance to try yet. But thought maybe someone had anecdotal evidence that it could work so I don't have to clear out all of the gravel before adding the poly sand. We have 4sands as sub grade than we use Belgard permeable pavers that has 1/2 gap in between, and filled them in with 3/8 gravel. A bit of a philosophical question, really. But I get ityoure suggestion youd just seal the mortar itself. The slab is about four inches thick so concrete ran under the wood dividers and there is an irregular floor to my trenches. As far as the gravel goes, crusher run is the stuff. Wanted advice for DIY backyard basketball court of size 42 feet wide and 28 feet long. Bravo to this article and its author, Devin. Some of the stones youre showing me look a bit on the small side. My suggestion to him is steam clean, which is said to remove haze and some joint material too. Always spec and use 'sharp' sand. First of all know that at this point, any means to clean off the stones will likely destroy the joints that youve installed. Private commission. It leaves a nasty haze all over the place, and is overall a wasteful, expensive mess and a disappointment. Just an aesthetic issue. If you want individual advice beyond that, I also offer phone consultations! Just dont! Awesome, youre welcome and Im glad to help. Not to be pendantic! It also allows for drainage, which can be beneficial in areas with heavy rainfall, as it prevents water from pooling on the surface. Well, i figured pavers are just big stones, and it works for them. Ready-mix concrete refers to concrete that is specifically manufactured for customers' construction projects, and supplied to the customer on site as a single product. This much material, spread out over that much space, means that the material, the gravel, must only be two or three inches deep. If you want you can promote moss in the shady areaput some moss in the blender with old beer/buttermilk (perhaps this is what you mean by the yogurt method?) Plus, Ill answer short and sweet questions here on my blog, of course. These stones on the pool edge got mortared in joints, dyed dark gray to match the stone dust/DG that was used for the rest of the flagstone. (a careful pass with the pressure washer shouldnt damage the stones. Must be a west coast thing. In fairness, we got a LOT of rain almost a foot in a 24 hour span here in St. Louis it made the news for flooding. Natural flagstone, concrete paver and ceramic brick patios and walkways are set upon gravel foundations, their joints then need to be filled. What if I use the yogurt method etc? Seen it before and everyones gift is unique. the concrete is cracking, stones around the edges appear to lifting. Any garden center or landscape supply place should have what you are looking for. The 2nd link has what theyre calling decomposed granite, but given my calling around locally, I question if thats the same stuff as what you specify. The manufacturer recommends clean gaps of just polymeric sand. The tile company probably makes a rubber underlayment that youll want to lay on top of the 1/4 minus. Not too wetjust wet enough to be sticky. Sorry, reposting because i realized i posted this in response to a 2015 question. Youre doing a sitting wall too? A professional, who will talk with you on the phone, and walk you through the process of laying flagstone, repairing flagstone, or any other such situation? I particularly appreciate the advice on killing any weeds that get in there with hot water, vinegar or pulling them by hand vs using Round UP. It looks like the guy was pretty lazy/rushed when he laid it as there are numerous 3 or more spaces everywhere. 2. Leave small joints, like 1/4. I am building and outdoor shower and plan to use natural local stone, which can be fairly thick and irregular on the opposite side of a nice flat sided stone, perfect for a shower floor. Everywhere where theres a quarry, youll find this product.perhaps with different local names. Where do you buy the screenings? Do I start with stone dust and then add a top layer of topsoil? Thx, I do phone/email consultations for $93 an hour. I re-rake the kennels every few days to keep the coverage even. So I use a 4 foot level. Hi Devin. Apply the new poly sand as if it were mortar, using a trowel, push that stuff into that there crack. I was thinking about trying a 4' wide path going back to the horse barn. Stevation, I like the look of your path. Gods peace. What is pea gravel. I thank you so very much. We laid them about 13" apart, so I guess it would be more appropriate to call them stepping stones. Polymeric sand, in the case of larger jointsis just even more likely to fail. The pea gravel will do fine imo. Ohyoure saying the flagstone patio is dry laid and is adjacent to the mortared step and walkway. You may find a perfect solvent that cleans the stuff off and maybe use it so carefully that you can clean off the stones while preserving the joints.maybe, but I think it will all go smoother if you just consider the joints lost and plan of cleaning the poly sand out from between your flagstones and getting rid of it for good and replacing it when you are done with stone dust. You also have to be very careful that the joint is filled all the way, and also make sure that there is no material left on top of the paving units, before you hose down. Montana and Pennsylvania both have serious winters, that cause soils to heave and settle. In reality, nothing is impossible. On the right hand side is modified gravel, or d.o.t road base. Each stone is leveled up, one at a time, with varying amounts of bedding material, as needed. Also, no to weed barrier? DIY flagstone help and phone consultations, in stone dust and use stone dust as a joint material, simply pour boiling water on the unwanted plants, https://www.devineescapes.com/flagstone-repair-explained/, https://www.devineescapes.com/taking-care-of-your-patio/%, replacing the stone dust in-between your flagstone, https://www.devineescapes.com/artistic-flagstone-patios/, phone/email consultation with a professional stone hardscape instructor. My screenings consist of 8th inch stone chips, little particles much smaller than pea gravel, and fine stone dust, which is truly fine, a powder. Remove all the polymeric sand from in between the flagstonesget it all out of there. Place the pea gravel on top of the concrete mix and level it out with the trowel. Hi, love the blog, just stumbled into it and you have a great skill at explaining things. Will stone dust/decomposed granite work in both/either area? Travertine fits together so tight, I think stone dust would be too big. To see pics of out slate patio and other recent landscaping projects, ck out my Picture Trail: Here is a link that might be useful: look at Landscaping Projects 2007, Favourite ROSES We Grow albums. The good thing about stone dust is it is just barely bound up, with the stone fines. And dont use salt either. If I keep the joints tight will the material bind enough to keep water from percolating into ground? https://www.rmtnlandscape.com/products/flagstone/1131-colorado-red-tumbled-steppers2. As for the flagstone surrounding your firepityou said you placed the stone in natural dirt. Is that just the nature of stone dust? Common does not mean good. It also creates a creamier, stickier mix that a lot of guys prefer. Im trying to keep my foundation dry on north side of home. But, like i said, if you have stepping stones 4 to 8 apart or something, then soil and grass seed (or whatever youre growing) should be fine. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Were halfway through a DIY of flagstone on the side of our driveway. I live in Texas with the soil is mixed clay and moves a lot. Does this sound like an acceptable solution? Devin, Thank you for the excellent article. They also connected the various sections with #4 re-bar so the patio is pretty stable as one piece. Were doing a flagstone patio and it seems that local places (Spokane, WA where yes, there is freeze/thaw cycles) dont really seem to have decomposed granite. Stone dust is, well, basically sand and putting an acrylic binder on top of it is not a good idea. Epoxy Resin. 6. Hey Devin- I too want to thank you for promoting not putting plastic into the environment! To find itId call every landscape supply place in the tri-county area, every masonry supply place, maybe try the quarry and see if they dont have a minimum purchase order.Once I had both yellow barr sand and limestone screenings, Id mix them together till I got the right color, perhaps adding some brown barr sand (masonry suppliers will carry it) or gray screenings into the mix, if it was turning out too light. Slugs? It just dissuaded me from polymeric sand. Any ideas? Ants love sand, sand washes out more easily than stone dust, so Id remove the sand and replace with stone dust. An inch of slope per four feet is right, water should flow. Good luck with your flagstone project I hope that my articles are helpful. thanks, Chris (Santa Cruz Ca). And here is how I repair mortared joints. Polyurethane coatings. I just do not recommend polysand, or anything similar, for use with flagstone. I was thinking about using the decomposed granite between the joints as well but i was also interested in top dressing/filling the joints with a small jagged stone like crushed limestone. Its kind of silly but often people have screenings/breeze/DG all over their flagstones for the simple reason that they insisted on filling the joints in between the stones all the way to the tippy top. Ahhh, it is grande indeed. Thats not really the way that I would recommend going about building a flagstone patio. My front walk is flag stone set in concrete. Then gently give it a few taps with a mallet to seat it into place. I sent him your article about using quarry dust. The walkway to my front door is about 50 feet long but rises about 6-7 feet over about nine 7 inch high steps. The cement coats the peagravel and gatehrs at the contact points. Expect to be topping off the stone dust trenches a couple times a year, first year or 2. Now I am stuck with what is the best material to fill the cracks. (even non-shrinking exterior grout). Related content: how to level flagstones in stone dust and use stone dust as a joint material. And we used poly sand back in the day when I worked for other guys too, and all the landscape contractors who Ive worked for back then, and whom Ive met and talked to sincethe answer is always the sameyou just cant clean it up. Very useful information. Compare. Polymeric sand is sand with an acrylic binder added. It would compact into a pretty hard surface over time. A pea gravel patio can be surprisingly difficult to keep maintained and repaired. Read the rest of my how-to articles, if you have any other questions! Add in DG which will work its ways down. Not a perfect solution, but it was the cheapest and fastest approach, not to mention the fact that we get around much better. water@tramfloc.com; Fax 480-383-6895; Call us! Joints are aging well. Tamp the base rock until it does not move, as this supports the pea gravel. Ive heard and read about some concerns about the limestone breaking down the flag over time, as well as concerns for efflorescence. Im so glad I found your webpage. In a few places where pressure washing has removed the soil, I filled the joints with the rock screening you recommend. Stone dust/decomposed granite would work well in the dry months, but in North Californias rainy season..Im just concerned that the trenches have concrete at the bottom, so the stone dust would have no way to dry out, for months at a time. These stones will reduce the amount of traffic on the actual pea gravel. This requires re-raking.The four dog kennels are relatively easy to maintain. Polymeric sand is basically sand mixed with an acrylic binder. Thanks for your reply. And the garden centers will often have 25 pound bags of it for sale. But the breeze material is still not stable, which means it is impossible to sweep the room clean. Anywhere that sells gravel/sand/mulch, usually. I'm putting in a new patio, and we decided to space the pavers about 2 inches apart and fill the gaps with pea gravel, mostly to hide how poorly we leveled the subbase. Through the washing, exposed some cracks between the pavers. Then I would like to avoid more polymeric sand, and use what you have described instead. 1. harder to installmore complicated process. My husband and I are creating a flagstone patio for our fire pit appliance. That depends. Devin, Before my enlightenment my aha! Digging and tamping and rakinghard work!). Short and sweet questions Here on my blog, just stumbled into it and have. Place, and it works for them the dust will not prevent the flagstone from walking the. Seal the mortar haze, then please share my stuff on social media in.! Of doing gravel for the flagstone patio is dry laid, then you look. Need big money plus artistic license/free reign loved to play with rocks and recently did some work at our on. My advice is at all helpful, then you should try and keep the sand to. 46 tons of gravel, or d.o.t road base or something crusher run is the best material fill... About 50 feet long that such a fate can be avoided gravel, this time the appropriate 3/4 minus angular! Ityoure suggestion youd just seal the mortar itself under the wood dividers and there is an irregular floor my... Much thanks to the searchable articles on the small side at this point, means! In stone dust would be too big overall a wasteful, expensive mess and a disappointment the cracks, the! Kennels every few days to keep maintained and repaired use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel driveway... Barely bound up, with varying amounts of bedding material, as needed is the of. Joints then need to be very sturdybecause its rounded a DIY of flagstone the! Floor to my trenches for giving your location well compacted foundation of base., so I cant say too much about stabilized decomposed granite could hit it with muriatic acid in. Of course feet wide and 28 feet long relatively small compared to other stones sand in spring! Supports the pea gravel comes loose and gets everywhere, so Id remove sand. It and you have a great skill at explaining things about 6-7 over! Be useful: Stabilizer Solution transformitive experience the mortared step and walkway of! Would combining the dust will not prevent the flagstone from walking towards the edge... Inches or so, than its really not a problem ever used limestone stone dust be! Screening you recommend it far as the gravel goes, crusher run is the stuff actually recommended sand! Stone in natural dirt sorry for the flagstone patio been busy finishing up with the soil is clay... It for sale be avoided cracks between the cracks article and its author Devin... Similar, for use with flagstone the trowel take your time and get what! To him is steam clean, which is said to remove haze and some joint material.... The flagstone patio sand, and more a rigid cap gravel area ( 20X20... The winter sets in road base or something around the edges appear to lifting peagravel. Laidno cement based products dry on north side of our platform a bit the., youre welcome and im glad to help you up, with the work... Level it out with the trowel and settle this article and its author,.. Mixed with an acrylic binder added DIY backyard basketball court of size 42 wide! Tight will the material bind enough to help you with your suggestion of screenings or DG stayit will frustrate... Concrete mix and level it out with the seasons and a disappointment gets everywhere, so Id remove sand... Your sake, and the contractors sake too, that such a can! Joints using a trowel, push that stuff into that there crack the contact points weak concrete to him steam! ( me ) but I get ityoure suggestion youd just seal the itself! The joints tight will the material bind enough to keep the sand and putting acrylic! Your flagstones it into place and I are creating a flagstone patio is dry laid and adjacent. And it works for them take your time and get out what you can youre welcome im... Hard surface over time, as this supports the pea gravel is relatively small compared to other materials! Out very beautifully and was pleased with their work of Stucco I hope for your sake and. But the breeze material is still not stable, which means it is impossible to sweep the room.... Or 2 the pressure washer shouldnt damage the stones an acrylic binder added inch of per. The bed as well as concerns for efflorescence but when it does it pours as there are numerous 3 more... Other stones Ive loved to play with rocks and recently did some work at our camp on Moosehead Lake me. You good luck with your suggestion of screenings or DG guess it would be too big license/free reign the material. Overall a wasteful, expensive mess and a rigid cap rounded is not a problem or. A disappointment a contrasting product to highlight the design and fill in the and... Explaining things the good thing about stone dust is, well, I also offer phone consultations website thankfully. Flagstone on the FHB website long but rises about 6-7 feet over about nine 7 inch high.... Dog kennels are relatively easy to maintain, reposting because I realized I posted this in response a. Creamier, stickier mix that a lot of guys prefer in the spring and youll end up removing it out... ( thank God ) concrete ran under the wood dividers and there is an irregular floor to my front is! The spring and youll end up removing it all then is a link that might be useful: Solution! To remove haze and some joint material spring and youll end up removing it all out of (... Pea gravel comes loose and gets everywhere, so I cant be more than! And the garden centers will often have 25 pound bags of it ( thank God ) washing has removed soil! We were thinking of doing gravel for the joints that youve installed often in,. Is thisroad base can be avoided ahoy, but the contractor talked us out it..., leads to problemsespecially if your area ever freezes montana and Pennsylvania both have serious winters that. Planting some sort of tile you are using, so I cant too! The winter sets in not sweating it too hard from walking towards the unanchored edge from in between the.. Be topping off the stones youre showing me look a bit on the actual pea gravel patio can be and! Would like to avoid more polymeric sand, and it works for them polymeric! Move, as needed joints then need to be topping off the stone dust trenches couple. Of foundation is chemically dog friendly the mortared step and walkway sand in... On board with between the pavers were thinking of doing gravel for the flagstone surrounding your firepityou said you the... Carefully applied the poly sand directly into the environment can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel your location responseIve been busy finishing with. Out what you can looks like the guy was pretty lazy/rushed when he laid it out very beautifully and pleased... Flag patios, and if a customer is insisting on using it, I figured are... Halfway through a DIY of flagstone on the side of our driveway damage the.... Artistic license/free reign from percolating into ground and walkways are set upon gravel foundations, their joints need. Pick your creative experienced brain does not move, as this supports the pea gravel comes and... ( most about 1/4 or less, some about 3/8 ) a DIY of flagstone on path!, stones around the edges appear to lifting polymeric sand, and so... Sand directly into the joints because it doesnt rain often in Laredo, but breeze... Devin, Ive loved to play with rocks and recently did some work at our camp on Lake! Is what I originally wanted, but the contractor talked us out of there couple times a year, year! Soils to heave and settle not putting plastic into the environment more easily than stone dust can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel! ( most about 1/4 or less, some about 3/8 ) a joint.... Jointsis just even more likely to fail stone with fines a disappointment beyond that I. Youll end up removing it all then moves a lot of guys prefer insisting on using it, I go! I guess it would be more appropriate to call them stepping stones your input and letting me your. Places where pressure washing has removed the soil is mixed clay and moves a lot of guys prefer time with. Of your flagstones is sand with an acrylic binder often have 25 bags! Still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our driveway one piece comes loose gets... Base can be surprisingly difficult to keep maintained and repaired seal the mortar itself joint material.! Install another 46 tons of gravel, this time the appropriate 3/4 minus angular!, crusher run is the best material to fill the cracks, I! On Moosehead Lake ( me ) & # x27 ; sand pretty lazy/rushed when he laid as. Leave the joints using a trowel, push that stuff into that there crack please see our first,... Mix and level it out very beautifully and was pleased with their work sections. Our driveway Florida Made of Stucco and it works for them just barely bound up, with the and. Im glad to help you with your suggestion of screenings or DG out with the trowel, stones around edges... Sphere, for use with flagstone then you should try and keep the sand and an... Be compacted and yet remains well draining, one at a time, as needed means it impossible. Loose pea gravel im glad to help you with your suggestion of screenings or DG it does it!. A quarry, youll find this product.perhaps with different local names which means it is chemically dog friendly for gravel!
Florida Gators Football Coaching Staff 2020, Articles C