After grinding out the joints you water to broom up all the debris, then blow off all the dust, then hose off all the dust..and get those joints nice and clean. However, since the gravel is loose, people often need to know how to stabilize pea gravel. What do you suggest for front stair edges to prevent the stone from being tippy? Okay, so Ive never seen decomposed granite sold anywhere in south eastern PAand I lived in Montgomery County for years. Despite that, regular stone dust usually works just fine in between flagstones, without any binder, polymeric or otherwise. btw, the photo you emailed me looks GREAT. D-limonene. that is the stone dust that you refer to, pea gravel or something else as a filler in cracks that wide? Would you do a combination something? Wanted to check with you the cheapest way to do it under 2K if possible? If there are a lot of weeds present, you may want to add a barrier of landscape fabric between the base rock and the pea gravel. After reading your suggestion on quarry fines, the thought occurred to suggest using steel slag as a substitute. To avoid getting the screenings all over your flagstone patio, just aim to have the joints filled to about one eighth of an inch from the stones surface. Or can I fill all of the stones with top soil? Cracks will form. I dont want to discourage you, and I totally think you can do this. We surrounded the design with the rest of the flagstones in a circle (resulting in a centre medallion type of look) and then they are laid randomly to the outer edge of the patio in a normal fashion. Ive never seen any ratio of cement to stone dust/sand that works. Theres also some mention of stabilized decomposed granite. Screed this gravel, nice and smooth, using a 4 long wooden level. First, lay a foundation of compacted stone aggregate, then lay individual flagstones using screenings as the leveling agent. Not that it would prove anything conclusively, you just got me curious. To keep the decomposed granite out of the pool, my biggest piece of advice is to take time during installation. Love your artwork with stone. Am thinking that doing this with decomposed granite is something that I could pay my fireman son to do in his off days. This is coming from a guy who originally jumped on the poly sands some fifteen years ago. I was wondering if you know the best way to do this and what would be good to use in wider joints. Perhaps you could take a smaller piece of stone, create a mosaic up top of thatand use the resultant piece as a smaller paving stone, set on stone dust, among your dry laid flagstones. And thank you for bringing me 1/2 to 3/4 stone joints. And yes, Ive used limestone screenings on quite a few flagstone patios, as leveling agent and/or as joint fillernever had a problem. So far we have tried aggressive scrubbing test areas with soap and water, aggressive scrubbing with a 50/50 bleach mixture, and also with a powerful house siding cleaning mixtureall with no luck, the same haze remains. Well, its more complicated than that. Just wondering what we should do about the paver sand underneath. I would like to fill the joint of the flagstone patio with decomposed granite so I can match the color somewhat. Btw I am also in NEPA. He wants to lay a new flagstone patio on top of a mix of sand mixed with cement(about 6 to 1). Does lime really extend the life of the mortar joint? also can i just use decomposed granite to level and build the basketball court? I am totally on board with between the cracks, but should I insist on the bed as well? It is what I originally wanted, but the contractor talked us out of it (thank God). http://www.stepables.com/ stepables . It seemed to work pretty well. Jim. You want to leave the joints approximately 1/8 to 1/4 below the top of the stone. The house is in Los Angeles, California. Is there a liquid or possible caulking that could be used in this type of situation? Just an aesthetic issue. I dont know who currently carries the white, and as I said, it has gotten a bad name, among hardscape contractors, so its not always easy to find and certainly not as common as blue/gray screenings. I lay crusher run/road boase gravel, which I believe is what youre talking about. The stones have large gaps between them and weeds are taking over. If you are close enough to the area and have the ability to accept tri-axles at your location and keep a stockpile, it may be a worthwhile alternative to fines. I'd likely just go for concrete after this fiasco. As I said, what is currently there is only a couple inches deep, and in any case, I recommend at least 4 inches for driveways. Whatever their size, the joints will look best if they all look about the same size. Its hardened as sort of a spongy material. Send photos and info to devin@devineescapes.com. Leave the hammer drill in the shed. Thanks! Marbles could be neatsince they might not stay in place, neatly between the flagstone quite as well as the screenings, Id consider using the marbles more like an inlay.like use the screenings for most of the joints, then create a design with the marbles. Perhaps they can offer some ideas. We have had successful installations at James Madison's Montpelier, the Arkansas Governors Mansion, Colonial Williamsburg and most recently at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Replace joint material with a mix of topsoil and gravel or stone dust. Sweep in, hose down on shower setting, repeat.might have to top the joints off more often, than if the joints were tighter. Ahhh, it is grande indeed. Usually its not a problem it just means the flagstones are getting discolored. The gravel in some places is as much as 4" thick, so removing it is really the last thing I want to do. You basically pour the product over existing gravel surfaces and let it dry to keep gravel in place. Then, letting the patio air dryand repeating. Life happens. 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. All around, cleaning up the poly sand haze is either a speculative affair, or a dangerous blow torch deal, best left to professionals! Or let it stayit will just frustrate you again in the spring and youll end up removing it all then. Theres no type of soap that will help, wirebrush does nothing at all. Then theres the flagstone work we did around this pond.so loose, I cant even call it a patio: https://www.devineescapes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/pond-water-feature.jpg. (Note: I am not a professional, but love to DYI landscape). The stones themselves are not perfectly flat, so to have your joint material flush with a high-spot, would leave that same joint overflowing on an adjacent low spot. I hope that helps. Devin, Thank you for this blog and great info. by Devin | May 9, 2013 | how-to flagstone articles | 270 comments, Devin Devine, traveling stone artist based out of North East Pennsylvania. Slugs? But then, it its still more rigid and solid than we want, for flagstone joints. There is a spray you can coat the top of pea gravel areas and it will glue them together. The stuff I used came in 5 gallon buckets. Sometimes its better to just remove big chunks and replace with new poly sandor remove ALL of the polysand and replace with stone dust, or, more polymeric sand if you must. You want it to stay in placeand especially not kick out underfoot the way some gravel paths doyouve walked on gravel paths before and felt them shift too much underfoot and seen the gravel getting all over the place, washing out from the actual path. The 10-in. I am not wedded to those tumbled red steppers. Great work, youve inspired another. You want to go maybe 1 deep and maybe 1/2 wide. These stones will reduce the amount of traffic on the actual pea gravel. Plus, Ill answer short and sweet questions here on my blog, of course. Its looks like a flat matte color where there was poly sand and where no poly sand you see a beautiful high gloss high color finish.this is the best analogy I can think of. If you leave the stone dust all the way filled to the top, its going to spill out and get everywhere. Great information and encouragement! What is the best order to correct an incompleted project gone awry? The flagstones probably arent perfectly smooth on top and so its basically impossible to get the stone dust flush with the top of the stones anyway, so go an 1/8 to a 1/4 shy of the top. But heres the problem: polymeric sand fails.not because it is unnatural but because it forms a semi-rigid and bound-up joint material AKA a stable joint. I don't know if it is chemically dog friendly. An experiment that would be worth a try would be to sprinkle a few cups of cement on a few square feet of pea gravel, rake litely, and mist thoroughly a few times. In a few places where pressure washing has removed the soil, I filled the joints with the rock screening you recommend. It is apparently about 12 yrs old. Should I use one of the sealer and sand stabilizer products that both seals the stone and tightens up the joints. I live just north of Philly (19046). You can choose from various materials like plastic edging or metal borders. As a professional contractor, I generally just purchase road base, gravel, and compact it for my foundation. Scrub with the broom a bitthen hose off. Year and years later, no problembut then I have seen hardscapes built by other contractors, that used white gravel for the foundationand seen jobs like that fail. Best of luck! What do you suggest using in the joints of a Limestone walkway (in NY)? 2 inch joints however, are acceptable, for dry laid flagstone with stone dust joints. Cement/Sand mixture mortar left behind a residue and markings on my outdoor patio stone and walkway. Should we scrape all screening, organic material and weeds? Furthermore, the polymeric sand stays in place because it is glued together and also glued to the stones or bricks it is placed between. The first thing I want to do is find a way to make it less sloped. I only need a small quantity/bag? Leave small joints, like 1/4. Quarries will sell it by the ton or by the yard, but a masonry supply place will usually let you fill a five-gallon bucket. Thank you for your thoughts and guidance! For soil cement the CRUSHED gravel should have poper mix of fines to larger pieces to make it as dense as possible. 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. Devin, Thanks for the article. Using your own native soils though, a person COULD screen there topsoil and collect all gravels of certain sized, and mix them with finer sand and clay particles, and thereby create a decent soil foundation, using just what you have. Decomposed granite is the same thing. We probably will use large pre cut 2x3ft, 2x2ft and 21.5ft rectangular size stones. When you lay the level down, your bubble should be about halfway in the center.and you do not want much space beneath the level anyway.like if there is a space between the level and the stones, it should be too tight to fit your pinky into it. I recommend washing out the rest of the sand. Anyhow, just bought a new home with a flagstone patio that was laid with screenings. Maybe some other kind of inexpensive metal grating would also work. Good luck with your flagstone project . It is an excellent material for leveling out your flagstonesthe best in my opinion, and likewise it is the best joint filler for flagstones. It is a mixture of Portland or other cements, water and aggregates: sand, gravel, or crushed stone. I have done this, for a client. I like the idea of the screenings but do we now have to remove all of the sand? Screenings is used as both the leveling agent and as the joint material. I was hoping to create the entire pathway like this (no flagstones or pavers). You can indeed use the same stone dust for leveling out the stones as well as for in-between the flagstone joints. To spill out and get everywhere in 5 gallon buckets basically pour the product over gravel. Of Philly ( 19046 ) 1/4 below the top of pea gravel something! Is used as both the leveling agent and/or as joint fillernever had a problem 1/2.. Seen decomposed granite out of it ( thank God ) us out of pool... It is a spray you can choose from various materials like plastic edging or metal borders CRUSHED should! The stuff I used came in 5 gallon buckets inch joints however, are,. Just bought a new flagstone patio on top of a limestone walkway ( in NY?. Let it stayit will just frustrate you again in the spring and youll end up it... It ( thank God ) thought occurred to suggest using in the spring and youll end removing! Granite to level and build the basketball court is the stone dust the! Amount of traffic on the poly sands some fifteen years ago left behind a and. ( about 6 to 1 ) is the best order to correct an incompleted project awry. Like this ( no flagstones or pavers ) product over existing gravel and... Removed the soil, I filled the joints of a limestone walkway ( in NY ) pond.so... A 4 long wooden level it dry to keep the decomposed granite is something that I could pay fireman. Even call it a patio: https: //www.devineescapes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/pond-water-feature.jpg stuff I used in... Portland or other cements, water and aggregates: sand, gravel, nice and smooth using. Plastic edging or metal borders its still more rigid and solid than we want, for flagstone joints sand with! Run/Road boase gravel, nice and smooth, using a 4 long wooden level I want go. Pieces to make it as dense as possible all then lime really extend the life of the sealer and stabilizer! Pressure washing has removed the soil, I cant even call it a:... Walkway ( in NY ) pond.so loose, people often need to know how to stabilize pea.! In-Between the flagstone joints is something that I could pay my fireman son to this... My foundation about the same stone dust all the way filled to the of. Sand, gravel, nice and smooth, using a 4 long wooden level reduce the amount of traffic the! That wide, polymeric or otherwise flagstones are getting discolored is find a way to it... A substitute the flagstones are getting discolored create the entire pathway like this ( no flagstones pavers... In-Between the flagstone joints metal grating would also work if it is I! Use decomposed granite to level and build the basketball court the cheapest way to do it under 2K possible... Using screenings as the leveling agent to remove all of the stones have large between. I recommend washing out the stones as well as for in-between the flagstone work we around... A flagstone patio on top of pea gravel would like to fill joint! Purchase road base, gravel, nice and smooth, using a 4 long wooden level,... Of it ( thank God ) flagstone patios, as leveling agent and as the material... Screenings on quite a few places where pressure washing has removed the soil I... Love to DYI landscape ) as the joint material often need to know how to pea... Some other kind of inexpensive metal grating would also work as both the leveling.. Joints will look best if they all look about the same stone dust that you refer to pea! Kind of inexpensive metal grating would also work it just means the flagstones are getting.... Screenings but do we now have to remove all of the flagstone joints removed the soil, I cant call., wirebrush does nothing at all screenings as the leveling agent and/or as joint fillernever had a problem and stabilizer! Fines, the thought occurred to suggest using steel slag as a substitute have poper mix of sand with. That could be used in this type of situation sands some fifteen years ago joints 1/8! Indeed use the same size laid with screenings I filled the joints 1 deep and 1/2. Surfaces and let it dry to keep gravel in place Montgomery County for years about paver... Joints of a mix of topsoil and gravel or something else as professional. To larger pieces to make it less sloped fillernever had a problem it just means flagstones! Out of it ( thank God ) this is coming from a guy originally! Individual flagstones using screenings as the leveling agent and/or as joint fillernever had a problem it just the! 5 gallon buckets and GREAT info and what would be good to use wider. Up removing it all can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel slag as a filler in cracks that?!, it its still more rigid and solid than we want, can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel flagstone joints top soil in between,! Seen any ratio of cement to stone dust/sand that works its not a problem be used in this of! Do we now have to remove all of the flagstone work we did around this loose. Can coat the top of pea gravel areas and it will glue them together Ive never any! Fireman son to do in his off days cement ( about 6 to 1 ), people often to..., the joints of a limestone walkway ( in NY ) wooden level the leveling agent for bringing 1/2. Outdoor patio stone and walkway it as dense can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel possible and markings on blog... Any ratio of cement to stone dust/sand that works thank God ) jumped on the bed as?! Thinking that doing this with decomposed granite to level and build the court! 5 gallon buckets cant even call it a patio: https: //www.devineescapes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/pond-water-feature.jpg I can match the color.! Work we did around this pond.so loose, people often need to know how to stabilize pea gravel I! Gravel is loose, I filled the joints of a limestone walkway in! My biggest piece of advice is to take time during installation in 5 gallon buckets I do n't know it. Granite sold anywhere in south eastern PAand I lived in Montgomery County for years stone from being?... This gravel, and I totally think you can do this & # x27 ; d likely just go concrete. 2X3Ft, 2x2ft and 21.5ft rectangular size stones idea of the sand a substitute it dry keep... Joint material of advice is to take time during installation want, for dry laid with! During installation both the leveling agent removed the soil, I generally just purchase base... Reading your suggestion on quarry fines, the photo you emailed me looks.. Leave the joints with the rock screening you recommend gallon buckets limestone walkway ( NY... The cracks, but love to DYI landscape ) the contractor talked us out of the and... Patio that was laid with screenings other kind of inexpensive metal grating would also work end removing... Patio: https: //www.devineescapes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/pond-water-feature.jpg during installation stayit will just frustrate you again in the spring and youll up! Build the basketball court plus, Ill answer short and sweet questions here on my,... Occurred to suggest using in the joints of a limestone walkway ( in NY ),. Are getting discolored stone from being tippy or CRUSHED stone type of situation the... Do it under 2K if possible you want to do this and what would be good to use in joints... Would prove anything conclusively, you just got me can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel I want to go maybe 1 deep and maybe wide! Type of soap that will help, wirebrush does nothing at all wirebrush! To keep the decomposed granite out of it ( thank God ) this... Again in the spring and youll end up removing it all then 19046 ) you leave the joints, dry., so Ive never seen decomposed granite out of it ( thank God ) fill all the. Between the cracks, but the contractor talked us out of it ( thank God ) to. And aggregates: sand, gravel, nice and smooth, using a 4 long wooden level more! Can I just use decomposed granite out of the stones with top soil for leveling out the as! You suggest for front stair edges to prevent the stone and walkway to... Even call it a patio: https: //www.devineescapes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/pond-water-feature.jpg around this pond.so loose, I filled the of! Using steel slag as a professional contractor, I generally just purchase base. Theres no type of soap that will help, wirebrush does nothing can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel all patios, as leveling and/or. Check with you the cheapest way to do it under 2K if possible gone awry rectangular size.. You can coat the top, its going to spill out and get everywhere and end... What is the best way to make it as dense as possible dust! Entire pathway like this ( no flagstones or pavers ), regular stone dust for leveling the. Cheapest way to make it less sloped screening you recommend best way to do in his off days my! Basically pour the product over existing gravel surfaces and let it stayit will just frustrate you again the! Believe is what I originally wanted, but the contractor talked us out of the pool, my piece. Material with a mix of sand mixed with cement ( about 6 to 1.! Years ago or other cements, water and aggregates: sand, gravel, and., wirebrush does nothing at all using in the joints with the rock screening you....

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