HOW TO BUILD PATIOS AND WALKWAYS It’s easier than you think!

Patios and Pathways TTools and Materials SStandard Pathways and Patios AAlternative Materials DDetermining Square Footage

Tools and Materials SString/Stakes or Garden Hose and Marking Paint SShovel and Spade TTamping tool LLandscape fabric CCarpenter’s level RRubber Mallet FFlagstone SSand and Gravel

Step One – Layout Using stakes and string, (or a garden hose) mark out your pathway or patio. Remove any loose topsoil, sod or organic matter. Path should be wide enough for two people, side by side.

Step Two – Prepare Remove additional soil until about 3” - 4” below the desired grade. For proper drainage, cover the area with gravel – 2” deep Smooth and compact the gravel.

Step Three – Prevent Cover the compacted soil with filter fabric or weed control fabric.

Step Four - Fill Spread about 2” of sand over the weed fabric. Use straight edge to level and smooth the sand. Moisten the sand with a fine spray until it is firm.

Step Five – Place Lay the flagstone out on the moist sand. Think jigsaw puzzle. If necessary, the pieces of stone can be shaped to fit a specific area.

Step Six - Level Place sand under each stone until it is the same height as the thickest stone. (Check with a carpenter’s level.) Use a rubber mallet to tap each stone firmly into place or to level the stones.

Step Seven - Finish Fill the small gaps between the stones with additional sand.

Alternative Materials PPolymeric Sand vs. Envirobond PPlants and Ground Cover PPebbles and Decorative Rock MMortar CCompacted Crushed Material SStepping Stones EEdging

Polymeric Sand vs. Envirobond CChemically-based binder. PPermanent bonds that create a monolithic paving system. CCan be used only once, once removed, it must be replaced. BBiologically-based binder. ““Self-healing” bonds, which will allow all segmental systems to remain flexible. RRe-useable in that the bonds can be broken apart and when water is applied to the broken bonds, is reestablished. Polymeric SandEnvirobond

Plants and Ground Cover

Beautiful Bones & Purple Stones Landscape Design

Plants and Ground Cover Jay Thayer Landscape Architect

Pebbles and Decorative Rock Z Freedman Landscape Design

Pebbles and Decorative Rock Grace Design Associates

Pebbles and Decorative Rock

Mortar

Compressed Crushed Material Grace Design Associates

Compressed Crushed Material Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

Stepping Stones

Stone River by Jon Piasecki

Edging Stone River by Jon Piasecki

Thickness Guide for Stone ½½ - 1” must be set in mortar. 11 - 2” is standard sand-set flagstone. IIf being driven over, use 3” stone.

Determining Square Footage BBy Shape: RRectangle: Length x Width CCircle: 3.14 x Radius 2 TTriangle: ½ of Base x Height CCoverage per ton: 22” thick = 100 sq. ft.