Creating the perfect patio or walkway is always a concern. Cost can play a big part in what decisions we make and materials we use. But in the end, what's important is getting the look we want.
Over the years, my wife and I have had many discussions about what to use for pathways and patio areas. As she is the gardener, she leans to stone; as I am the woodworker, I lean toward wood.
After many cups of coffee and several walks around the garden, I often am persuaded to use stone. Lets face it, I don't want to be pulling out old rotted boards down the road and redoing it all. Like everyone else, paving-stone companies are making it easier for the do-it-yourselfer to install these products. They offer expert seminars and videos, and there is no lack of TV shows on what a difference using the right building material can make.
Ideas are coming out of the woodwork -- with magazines, home and garden shows or just driving around the neighbourhood to see what innovative ideas people have come up with.
Railway ties are becoming passé; as time goes on, we want something new and modern and easy to work with.
I remember the first patio we built in our backyard, in the seventies, using "patio stone." Yes, the 24- by 30-inch slab of concrete that weighed in at about 80 pounds -- the back breakers. Trying to level those things was a nightmare.
I recently attended several home and garden shows across Ontario, and each show offered lots of ideas on using interlock, rockery and stone displays.
We have used just about every kind of application over the years for our patios and walkways, and the one thing that is important for all of them is the foundation.
For example, flagstones laid on top of a lawn in a random pattern can look very natural. Once the stones have been placed, take a knife, cut around the stone's profile and remove the grass underneath. Loosen the soil and place the stone back into its place. As the grass grows between the stones, you can still use the lawnmower without fear of hitting the stone with the blades.
When it comes to a stone surface that is connected, such as interlock, the surface preparation becomes a little more labour intensive. In this application, you require a much more substantial base, usually consisting of gravel or a gravel and sand combination.
Tip: The type of stone you should use for the base depends on the type of subsoil you have. The gravel can be anything from ¾-inch stone to a sand and stone combination called "B gravel."
The thickness of the base is determined by what the surface will be used for. For example, a patio will not need as much of a sub-base as a driveway because the latter is required to support a lot of weight. Expect that some excavation may be required to accommodate the new gravel sub-base.
Tip: Topsoil is not a good base for an interlocking patio because the soil holds the moisture and gets mushy, while a stone sub-base allows the water to seep away and remains firm.
No matter how thick a base is required to be, its preparation is still very important. Getting the right slope for drainage, being sure the surface slopes away from the house, and the compactness of the base product are all important.
Once the base has been properly set, a two-inch thick screening of fine natural stone should be placed on top and compacted as well. The end result should be a flat surface, angled properly, and ready to accept the stones.
Adding up the thickness of the layers -- six inches for the gravel sub-base, two inches for the screening base and 2½ inches for the paving stone -- be prepared to excavate 10½ inches of soil.
Tip: For larger projects, mini excavators are available for about $175 a day and make the job much easier. Also make arrangements to have a bin at the site for dumping the dirt you'll be excavating. I have seen so many people create a berm in their back yards with the excess soil that made it look like they had buried an old car in a shallow grave.
Depending on the size of the patio or walkway, you may want to get a quote on your endeavour from a professional. As small as those paving stones may be, they still can be backbreakers.
John Sillaots is the host of In the Workshop on HGTV Canada. For more information and great ideas, please check out http://www.intheworkshop.com or http://www.hgtv.ca