One of the most popular types of walkways is the stone walkway. The magnificence and magic of the stone walkway is only matched by its durability.

Hire Professional Stone Work to install one of these beautiful walkways in your home. Within a day or two you will have a Paver walkway that will improve the value and curb appeal of your home, and that will be the envy of your neighbors.

Most walkways are 2½ -3” across. We remove the soil at your walkway site to a depth of around 8” to make sure that its foundation is strong and solid so that you can enjoy years of trouble-free use. Since this is a very important aspect in laying stone walkways we do not scrimp on the depth of excavation. In special instances where the soil is loose we will increase this depth to ensure that your walkway is built on a solid foundation.

Stone Walkway
Paver Walkway

We set the paver lower than the blades of standard lawn mowers so the grass growing near your paver walkway can be easily cut. The only maintenance that will be necessary would be to get rid of excess grass growing over the stone every few years. Commercial herbicide spray, though not the safest option, is, if used cautiously, helpful in controlling weeds that grow between individual pavers.

To make a proper base for your path, a few layers of material will be necessary. First we will fill the trench with 3 inches of small crushed stones, and tamp it down. Next, we place landscape fabric over the crushed stone layer. This will act as both a filter for sediment and a barrier to weeds. We then complete the base by laying an inch of sand or stone dust over the landscape fabric, again tamping it down as much as possible, being careful to keep a slight slope for runoff.

We then press the paver directly on the sand, leaving a 1” gap between each stone. Once we tamp down the pavers to make them even, we scoop sand onto the surface and sweep it, pushing it into the cracks between the stones. This dry construction method stabilizes the stone, yet makes room for flexibility. It also means that your stone walkway will not crack or buckle during small earthquakes and similar events.

Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of wet/dry construction methods

Stone walkways can be laid using either the dry method or the wet method (laying the pavers on concrete). Before installing Stones, you should decide which one best suits your needs. When we come to give you the estimate, you can also discuss with us to help you make an informed decision.

Here is some basic information on the dry and wet methods, which you may find useful. For either method, before installing your stones, we lay a thick base of coarse, crushed stone.

Once this is compacted, for the dry stone construction method, we put down a layer of sand. This is the glue that will hold your stones together. Finally, we lay the stones straight down in the sand and press them down. Pressing the stones in this way allows for their 8000 psi compressive strength. The sand stabilizes the stones, yet allows for some flexibility; and makes them a more durable choice. This dry construction method will absorb stress from small earthquakes, freezes and thaws, and will not crack or buckle like concrete. However, over time, weeds can grow between their joints and you will need to use some weed control measures in the case of dry construction.

The wet stones construction method is the better option when soil conditions are poor (eg. reactive or poorly drained clay). In this method the stones are installed with a concrete base. The concrete is wet cured for at least 7 days before the stones are laid. We then prepare cement slurry and apply a thin coat to the concrete base and to the underside of each stone. The stones are then laid directly onto the concrete base. The additional advantage of the wet method is that there will not be any weed growth between stone joins, since the joints are filled by cement mortar.

You must carefully choose the path that your paver walkway would take. For example, your walkway should not run under large trees, as the roots will eventually damage the walkway, and conversely, the walkway will damage the tree roots. Maple in particular is incompatible with paver walkways and other hardscape features, since it puts out roots close to the surface.

After a while, tree roots will start encroaching on the walkway, but the advantage is that the individual pieces of stone can be lifted one at a time so the problem can be dealt with.

Nothing makes a statement like a walkway of large stones. The disadvantages are that stone walkways are expensive, and working with them is difficult. However, they will outlast almost any other type of walkway, needing maintenance after several decades of use.

Professional Stone Work provides personalized service. We employ well-trained stone builders, and we do not outsource our jobs. We provide commercial and residential service, and we will give you clear and accurate estimates before starting work. The quality and cleanliness of our work is a source of pride to us, and we will leave your property cleaner than it was before. Let Professional Stone Work help you improve your home and increase your property value today.