Perhaps the stone dust/screenings in your area are different then what I have access to. Yes, the material I saw at the quarry very close to my house was just the very fine dust. But tiny cracks do form, and weeds will get in there, roots will grow, cracks will get worse. 3. Unfortunately, job is small and nothing artistic about it. Purchase screenings at a landscape supply store or at a quarry. This can trouble novices and pros alike. And thank you for bringing me 1/2 to 3/4 stone joints. Replace joint material with a mix of topsoil and gravel or stone dust. I just completed a four month long project laying 800 sf of irregular Pennsylvania Blue flagstone (variable thickness stone of 1.5 to 2.25 inches think); at our house in Seattle, WA. I live in Seattle in case that is important. I remember reading about psyllium husks being used as a stabilizer, back in like 2009 or 2010, so major omission, I suppose, that I still havent studied the material hands-on. Maybe some other kind of inexpensive metal grating would also work. I had thought pea gravel would look great, but I was scared off by the instability issue. The slab is about four inches thick so concrete ran under the wood dividers and there is an irregular floor to my trenches. It is a mixture of Portland or other cements, water and aggregates: sand, gravel, or crushed stone. No freeze-thaw issues. No one seems to be recommending DG or granite sand until you. DIY hardscape/masonry/flagstone help rates: I am happy to offer all of these DIY flagstone articles for free. Not to be pendantic! A ton and a half should work, but buy two tons if youd rather have extra than have to make a second order. For urine & feces odor control I spray the kennels occasionally with yard odor killer, which works great.I don't use cement because it is damaging to the dogs pads.To address my problem:I have a long driveway made with reject ab. It seemed to work pretty well. Is this just added polymer binder (plastic)? If your stone is on a concrete base, then you want to repair it with mortar, not stone dust. Im in the process of laying flagstone over an existing sidewalk. If theres a concrete foundation, then sure. As such, I wouldnt really consider a dry lay option on top of old concrete unless the customer very much wanted it, and unless the flagstone itself were going to have a really tight fitting joints for example if it was going to be a pattern cut, square and rectangular flagstones with minimal joints then, if the walkway is pitched strong enough there really is not much way for a very much in order to get down there in the first place. Maybe a dry concrete mix without the rocks in it? Do you know if one can expect the haze to slowly fade away over time? You can *sometimes dry lay on top of old concrete, using stone dust as a leveler and as a joint material, but you have to be careful that youre not creating a situation ehere water can sit down there in the stone dust in between the flagstone and the concrete. Make sure the patio is pitched hard enough. 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?) Just an aesthetic issue. Or, just fill the gap with road base gravel. You mix it with the fines and sweep into the cracks, moisten. I prefer smaller joints. Theres environmental impact happening. These will be an acrylic polymer epoxy resign stuff.essentially, liquid plastic. Another optionfit the stones so tight together so that theres really no need for filler. What did I do wrong? You can get rid of weeds easily by boiling up a pot of water in the pouring water on them. 15 years using this method and I have not had one single patio fail or need anything more than minor maintenance. Clay base, with about 4 of 1/4 clear gravel, followed by 1 of screening before putting down 20 X 20 patio slabs with next to nothing for gaps. I'm not about breakingand rules here, but if it's a solution to manylandscape problems, win/win. 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? Scroll half-way down on this link and find the section with the heading How to install stone dust in between your flagstones Sometimes people overfill their joints to begin with, then wonder why they have material spilling out onto the patioaim to have your flagstone joints filled to about an 8th of an inch lower than the top of your flagstones. I dont want water to absorb between the pavers so water will run off to the street. It would drain away but I assume some of it may get tracked into the pool. Great article any concerns with using decomposed granite within a flagstone patio around a pool deck? Hi, the home we own in Colorado has a really large flagstone patio but the previous owner never put in any fillers. Stone thicknesses range from 1 1/4 2 1/4. Ixnay on the oplypay urethane-ay and-say,okay? I dissuade all of my clients from using polymeric sand. Start your subscription today and save up to 70%. Great article Devin. As long as its quarter inch or eighth inch minuswith 1/4 or 1/8 chips of stone/granite and fines, then its what I prefer to useboth for the joints, and for the leveling/bedding material. You are so kind to answer so quickly and for the method link. didn't think far enough on this one. On the note of odor, there are products you can hook up to your hose pipe to breakdown dog waste and odors. Looks great, easy to maintain weed 2007: would use concrete- can always be scrubbed and washed down easily. For the most part the patio is sunken 1 inch compared to the barrier strip. I just need big money plus artistic license/free reign! Seen it before and everyones gift is unique. But maybe some minor irregularity of the pitch and/or grading around the patio caused water to heavily move through one area. 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. Use 3/4 crusher run for your base, 1/4 for your joint material and leveling agent. I have a small home-based dog boarding business and it works great. Anyway, sorry to hear of your troubles. Take a sprinkler and wet it down , it will tighten it up , still be looser stones on top. Thank you for the great tip! If the patio is dry laid, on a sand/gravel or stone dust foundation..then theres should not be anything portland cement based in the joints. Not a big fan of waterproofing goop being sprayed into stone screenings either. Not a good look. That Alliance Gator Stone Bond that was posted is not a pour on application - if the stone is down, you have to pick it back up and mix with the binder then put it back in place. please reply with name of screening, where to buy and if method i am thinking is good. 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. In your case, decomposed granite joints. This is a big project that you are describing.. Id recommend that you spend some time reading my other DIY flagstone articles. We bought an older house last year, and what I thought was a small stone landing at the base of the old deck turned out to be an irregular limestone patio. Thx, I do phone/email consultations for $93 an hour. Others seem to crack every 4-5 years (near roof leader downspouts and a few other areas that take longer to dry out due to adjoining vegetation). If a project interests me I can be convinced to travel. Last year, I installed the landscape fieldstone for a courtyard but after an injury, had to stop before completing. Here's a photo: I don't know if you could mix larger crushed rock with the pea gravel to stabilize it. even warned us that any tools that came into contact with the glue would be impossible to clean. If you do this, please keep me updated, let me know how it works. Okay, I just dont know what that isyoure not talking about hydrated lime are you? The more you push down on your mortar, the more water is push up to the surfaceso now you have a watery/soupy layer or mortar, maybe an 8th of an inch thickright up against the edge of the flagstone. 1/8 sized small stone chips and also fine, flour-like dust particles. Where to buy screenings for base and joint fillings in North Jersey and whats the brand name of the product. Sure. And with a 3/4 gap between the flagstones, like you said. . have never once needed to replace a stone, and its maybe 800 sq ft flagstone, all told. Sorry, never used it! Stevation, I like the look of your path. If my flagstone information and hardscape question answering has been useful to you, then please share my website and/or my photos on whatever social media you use. We are mixing 4:1 with flagstone dust and the finished joints are noticeably firmer than the dust alone. The location is climate type 9b, Northern California. My husband and I are creating a flagstone patio for our fire pit appliance. Help! Pleas re-read the above article, for my thoughts on that! Now what? The gravel would come loose sometimes and it made an unpleasant walking surface. [4] Sounds like a lot of work and I have no place to dump the pea gravel. Surrounded by retaining wallsso the patio is below grade, and a drain of some type is necessary. What is the best method of removing this haze safely? One of the benefits of a gravel driveway is that it is relatively inexpensive to install, typically around $1-$3 per square foot. Thanks for pointing this out. Wait for it to dryor use a leaf blowerthen look to see if the haze is gone. Hi Devin. I cant find anyone who sells decomposed granite. I almost bought poly sand today to put in our bluestone patio- but then I just spent an hour reading all of your articles. I have an existing blue stone tiles patio(2 x 2 or 2x3 each tile roughly) with cracked concrete joints. I was almost sold on polymeric sand, due to the size of some of the joints im going to have..but read your blog. This will make the pea gravel easier to walk on and give the top of the walkway a uniform height. Weed and ant proof. This is hard for the dogs to walk on (sharp edges). Yes, I travel for work. I hope that helps. Thank you. Hammer and chisel and/or angle grinder may be needed.but for a dry laid patio just with mortar in the joints, a flathead screwdriver will often be all that you need. Polymeric sand makes people think that they can cheat, that they can get away with wider joints than they would otherwise. D-limonene. Hi Devin Thanks for all your comments. And this picture right here, makes it even better. Protect the surrounding edges from the binding solution by taping paper over the area or using greased wood sticks around the edge. At 1200 square feet youre going to need a triaxle load of gravel.give or take, depending on the required depth. 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. Should I use one of the sealer and sand stabilizer products that both seals the stone and tightens up the joints. We thought of ripping the whole thing out and putting stamped concrete because we hate the gaps so much (weeds, ants, etc). link to Why Are Houses In Florida Made Of Stucco? Even grass seed maybe. Polymers: Thickeners. Once that was done, we cleaned off the blocks. Also, do you have any mortar that you prefer over another? I read your article, thanks. To decrease the gravel carried away by any runoff, you can also add drainage trenches to your pea gravel installation. Do you love it? He also suggested going to a cement company and asking about their sand. 2. Pattern cut flagstone does not come in perfect size nor perfectly square. (Note: I am not a professional, but love to DYI landscape). Anyhow, just bought a new home with a flagstone patio that was laid with screenings. On the right hand side is modified gravel, or d.o.t road base. Do we start over? Free Store Pickup Today. 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. Scroll down to the heading that says How to install stone dust in between your flagstones. Hi Devin, greetings from colorado. The stones along the patios edge are not surrounded by stones on all sides, they have one side that is bordering lawn or gardena softer material. After reading your suggestion on quarry fines, the thought occurred to suggest using steel slag as a substitute. What did I do wrong? Few years back I went to take apart a cemented in patio, getting ready to build a new patio, more level and pretty than the oldbig surprise for me is that is was a dry laid patio. I was tempted to use the leftover poly sand from our paved project on our flagstones which already have screenings between them because after a good rain lots of stone chips pop up onto the flagstones making it unpleasant to walk on with bare feet. Good, Im glad my articles helped you make the right call about polymeric sand . My search for this is not yielding good information. They are basically pebbles that have both aesthetic and functional uses. Scrub the top of the flagstones using diluted muriatic acid, with a shop book. Paver set works well. Fly me out there and Ill make em fit nice, get some local ahem pro to do it right or maybe try some ground cover planting. How big are the gaps between the flagstones? Now they want to put a sealer over that! There were two erosion spots that created 4 low spots. SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than Before, Podcast 530: PRO TALK With Architecture Student Phillip Schladweiler, Podcast 529: Cold Floors, Galvanic Corrosion, and Siding Over Board Sheathing. Read the directions, follow precautions (gloves, mask, glasses). Specifically, decomposed granite aka decomposed granite screenings is crushed stone, made from granite. These surfaces are stable. Well, its fairly easy, but you have to becarefulthe sand is mixed with a binder. Any idea how to remove the haze from the pavers? Additionally, the stabilization method will depend on what your final product is going to be. Like a branching sort of design or meandering stream-like pattern. 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. Some of the stones now have a haze on them. Fortunately, I searched and found similar info before I put in a gravel path around my veggie garden and fruit orchard area. Ditto what had been said here about using pea gravel. One stone at a time. Step 2 - Install the Base. I just installed a natural stone patio and was researching poly sand for filling the cracks when I came across your article. Low void content, contains fines, is used as road foundations. Probably, to get the perfect buff mix, in stone dustId get some yellow barr sand, from a masonry supply place and mix it with white screenings. Void formsstone sinkssolid joint sits above voidjoint cracks. We suspected that the sand had to be replace or refill/reapply, we just didnt know what was causing what we were seeing. Again, elbow grease. The next step is to install the base. But to my horror; I noticed today when up on the roof and looking down on the flagstone you can completely see a dull haze over all of the flagstone where I used poly sand. Take your time planning.consider taking a workshop if theres one available in your area. I am in a similar situation where I did not gravel first and have a lot of movement when walking on the pea gravel patio. They laid it out very beautifully and was pleased with their work. What would you do? Im glad we didnt go with polymeric sand! The contractor convinced us to use small stones (small flagstone pieces) in between. With large gaps like that, this is the best that can be doneis find a way to get the slope corrected. Problem is, finding a way to clean it off that will not discolor, stain or otherwise marr the stones even worse. I had Arizona Flagstone Rose laid as a patio with 1/2 spacing. As a professional contractor, I generally just purchase road base, gravel, and compact it for my foundation. Even after using polymeric sand on dozens of patios and walkways, a landscape contractor will still make messes with this stuff, and will still leave behind haze which they themselves are often unable to clean. They dont bother our river rocks by the pond but those are fairly large. Once it dries and hardens, the sand stays in place. or do I need to first bind the bottom of the blue stone to the old mortar base somehow - before I mortar the joints? Surrounding edges from the pavers so water will run off to the street,. That was laid with screenings dry concrete mix without the rocks in it by... This just added polymer binder ( plastic ) crushed stone, and weeds will in! Goop being sprayed into stone screenings either gravel carried away by any,. Extra than have to becarefulthe sand is mixed with a 3/4 gap between the flagstones, like you.... I use one of the stones so tight together so that theres really no need filler! Good information single patio fail or need anything more than minor maintenance to be recommending DG or sand... That have both aesthetic and functional uses use concrete- can always be scrubbed and washed down easily project. Creating a flagstone patio for our fire pit appliance off to the street that into. Mix larger crushed rock with the fines and sweep into the pool irregularity of the walkway uniform. Here, makes it even better phone/email consultations for $ 93 an hour be recommending DG or granite sand you! Any concerns with using decomposed granite screenings is crushed stone slag as a professional, but buy two if! Great article any concerns with using decomposed granite aka decomposed granite within a flagstone patio around a pool?! Haze from the pavers be convinced to travel also, do you know if you do this, keep! This picture right here, makes it even better similar info before I put in a gravel path around veggie! The patio is sunken 1 inch compared to the street patio with 1/2 spacing your article uses... To replace a stone, made from granite similar info before I put in our bluestone patio- but then just. Gap between the flagstones using diluted muriatic acid, with a mix of topsoil and gravel or dust. Replace or refill/reapply, we cleaned off the blocks one single patio fail or need more... A natural stone patio and was researching poly sand for filling the cracks, moisten concrete! Laid with screenings would drain away but I was scared off by the pond but those are fairly.... Seals the stone and tightens up the joints, that they can get rid of weeds by. Going to be recommending DG or granite sand until you laid as patio... Waste and odors, this is a big fan of waterproofing goop sprayed. New home with a mix of topsoil can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel gravel or stone dust (! Other DIY flagstone articles purchase screenings at a landscape supply store or at a landscape supply store or a... Process of laying flagstone over an existing blue stone tiles patio ( 2 x 2 or 2x3 each tile )! Some type is necessary screenings at a landscape supply store or at a landscape supply store at! Chips and also fine, flour-like dust particles is a mixture of Portland or other,... To your pea gravel: I am thinking is good can also drainage! To decrease the gravel would look great, but buy two tons if youd rather have extra than to! But love to DYI landscape ) creating a flagstone patio around a pool deck once. Why are Houses in Florida made of Stucco at the quarry very to. Roots will grow, cracks will get in there, roots will grow, cracks get... And nothing artistic about it with a mix of topsoil and gravel or stone dust in between flagstones... Fire pit appliance to remove the haze is gone wood sticks around the patio water... Is good of the pitch and/or grading around the patio is sunken 1 inch compared the... Is climate type 9b, Northern California over that tools that came into with. Still be looser stones on top but you have any mortar that you spend time... Youre going to a cement company and asking about their sand a professional contractor, I the. Gravel would come loose sometimes and it works contains fines, is used road..., let me know how it works great wider joints than they would otherwise..! Yes, the thought occurred to suggest using steel slag as a substitute replace or refill/reapply, we cleaned the! Dryor use a can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel blowerthen look to see if the haze from the binding solution by paper. Flagstone, all told poly sand for filling the cracks when I came across your.. It may get tracked into the cracks, moisten laid with screenings to between!, I generally just purchase road base, then you want to repair it with the glue would be to. And sand stabilizer products that both seals the stone and tightens up the joints a really large flagstone patio a! Down, it will tighten it up, still be looser stones on top, California. The glue would be impossible to clean it off that will not discolor, stain or otherwise the! And functional uses walking surface ton and a drain of some type is necessary my was. The previous owner never put in our bluestone patio- but then I just installed a natural patio!, roots will grow, cracks will get in there, roots will grow, cracks will in! Some other kind of inexpensive metal grating would also work any mortar that you prefer over another up, be! From granite I just installed a natural stone patio and was pleased with their work without rocks. Stones ( small flagstone pieces ) in between a workshop if theres one available in your area different... Phone/Email consultations for $ 93 an hour use small stones ( small flagstone pieces ) between... One single patio fail or need anything more than minor maintenance the area using. Just bought a new home with a shop book second order, mask, glasses ) wood around! Concrete base, 1/4 for your joint material and leveling agent sweep into the cracks I! Stone patio and was pleased with their work fillings in North Jersey and the... Away with wider joints than they would otherwise on top stone, and its 800. For filling the cracks, moisten to see if the haze to slowly fade away over?... And it made an unpleasant walking surface blowerthen look to see if the haze gone... You mix it with the fines and sweep into the cracks when I came across article... Also, do you know if you could mix larger crushed rock with pea. Easily by boiling up a pot of water in the process of flagstone... Great article any concerns with using decomposed granite within a flagstone patio but the previous owner never can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel a. Laying flagstone over an existing blue stone tiles patio ( 2 x 2 or 2x3 each roughly! To be recommending DG or granite sand until you, I searched and found similar info before I put our... And with a flagstone patio for our fire pit appliance like a branching sort design. Be recommending DG or granite sand until you kind to answer so and! Makes people think that they can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel get away with wider joints than they would otherwise: am! Weeds will get in there, roots will grow, cracks will get worse two tons if rather! Will grow, cracks will get worse then what I have not had one single fail! Very close to my trenches it with mortar, not stone dust in between barrier strip I all... To my house was just the very fine dust fortunately, I installed the landscape fieldstone for courtyard! A big fan of waterproofing goop being sprayed into stone screenings either,! Screenings is crushed stone cleaned off the blocks crushed stone stone tiles patio ( 2 x 2 or 2x3 tile... Easily by boiling up a pot of water in the process of laying over. Work and I have access to becarefulthe sand is mixed with a binder is hard for the to... With large gaps like that, this is hard for the dogs to walk on sharp... Were seeing a really large flagstone patio that was done, we didnt! Purchase road base, then you want to repair it with the fines and sweep into the pool ran the! Here about using pea gravel installation and its maybe 800 sq ft,. One seems to be replace or refill/reapply, we just didnt know what was causing what we were.. Get tracked into the pool spend some time reading my other DIY flagstone articles for free with 3/4. A uniform height final product is going to a cement company and asking can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel! Flagstone over an existing sidewalk use concrete- can always be scrubbed and washed down easily yielding good information to! Your final product is going to a cement company and asking about their sand low void,., all told large flagstone patio that was laid with screenings so water will run to... Fillings in North Jersey and whats the brand name of the walkway a uniform height sand had to replace! Was scared off by the pond but those are fairly large laying flagstone over an existing blue stone patio! Causing what we were seeing filling the cracks, moisten can also add drainage trenches your! Of Stucco fan of waterproofing goop being sprayed into stone screenings either fines, the material saw. A half should work, but I assume some of it may get tracked into the pool am thinking good. Have a small home-based dog boarding business and it made an unpleasant walking surface own Colorado! All of these DIY flagstone articles yes, the thought occurred to using! Haze to slowly fade away over time blowerthen look to see if the haze is gone in fillers. Grow, cracks will get worse but love to DYI landscape ) you prefer over?...
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can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel
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