[bzarboni]

Hi all,

I realize this is not DIY, but I was hoping to get some advice from you (I've had some good advice on here!)

We have a contractor putting in an interlock walkway for us. He's a nice guy, and seems to be very accommodating, but I think that he's not doing the job right in a couple of places. We've talked to him about it, and he says "don't worry, the way I'm doing it is just fine, the other way is just overkill".

The problem I'm having is that I think what he's doing is wrong in a couple of places, but I don't know what the "right" way to do things is...

For example, he's put 3-4 inches of stone dust down in order to create a grade for the walkway on top compacted GA. Up near our front door, that means the walkway is now higher than the grass line by about 3-4 inches, but he's not putting any kind of retention in to keep the stone dust from washing away over time. He is secruing the bricks down, but I'm worried that the stone dust under them will wash away over time.
He says that if we just put down some dirt beside the stones and put grass seed down, that should prevent the stone dust from washing out.


Hopefully this diagram will explain what I'm worried about a little better. Note two things:
1) Nothing to hold the Stone dust in
2) the Stone dust overlaps the compacted GA by about 4 inches.



Thanks all!

 

[DangerMouse]

yes, i think that's a good idea if he puts down some dirt beside the stones and puts grass seed down...

DM

 

[bzarboni]

yes, i think that's a good idea if he puts down some dirt beside the stones and puts grass seed down...

DM

Will that be enough to hold the stone dust in over time?

 

[DangerMouse]

up to the metal retainer and spikes? i would think so, but i could be wrong...
you'll probably need to have him waterproof the metal from exposure to the dirt.
(notice i said HIM, not you!) if he expects good references from you in the future, he'd better be sure it's not going to all wash away!

DM

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Why wasn't the walkway installed at grass level?
IE dig down to put in the base material

 

[bzarboni]

The contractor built up from the driveway to the house with a 1/4" per foot grade. The area around the front door had settled quite a bit. He packed the GA to the grass level, but added 3-4" stone dust to bring the grade up..
Is this the right way to have done it?

 

[Bondo]

Is this the right way to have done it?

Ayuh,... As long as it's top-dirted from the top of the pavers out a couple feet,+ seeded,...
Yes, that's Fine...

 

[Bob Mariani]

Crusher run (item #4 process) should be used for a stable base and drainage under the pavers. This gets compacted in 2" lifts. 4" minimum is needed. Then 1/4" of stone dust is all that is needed. Up to 2" is fine, but not more. The grass should be level with the walkway. Plastic edging is used to separate the two and must be used. Joints should be filled with polymeric sand. Sand or stone dust will wash away and weeds will grow. The polymeric sand will prevent this. A sealer is also available for these joints and should be used.