What is the proper drainage fill to use under a thick flagstone walkway?

5/11/2015 at 5:02:21 PM

Hi Pamela,

Your best bet is to take all the stones up and re-grade the patio using a (Granular A) gravel base, then placing a limestone screening across your graded base remember to slope water away from your house. Once you relay your flagstone use a polymuric sand to fill the gaps this will prevent weeds from growing, and ants from building colonies in between your new walkway, and will also act like a mortar and hold the shape of your walkway.

Happy Landscaping

5/12/2015 at 11:25:05 AM

Hi Pamela,

Another option to make your path more "natural" is to remove all the stones (but keep the pattern - lay them out on your driveway in the order you want them) and build up the pathway with topsoil. But make sure it's higher than the gardens. Relay your stones and plant Thyme or Irish Moss between them. These are hardy plants that won't get damaged when you walk on them and will actually feel cool on the bare feet. There are other plants you can also use. Your local garden supply can help you with that.

Hope that helps.

5/12/2015 at 12:58:56 PM

Thank you both for good advice!

I definitely want good drainage, as well as a natural look, therefore, I'll try a combination of both your ideas. I understand the grading/height of stones and fill, will solve the water/mud pooling problem. My yard is 22'x 50'long, of which 12' is ground deck, no driveway, or even access to the back yard, save from the house (city life). One stone at a time and patience will see this through.

Thanks again!!

5/13/2015 at 4:42:55 PM

Pamela, o

One way of keeping track of your stones is to number them with either chalk or pencil on the pathway, take a picture of them numbered for future reference, and stack them on your deck. (Don't forget to cover them so the rain doesn't wash the numbers off.) This would be much easier and less taxing than one at a time. And by raising your path up all at once, you'll get a more even pathway.

5/13/2015 at 5:32:55 PM

Brilliant...will do!

Thanks, Mike!