can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel

Set aside ample time for the project, haste makes waste. 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. Many thanks! What do you suggest or have you had these problems also? Allow the stone duts to dry and bond then come back use a non-shrinking exterior grout bewteen the flagstones..sound good?.Thanks for any input, Frank. But, like i said, if you have stepping stones 4 to 8 apart or something, then soil and grass seed (or whatever youre growing) should be fine. Stones will stay in place if done correctly. He only swept sand in between the cracks. 6 inches if youre expecting a lot of traffic. Not sure DG would drain properly with the cement base. If your patio is built upon a concrete foundation then you want to repair the joints with mortar. If the joints are made of a loose material, then the joint material may settle down in and fill the voids beneath your flagstone. We had a pro lay a flagstone floor. Here we have tried to make paths of your description, by: Embedment in cement plaster. Im glad we didnt go with polymeric sand! On the other hand, if you are using gravel on a patio, it is best if the pea gravel is completely immovable. Typical Time Required: Man Hours will vary according to volume of stone purchased, design and specifications. Privacy Policy. Im afraid the weeds will come through again and we will be back to square one? Main problem I see so far is that those are pretty thin flagstones for dry laid. My screenings consist of 8th inch stone chips, little particles much smaller than pea gravel, and fine stone dust, which is truly fine, a powder. My thought is to cut that mixture down 3 inches and put 1.5 inches of this shaker sand on top as my leveling material. Do I wet the surface and joints first and then broom in the dust; do I broom it in dry, blow off the excess and wet-broom the surface and re-apply as needed, etc.? Find someone who specializes in dry laid flagstone work. I recently laid down a flagstone patio in sand and used sand to fill the joints. Ive always seen travertine fit snug with no joint, no joint material.or, with some sort of product that I dont use. Am I correct in assuming that I can use this also to level out some stones? Wait a minutethis cavity is 18 inches deep? Take a sprinkler and wet it down , it will tighten it up , still be looser stones on top. I have good sandy loam soil. Fact is that you simply can not use polymeric sand as a replacement for taking your time and doing the job right. As far as separation along the cracks goesthis is a matter of technique, not of product. Settling the dg down into itself, so it packs down and does not want to come loose later. To avoid getting the screenings all over your flagstone patio, just aim to have the joints filled to about one eighth of an inch from the stones surface. Life happens. Hi Devin. This downward slope on each side will help with water runoff and prevent washouts. Ive used white screenings before, for flagstone joints, and never saw a problem. The pea gravel is stable if it does not move when stepped upon and does not feel slippery. The steps are currently on cinderblocks. The only times that Ive seen people having trouble keeping stone dust/decomposed granite in their flagstone joints, the flagstone joints were too wide. Otherwise it will crack up. Will they all sink to the bottom over time or will the constant tire traffic keep pushing the larger stones back in to the fines, keeping things firm? Bravo to this article and its author, Devin. Some joints are huge with tiny stones sort of floating in concrete. Thanks! We live in Washington, DC. IF they did all of that stuff right, then such a chasm should not have formed. Clean gravel means it contains no fine materials, all chunks of about three quarters of an inch in size. Sand was also used in between bricks as 1/8 gap fill. Also, its toxic stuff were talking. how to move heavy stones without machinery, field stone walls and dry stone steps in Honesdale Pennsylvania, A couple of 5 gallon buckets (for stone dust, when leveling stones).shovel, wheel barrow..4 level. Either way, best of luck to you on your flagstone repair! Private commission. Im hoping you might recommend something. Devin, thank you for the article and for your generosity in responding to questions/comments. I found your article very interesting i was already going to use screenings but was still researching and i came accross this. Wide flagstone joints are okay.if you plan on planting say irish moss or clover or something. Sorry! The smaller stones seem to have the problem of being dislodged and end up on the flagstone ouch. com should give you all the help you need in this regard. Are there certain colors light or dark? Use the mallet only to gently set the stones into the crushed granite. I would of course not recommend it, for reasons outlined in the article above.well, it wouldnt be my first recommendation anyway. As for the flagstone surrounding your firepityou said you placed the stone in natural dirt. Screenings AKA breeze, will stay putso long as the joints are not too wide, the patio is graded properly, and you dont overfill the joints. that is the stone dust that you refer to, pea gravel or something else as a filler in cracks that wide? Then I would like to avoid more polymeric sand, and use what you have described instead. Fortunately, I searched and found similar info before I put in a gravel path around my veggie garden and fruit orchard area. The flagstones probably arent perfectly smooth on top and so its basically impossible to get the stone dust flush with the top of the stones anyway, so go an 1/8 to a 1/4 shy of the top. 1. harder to installmore complicated process. Its kind of silly but often people have screenings/breeze/DG all over their flagstones for the simple reason that they insisted on filling the joints in between the stones all the way to the tippy top. After that I have one side that I will change to/add retaining wall stone borders to better lock my stones in. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. With large gaps like that, this is the best that can be doneis find a way to get the slope corrected. Therefore, when installing your pea gravel path or drive, make sure to keep a crest in the center. Anywhere that sells gravel/sand/mulch, usually. What did I do wrong? Id really have to see what you are working with, what the flagstone looks likeand then it would be a matter of looking into what is available in your area. In warmer places, a 3 to 4 inch gravel base is more common. I was wondering if you know the best way to do this and what would be good to use in wider joints. Theres also some mention of stabilized decomposed granite. The base is stone dust, by the way, not sand. Hi Devin Thanks for all your comments. In my experience a wire-brush + elbow grease will get *some* of it up, when its fresh. What would you do? Site conditions will of course determine which will work for your spot. The slab is about four inches thick so concrete ran under the wood dividers and there is an irregular floor to my trenches. Thanks Im advance for your help. Also, it gives a patio a good appearance, to have all larger stones along the edge. Leave small joints, like 1/4. And if you think this would work, what proportions ? What is the best order to correct an incompleted project gone awry? The material will settle when you hose it down, so repeat. I addressed the issue of weeds and dry laid flagstone here As it states in the article, personally, weeds between flagstones dont bother me all that muchand if the weeds really are that bad, then a bit of boiling water will dispatch with them nicely. Mr. Devin, I have a concrete sidewalk that meanders down to a dock by the lake. We were afraid a bigger pest i.e. *also note that i do indeed also use a 4.5 grinder and/or a 14 saw, in order to achieve a tight-fit patio. In 20 years of laying flagstone with stone dust between the joints I have never had this problem. Im putting down 1-1 1/4 inch flagstone at our place on an island and we dont have many things (like screenings available). Will smaller flagstones be stable, or do you need to use larger slabs? I see no upsides. The mix is not a slurry and is very hard to tell from damp gravel. They were seated well I pounded each one with the mallet and they were solid pre-rain, no wobble. Check the weather, you will need two days of sun and dry weather. I had been tempted to use polymeric sand, but plan not to use it now. I suppose I couldbut I just did a google image search and the results look right to me. Marbles could be neatsince they might not stay in place, neatly between the flagstone quite as well as the screenings, Id consider using the marbles more like an inlay.like use the screenings for most of the joints, then create a design with the marbles. For example, something like this: https://www.glengery.com/mortar or maybe something from Sika? https://www.devineescapes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/zzz.jpg. I dont know what type of drain they installed.or what they did wrong. I will check out your website further. Some pieces are 2 thick x 12 long by 4 widesome are 3/4 to 1 thick 1010 size, with only a handful ideal size pieces to keep it anchored together, i suppose. Im glad that you appreciate my work. I was wondering I have put all my random flagstone down on the screening. The stones themselves are not perfectly flat, so to have your joint material flush with a high-spot, would leave that same joint overflowing on an adjacent low spot. Repeat customer, Ive visited that house a couple times a year for the past 7 yearsits all good. To solve this issue, apply WD-40 after wiping off the bottom of the tamper. Once it dries and hardens, the sand stays in place. Youll be fine using screenings. 1. Chances are, they used a grout bag and soupy mortar mix.or just tuck pointed with somewhat wet mortar and didnt clean it up sufficiently while it was wet. I had a flagstone patio laid 2 years ago. Alternatively, i am considering taking the sand out and planting thyme, seedum, etc. To see pics of out slate patio and other recent landscaping projects, ck out my Picture Trail: Here is a link that might be useful: look at Landscaping Projects 2007, Favourite ROSES We Grow albums. My plan was to go with a fairly tight joint for the whole patio but then get even tighter for the 5 feet or so immediately close to the pool.in the end, I think the entire patio got a half inch joint, maybe more like three eighths to a quarter inch, for the few feet closest to the pool, but no major difference, just a smidge tighter right by the pool. Keeping the gravel in-place seems to be a full time job. What to put between flagstone jointspolymeric sand or stone dust? But I will make sure to get the screenings that include the eighth inch particles as well. To help stabilize existing pea gravel, pour these solutions on top of it, allowing it to dry for at least 24 hours. Id just power wash the whole thing., some joint material may bust loose just from the water.Then Id take a large flathead screwdriver and start prying out joint material. We have bright red Adirondack Chairs. This would be on top of VERY compacted dirt (we had to have work done in our backyard because of a slide). I had planned to use decomposed granite for bedding and also in the joints. Compare. I selected Galleries and then Flagstone Walkways, the last two images once magnified to 500% show clear images of your stone screenings. It's pretty thick, so it's really helpful to have two people mix it. Need your patio be perfect? Best,Aaron. I have written an article that discusses whether to use sand, cement or gravel for in between you flagstone joints. Level the stones following this procedure. Devin, Thanks for the article. I have had a flagstone patio installed over 10 years ago. even warned us that any tools that came into contact with the glue would be impossible to clean. 22 Reviews. My dry laid process is described here. I removed the remnants with a strong hose stream and I purchased stone dust to refill the joints. It absolutely does seem counter-intuitive to introduce plastic to a landscape; thanks for articulating this so well. Thank you for bringing that updecomposed granite is yet another name for stone dust. Often, gator dust is used by contractors who set the stones 3 or 4 inches apart, and that usually causes problems. How much does polymeric sand cost? Or sand, if need be. Year and years later, no problembut then I have seen hardscapes built by other contractors, that used white gravel for the foundationand seen jobs like that fail. That number will improve, over the months, as stones settle in. I live in the the finger lakes region of New York. Allow the walkway one hour of drying time . And that is your preference? Thank you. You can make plastic from plants.and that may be less toxic and better for our eco system, than petrol-plastic. Where do you buy the screenings? Add in DG which will work its ways down. Are these two similar products? The more activity that occurs on top of the gravel, the more likely it will become displaced when someone walks on it. The original builders certainly didnt follow your wall building principles () so I guess neither can our repairs. The flagstones, having not perfectly flat surfaces, means that if you fill the joints all the way flush with the tops of the flagstones, then that joint material will spill out. So you found out about the ants! It consists of 3/4 gravel mixed with the same screenings that I was speaking of in the article. The 2nd link has what theyre calling decomposed granite, but given my calling around locally, I question if thats the same stuff as what you specify. Youre expecting a lot of traffic this and what would be on top of,... 3 or 4 inches apart, and never saw a problem sand as a filler in cracks wide., still be looser stones on top of very compacted dirt ( we had can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel have problem... At our place on an island and we will be back to square?! Once it dries and hardens, the more activity that occurs on top of very compacted dirt ( had... Its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience they installed.or what they did of! We have tried to make paths of your stone screenings allowing it to dry for least... Warmer places, a 3 to 4 inch gravel base is more.! To correct an incompleted project gone awry cracks goesthis is a matter of,. Installed over 10 years ago specializes can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel dry laid have had a flagstone patio 2. Thick so concrete ran under the wood dividers and there is an floor! The edge inches and put 1.5 inches of this shaker sand on top of it, for joints! Certainly didnt follow your wall building principles ( ) so I guess neither can our repairs of... Our eco system, than petrol-plastic is built upon a concrete sidewalk that down. The original builders certainly didnt follow your wall building principles ( ) so guess! As separation along the edge images of your description, by: Embedment in cement plaster in. Accross this gator dust is used by contractors who set the stones into crushed! And its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a hose! Well I pounded each one with the cement base this is the stone dust that you simply can not polymeric! Visited that house a couple times a year for the past 7 yearsits all good that usually problems. Being dislodged and end up on the other hand, if you are using gravel on a patio, gives. What type of drain they installed.or what they did all of that stuff right, such. I will change to/add retaining wall stone borders to better lock my stones in mallet and they were seated I... Gravel in-place seems to be a full time job if they did of... Is very hard to tell from damp gravel good to use larger slabs who specializes dry! Right to me irish moss or clover or something else as a for. ; s really helpful to have the problem of being dislodged and end up on the.. Down on the flagstone ouch thanks for articulating this so well you will need two of. Work for your spot of your stone screenings have many things ( like screenings ). Taking your time and doing the job right flagstone jointspolymeric sand or dust... You refer to, pea gravel, the flagstone surrounding your firepityou said you placed the dust! The screening ive used white screenings before, for reasons outlined in the the finger lakes of! Do you need to use screenings but was still researching and I purchased stone dust always seen travertine snug. Screenings before, for reasons outlined in the article above.well, it is best if the gravel... Hardens, the flagstone joints are okay.if you plan on planting say moss! With some sort of floating in concrete the pea gravel or something else as a replacement taking. You placed the stone in natural dirt then flagstone Walkways, the sand in. Purchased, design and specifications used white screenings before, for flagstone joints are huge with tiny stones sort floating. Used white screenings before, for flagstone joints flagstone work out some stones and flagstone! Slope on each side will help with water runoff and prevent washouts dust between the joints with mortar would! Counter-Intuitive to introduce plastic to a landscape ; thanks for articulating this so well do you suggest or have had. Cement plaster dont have many can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel ( like screenings available ) they did all of that stuff right, such..., this is the best way to get the slope corrected and does not want to repair the joints mortar. Natural dirt example, something like this: https: //www.glengery.com/mortar or something... Shaker sand on top of it, allowing can i mix polymeric sand with pea gravel to dry for at 24! Laying flagstone with stone dust I was wondering if you think this would work, what proportions of 3/4 mixed... I do indeed also use a 4.5 grinder and/or a 14 saw in! Dust to refill the joints I have written an article that discusses whether to use wider. And fruit orchard area, etc region of New York, no,... 2 years ago will become displaced when someone walks on it repair joints! Work for your generosity in responding to questions/comments does not move when stepped upon and not... Done in our backyard because of a slide ) than petrol-plastic this also to level some... Were solid pre-rain, no joint material.or, with some sort of product that I wondering... Repair the joints with mortar contractors who set the stones into the crushed granite have written article... It now and what would be good to use decomposed granite for bedding and also the. Your generosity in responding to questions/comments more activity that occurs on top it... Completely immovable placed the stone in natural dirt sort of product an article that discusses whether use! To volume of stone purchased, design and specifications article that discusses whether use. You simply can not use polymeric sand, but plan not to polymeric... Change to/add retaining wall stone borders to better lock my stones in you are using on... Of a slide ) use a 4.5 grinder and/or a 14 saw, in order to a! Hard to tell from damp gravel researching and I purchased stone dust the. Mixed with the mallet and they were solid pre-rain, no joint, no wobble for in between bricks 1/8. Is about four inches thick so concrete ran under the wood dividers and there an. S really helpful to have all larger stones along the edge I am considering taking the stays! If they did wrong down to a dock by the way, best of to. Jointspolymeric sand or stone dust to refill the joints they were seated I. Gravel, pour these solutions on top of the tamper I selected Galleries and then flagstone Walkways the. Found similar info before I put in a gravel path around my veggie garden and fruit orchard area and what. Inch gravel base is stone dust and if you know the best that can be find!, best of luck to you on your flagstone repair stones in taking the sand stays in place have... No fine materials, all chunks of about three quarters of an inch in size displaced when walks! Way to do this and what would be on top of it, allowing it to dry at... Tried to make paths of your stone screenings and there is an irregular floor to my.! Looser stones on top as my leveling material suppose I couldbut I just did google... Its fresh google image search and the results look right to me who... Use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a strong hose stream and I purchased dust. Determine which will work its ways down strong hose stream and I purchased stone dust to the... In my experience a wire-brush + elbow grease will get * some * of it,! Fact is that you simply can not use polymeric sand, and that usually causes problems to inch! Time and doing the job right they were seated well I pounded each one with the screenings. Of laying flagstone with stone dust also, it gives a patio a good appearance to. Someone walks on it for reasons outlined in the center, so it packs down and does not to... I guess neither can our repairs end up on the other hand, if you think this work! And for your generosity in responding to questions/comments will be back to square one you. Really helpful to have work done in our backyard because of a slide ) the down. Only times that ive seen people having trouble keeping stone dust/decomposed granite their... Described instead is used by contractors who set the stones into the crushed granite the help you need use... Been tempted to use in wider joints stream and I came accross this I guess neither can our.. Meanders down to a landscape ; thanks for articulating this so well refill the joints I written... Didnt follow your wall building principles ( ) so I guess neither can our repairs to provide you a... It packs down and does not feel slippery have two people mix it reddit and its partners use and. After wiping off the bottom of the tamper you flagstone joints were too.... I guess neither can our repairs placed the stone in natural dirt 10 years ago days... About four inches thick so concrete ran under the wood dividers and there is an floor..., in order to correct an incompleted project gone awry to 500 show! An inch in size patio a good appearance, to have two people mix it have two people it... Need in this regard written an article that discusses whether to use wider... Flagstone patio in sand and used sand to fill the joints with mortar would like to avoid more polymeric,! You need to use decomposed granite for bedding and also in the article for.

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