Champlain Stone Ltd. Quarriers of Natural and Landscaping Stone

Do It Yourself

BUILDING A PATIO/WALKWAY

The method described here is a basic, standard landscaping procedure. Champlain Stone, Ltd. cannot be held liable or considered responsible for any damage or injury resulting from the construction of a stone wall utilizing our products or information included below.

Click here for Building a Stone Wall

Tools Needed:
Everything needed is available at your neighborhood home improvement store
  • heavy hammer
  • filter fabric
  • measuring tape
  • metal hoe
  • carpenter's level
  • crushed stone
  • gardening shovel
  • bow or garden rake
    (sturdier than a leaf rake)
  • mulch (optional)
  • gloves (optional)

STONE WALKWAYS AND PATIOS

To add the character and charm of a natural stone walkway or patio, just follow these steps:

Step 1

Dig out the earth from the area you will lay the stone to about 6 inches deep (6 to 12 inches deep for colder climates). This area should be as level as you can get it. You will need to set an edging all around the area at the desired level. Edging will make it easier to set the stone as well as retain the sand if the walkway/patio is built above the grass level. Use a 1" x 10" wood edge staked into the ground. Make sure the edging is level.

Step 2

To prevent weeds, you may want to lay down a weed control filter fabric. Next, fill in the area with crushed stone 3 to four inches deep (If this area is to be used as a driveway, it is best to run and compress the crushed stone with a tamper 6 inches deep, then a layer of 2-3" deep stone set into this).
FOR COLDER CLIMATES: Pour 4 inches of concrete on top of the crushed stone (do not use cement for a driveway). Set 6 x 6 wire mesh reinforcement about half way into the depth of the concrete. When the concrete is beginning to set, roughen the top surface with a rake to insure bonding.

Step 3

Use a damp grout (stone dust or a sand/cement mix) to set the stones on. Shovel this mixture into the area and power-tamp to level it 2 to 3 inches from the top (depending on the thickness of the stone). Power-tamping will prevent sinking.

Step4

Begin in a corner of the area. Lay the stone in a pattern along one side, and work toward the opposite side leaving 1/2 inch joints between stones. You will want to avoid lines of continuous joints if possible.

Step 5

Tamp each stone level and into place with a wooden or rubber mallet. You may need to place additional grout under thin stones, or scrape some grout out from under thicker stones to make them level.

Step 6

Turn each stone up one at a time. Wet the bottom of each stone with the Portland cement and water mixture -- consistency of heavy cream (works better with a latex additive).

Step 7

Lay the stone back down and tamp lightly to set in and level into place.

Step 8

Continue 6 through 7 until the entire area is completed. The walkway/patio will need to set overnight.

Step 9

Once you have let the area set overnight, prepare a mixture of 2 parts sand to one part cement. Fill in the joints with a jointing tool. When the joint is almost set, press the mortar down firmly with a jointing tool or slicker. Let harden, then rub off excess mortar beads with a dry cloth. With a clean wet sponge, wipe off each stone. Do not touch the joints.