Replies

1. 
   IronHelix | Sep 17, 2004 02:30pm | #1

   What is the "slight slope"...exactly.....drop per foot, or total drop on the 60'?

   Do you wish to have any steps in the incline or only a flat surfaced incline?

   What is the nature of your soils that you will set the stone into?

   The distance between your stones of 24" seems a too far apert for comfortable striding.....especially for people that are elevationally challenged.  You might consider setting just a few to check for "stride" versus spacing".

   How large are the flagstone peices?

   Gravel betweenpathway stones can be a hazard....a single loose rock on a flat stone can turn an ankle or cause a fall.

   ..............Iron Helix

1. 
   ChrisV | Sep 17, 2004 05:34pm | #2

   Iron Thanks for the feedback, the first 16' of the 60' run is on an incline , it a ~1.25"/ft raise, the grade is an very hard packed soil/sand mixture, the stepping stones are ~12" x 18" I will deffinately do a test layout for the walking stride.

   Chris

1. 
   CapnMac | Sep 17, 2004 07:13pm | #3

   Here's a quick sketch of what I was picturing.  The spacing is 6" between stones with the gravel bed constrained between metal edging.

   Now, it's AZ, so frost heave is not a big issue, but torrential rain (when it does) is.  I'd be inclined to a thoroughly compacted bed course of CAT-5 or the like (there are other names for the base gravel course).  Then bedd the flags in rock dust or sharpsand, and fill the path with a good decorative ("pea") type of gravel. 

   Your slope is around 1 in 125 ( 16*12=192/1.5=128), so, you probably don't need drain tile under the path.  The path will drain in a rain, so you need to think about where the water will go at the bottom of the path.

   Hope that helpsOccupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

1. 
   ChrisV | Sep 17, 2004 07:55pm | #4

   Cap,

      Thanks for the drawing, you are dead on with the design idea, the only difference is I will not need the metal edging because once side is a concrete slab and the other is a brick border and I will be bring the steping stones/rock flush with the concrete slab. The reason for using the 3/4" to 1 -1-3/4 river rock is we put 2" of it into a driveway on the west side of the house (path is on east side) and we are trying to not mix material to much...thats when I thought laying the stepping stone in a sand bed or rock bed  would get sloppy with the river rock and you do make a good point about the rains...the few times it does in AZ, it is heavy and I am trying to avoid a washout on the sand idea.

   Now I'm thinking if I layed down the sand/crushed stone fot the steppping stones then layed down the stepping stones in position, then covered it all with landscape fabric (make custouts for the steps), then dropped the river rock...?

   Chris

1. 
   CapnMac | Sep 17, 2004 09:45pm | #5

   then covered it all with landscape fabric

   Hmm.  You said previously that its hard sand/clay, so you could do it that way.  Around here, I use geotex onder walks, then a base, then a landscape fabric (for weed control) if it's not a solid walk.  The geotex helps resist point upheavals from expansive soils here in the Brazos river valley.

   You definitely do not what's at my house, flat stones set between a loose brick border with one layer of gravel in between, all just laid on the sod--it sinks.  (Carpenter's house has no shingles, cobbler's kids hae nae shoes--I'll dig up my bad path some day . . . <g>)Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

2. 
   ChrisV | Sep 17, 2004 09:57pm | #6

   Cap,

   The main purpose for the landscape fabric was weed control but I am thinking maybe it could help stablaize the sand base in heavy down pour and it will stop the sand mixing with the river rock which would look bad. Seems like theres not a clear cut way of doing this one....hopefully I will figure it out by tommorow morning....

   Chris

3. 
   CapnMac | Sep 18, 2004 12:26am | #7

   andscape fabric was weed control but I am thinking maybe it could help stablaize

   Ought to, I was thinking out loud, so to speak, as I occasionally use both.

   Hope one of "our" resident exterminaters will chime in--since this is up against the house slab on one side, do we/should we consider future treatments?Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

2. 
   IronHelix | Sep 18, 2004 02:28pm | #8

   Thinking about the layout.....first 16 ft with an incline @ 1.25"/ft (total rise of 20") and then I am asumming that the remaining 46 ft is almost flat/level?

   A slope of 1.25" per ft of run exceeds the maximum slope for a safely constructed inclined access.....the max reccomended is 1"/ft....and the best feeling and easiest incline is about a 1/2" per foot.

   You could increase the length of run from 16' to 20'-30' or more to reduce the slope to under 1"/ft.  A little excavation and extra planning would be required to do the elevation transitions. 

   Or you could divide the 16' into level sections with a simple stone step risers at appropriate points.   Three seven inch risers = 21", which covers your rise in the first 16', less or more as needed.  Four 6" risers woud = 20"of rise.

   I would bed the stone directly to the raw undisturbed soil (no sod or organics) with a leveling layer of "CA 16-" (crushed aggregate 3/8" size and below, including the dust). Add geotextile if you wish and fill with your pea gravel/landscape rock.

   I still caution against lose landscaping stone mixed in as fill between solid surface walk areas...a definite twist and fall hazard.....even worse on inclines. Sad stories with lifelong consequences.

   Consider placing the stepping stones above the level of the loose stone and in a continuous band from drive to entry.

   ................Iron Helix

1. 
   ChrisV | Sep 19, 2004 05:31am | #9

   Iron/Cap,

   Thanks for all of the feedback, I did the job today and it tunred out nice. As recomeded by both of you, i didn't use the sand and went with 1/4- (w/dust). The stones packed real well, I did use a landscape fabric on the bottom instead of going on top as if I had used the sand. Iron, I made sure the stepping stone edges were clear of rock to avoid any tripping hazard as I know exactly what you meant from doing some test walks. Luckly this is an entrance to a side gate so most guests will not be taking this path, I did install 3 paver steps (seperate job) to the front door (which had the same incline). To top it all off, tonite we had torrential rains, I checked the stones and everthing is still in place and stable.

   Chris

1. 
   IronHelix | Sep 19, 2004 02:10pm | #10

   A successful job..........

   Stand at a slight distance, look it over, smile real big! Inside and outside! 

   A little self satisfaction helps makes a happy heart.

   ..............Iron Helix

2. 
   pvaman | Sep 20, 2004 05:07am | #11

   picture

3. 
   ChrisV | Sep 20, 2004 07:00am | #12

   Bob,

   Here is a PIC, you may be wondering why the lap siding (Hardie Plank) in AZ...? Well I am originally from the east coast and the Architecture in AZ is just not my thing ,so I brought the east coast to AZ (mixed responses). You are looking at the new path way along a new extension to extend the garage/shop. Enjoy!

   Chris

4. 
   CapnMac | Sep 20, 2004 07:32pm | #13

   Pretty.  Good looking job, too.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

5. 
   pvaman | Sep 21, 2004 06:08am | #14

   Thanks Chris...looks good. Big change...East to AZ. I went there once on a job interview just out of college. Having never ventured out of the Southeast US it was quite a shock to see rock front yards. Though i did think that the adobe style houses were pretty cool looking.

   I recall some good BBQ off camelback road too...