Flagstone Fail and Fix …

Small Scale Stonehenge

Here is the path before I decided to improve it by setting the stones into limestone screening. Photo by Louise Peacock

Of all the dumb ass things to do, this year I decided to fix some loose flagstones in the back garden of one of my clients. Especially dumb because this year I could not have any helpers in the car, so since none of them have their own cars, there went my help for 2020.

There is this gentle slope leading to the garden shed which had flagstones on to define a path. The only problem was that these flagstones were just sitting on top of the ground, and would pose a slip hazard.

So it starts that I am just going to stabilize the flagstones by setting them into limestone screening with a bit of pea gravel on top to improve its looks. Fine.

My first flagstones are set … Photo by Louise Peacock

Then I see that on the one side there is a bit of a slope and the limestone screening will simply wash down into the flower bed. So …

Obviously, I need to install a short retaining wall. Looked at all the options, settled on these 35lb stones (should have done that part first). I needed 24 of these stones. I got them to the area one at a time. 2 hours later …Glad I had a decent breakfast that day.

Some of the 35lb retaining wall pieces … Photo by Louise Peacock

Finally got all the stones lined up, then realized I needed more limestone screening — each bag has to be split in two because I can’t pick one bag up …. figured out a way to split the bags quickly. Dragged a shit load of these half bags down to the back.

Half bags of limestone screening beside next section of path. Photo by Louise Peacock

After three months, I think I am ALMOST finished — then I realize I will need several more flagstones at the bottom near the shed, you can see the blank spot in the photo above.

Retaining wall installed but still requires more limestone screening to settle the flagstone in place. Photos by Louise Peacock

The need for some additional flagstone is rather clear here. Photo by Louise Peacock

Off I go to the nice aggregate supplier and find some flagstone of the same thickness of the existing pieces. It turns out these slabs of stone are quite heavy.

Last pieces of flagstone set, but need more screening! Photo by Louise Peacock

And needless to say, I need more limestone screening to polish it off

So here I was all set to get that final screening but had to get the car checked for winter. They notified me that the strut on the passenger side has leaked all the oil that lubricates the piston, meaning that if I go over a big bump the spring might get destroyed…so I couldn’t pick up the screening today— not good to have dry pistons …

Move to later today. Car is okay now — (there go my profits for the season) I will have to re-visit the limestone screening next week — can’t wait.

All set to attack a garden project. Photo by Bruce Walker.