The Front Walk Is Finished

– Posted in: Front Walk, Hardscaping and Projects, How-to, New House, New Gardens
17 comments

The dry-laid stone walk to our front door is finished!

Yep, finished. Finit. Done.

Last weekend the last stage of the front walk project was completed. Every stone had to be leveled and the gaps between stones filled in.
To level a stone in the walk, first you must remove it.

First remove a paving stone that needs to be leveled.

Crushed bluestone is used to make a level base for the large bluestone paver.

Add crushed bluestone to the space where the paving stone used to be.

Distribute the crushed stone to make a level base.

Distribute the crushed stone so that when you place the large stone on top, it is level with the stones around it.

Carefully replace the stone in the walk after the base has been leveled.

Carefully replace the stone.

Check to make sure the stone is level with its neighbors.

Check to make sure the stone is level with its neighbors.

Finally, shovel the same crushed bluestone onto the walk, and sweep it into the cracks.

Finally, shovel the same crushed bluestone onto the walk, and sweep it into the cracks.

That’s how my sons did it, at least. A lot of people would use sand for the leveling and joint-filling, but they thought the crushed bluestone would stay put better. They found a different use for the load of sand they had purchased for the project. Here’s a close-up view of part of the walk:
Close-up view of bluestone walk after completion.

Here you can see how the crushed bluestone fills in the joints.

I’d say it’s one swell birthday present!

Previous Chapters in the Front Walk Story

In case you missed my earlier posts about the creation of our new front walk, I’ve listed them here for your convenience.

  1. The Front Walk: Conception
  2. Front Walk: Garden Design
  3. The Front Walk: Your Questions Answered
  4. The Front Walk: It’s Coming!
  5. The Front Walk: Excavation Begins!
  6. Front Walk Construction: Gravel in Place
  7. Stone Puzzle: The Front Walk Emerges

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About the Author

Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She gardens in rural upstate NY, which used to be USDA Hardiness Zone 4 but is now Zone 5. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002. Find her on Instagram as kopurdy.

Now, the digging and dividing of perennials, the general autumn cleanup and the planting of spring bulbs are all an act of faith. One carries on before the altar of delayed gratification, until the ground freezes and you can’t do any more other than refill the bird feeder and gaze through the window, waiting for the snow. . . . Meanwhile, it helps to think of yourself as a pear tree or a tulip. You will blossom spectacularly in the spring, but only after the required period of chilling.

~Adrian Higgins in The Washington Post, November 6, 2013

Comments on this entry are closed.

Helen at Toronto Gardens September 5, 2013, 8:09 pm

Nice and wide — perfect for those big stones. Now that they’re finished, I have a few tasks for your boys.

Kathy Sturr of the Violet Fern September 3, 2013, 3:02 pm

Beautiful walkway! I am still bummed about just missing out on some free flat rocks. By the time I rounded up my husband to help me (lift and load), and we drove back to the location where I spotted them, a man was loading the last rock into the back of his car. I love rocks and love your walkway. I think the crushed stone will work better as a filler for you. Sand has a way of shifting I would think.

Donalyn@The Creekside Cook September 2, 2013, 3:20 pm

Love how this came out – it looks so nice!

Cindy, MCOK September 2, 2013, 11:15 am

They did an excellent job, Kathy!

Donna@Gardens Eye View September 2, 2013, 8:48 am

Kathy this looks gorgeous….a real focal point!!

cynthia September 1, 2013, 7:54 pm

Great job and I think that it meshes well with the house and gardens! Happy Finished Birthday!

Joene at Joene's Garden September 1, 2013, 11:49 am

Congratulations! Getting the mail from your mailbox will be so much more pleasant after a job well done.

Shenandoah Kepler September 1, 2013, 9:48 am

A beautiful walk, and what wonderful sons you have to lay the stone! You have to be very proud of them all! Thanks for “walking” us through the design and build!

Rodrica September 1, 2013, 8:34 am

Beautiful! Great sons, you have. You will feel the love every time you walk on it.

Stephanie August 31, 2013, 11:59 pm

I LOVE those stones. That walkway is beautiful!

Lost Roses August 31, 2013, 11:35 pm

Very nice! But I bet your sons had sore backs, those look very heavy!

Angel August 31, 2013, 8:30 pm

It looks great!

Charlie@Seattle Trekker August 31, 2013, 6:08 pm

Beautiful result…Love the how-to DIY photos.

Yvonne August 31, 2013, 4:49 pm

That looks just fantastic — great proportions. You must be very pleased!

Lori August 31, 2013, 3:51 pm

This looks amazing! And I think using larger pieces of stone really helps the walk look more solid and inviting, even though they were more work to install.

Kathy Purdy August 31, 2013, 4:15 pm

Thanks!