Hi, I’m a refugee from Fine Cooking, who has always found good answers here. My DD and DSIL are considering buying a home which seems to be very well built, except for the front walkway. It is some sort of stone, and in places the stone is very uneven, maybe 2″ or more above the next stone. It is grouted in place. Is there any way to even it out, maybe by chiseling the higher stones, or is the best solution just to dig it up and start over? Two people, the realtor and my grandson, have already tripped over it. I’m attaching a picture, to give you a better idea of what we’re talking about. Ignore the fat old lady
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This is more of a bump than an answer.
But I would think it's easier to demo it and redo. The fact you said they were grouted usually means there is concrete under there.
I was afraid that would be the answer.
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1. Even it out? Yes, it's possible, but highly messey and dusty. Not to mention, expensive. A guy would need to grind it down with the type of diamond grinders used with terrazzo floors. But relook at your pictures. This stone is of a color that is not seen elsewhere in the landscape. Based upon the usual design characteristics where we like some color continuity, this stone was a mistake in the first place.
2. Back to the color. Notice the brick on the house's chimney and the color of the bridge. That tone should be found in the hardscape.
Some nice pavers. Blended to bring in the final color of whatever paint job plus these bricks mentioned together. The pavers can follow the same shape as the existing walkway. But the pavers must be vibrated in place using a vibratory plate before the installers leave. This will make them all level (relatively).
Other choices of decorative concrete can be good, but you run the risk of a crack developing that eventually will telegraph thru the decorative finish and always show a scar. These are typically not repairable. A bad paver can be popped up and replaced easily.
is the FOL you?
;)
do you have a more close up photo maybe down closer to the plane of the walk?
Can you dig a bit at the edge of the walkway to see if this is on a slab?
Short answer for now is that yes, you can do anything with it, but not necessarily cheaply.
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On my walkway I used pieces of broken concrete. I dug deep, set my forms the same as for a concrete pour - then poured cement, setting the pieces on the wet concrete so I could work them down to the proper level, using a "screed" board across the top of the forms. Later went back and grouted with mortar.
View Image
"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
View Image"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
So yes, I would definitely take it out, and start over. I suspect you could probably re-use most of the stone, if you wanted to take the time to break it out carefully, and chip the cement off the stones as much as possible. Don't know for sure without trying.
On my mom's place, I took the old walkway out...View Image"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
formed it up...View Image"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
and poured new concrete, troweling in some "color hardener" as I finished it.View Image"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Safety was a big issue here - the resident is 91 years old, and lives alone. The old walkway and porch was dangerous. When safety is concerned, you will never regret taking the time and cost to do it right.View Image"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
There appears to be grass growing through some of the cracks, suggesting that there is no substantial amount of concrete under the stone. If that's the case then the easiest thing to do is to remove and reset the stone. If only a few spots are bad then spot repairs (lift the offending stone and the few around it) is a possibility, but if the problem is widespread then redoing the whole thing is called for.
This actually would be a viable DIY project if you're so inclined. A lot of grunt labor and tedious testing fit, lifting stones out of the way, adjusting the substrate, and then placing the stones again is required. (Note that this is one reason why "hired help" may take shortcuts and end up reproducing the situation you have now.)
If the substrate (which should be primarily finely crushed stone, with a little sand on top) isn't deep enough for local soil conditions then replacing the substrate is called for. In any event, any disturbed substrate must be firmly compacted before re-placing the stone.
Thanks so much. No wonder you guys are the go-to guys for answers. If they buy the house, I'm thinking that the best approach would be to dig up the walkway and redo it in brick. There are several pallets of brick in the back, don't know what the owners planned to do with them, but they match the fireplace and would be great for a brick walkway. I would be inclined to just set them into the sand (after it's been sufficiently leveled) and not bother to cement them in. DSIL is Irish and strong as an ox, and he has his brother here from Ireland to help, so they could probably get it done in short order. I definitely think it is a safety hazard, and don't want to see them sued because somebody trips over a high stone in a walkway. Still can't understand why anyone would be paid for doing such a bad job, but perhaps it was a friend? I think the stones should have been leveled before they were ever grouted, but that's just me.
Not One More Day! Not One More Dime! Not One More Life! Not One More Lie!
End the Occupation of Iraq -- Bring the Troops Home Now!
And Take Care of Them When They Get Here!
I tried to do a crop of the photo so it will show up larger. We'll see if that works.
Not One More Day! Not One More Dime! Not One More Life! Not One More Lie!
End the Occupation of Iraq -- Bring the Troops Home Now!
And Take Care of Them When They Get Here!
Might be just a matter of taking out the offenders, digging down the base, then resetting. If the brick matches the fire place brick, it may not be paving brick... which would turn into another problem<G>http://www.tvwsolar.com
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Sounds like a redo is best. I have a related question for anyone reading this: I bought an old house built on a hillside that has a poured concrete staircase going down to it. We live in a rainy climate and the hillside has eroded, so now the staircase has a downward pitch of a couple inches. Kind of dangerous. What is a way that I can fix this without replacing the staircase, which is otherwise a quality piece of work.
I've thought about getting a bunch of jacks, raising the staircase to level(It's poured in three sections)and backfilling with spray foam, maybe in combo with gravel or paving bricks. Obviously would need to stabilize slope first to prevent recurrence of erosion. Any ideas?
Talk to some local mud jacking outfits. Generally it's used for concrete slabs but it may be an option for you.
thanks, will do.
Yeah, I was going to suggest mud jacking. A little iffy for your situation but worth a shot.
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