Sidewalk Question

[thewoodlands]

Since our water line runs from the well under what we call a sidewalk coming to the front porch, we just have some stone set in some pea gravel. It's not very good anymore so I'll be taking out the stone and pea gravel and would like to replace it with something that packs down pretty good and won't track in the house if that's possible.

I usually use the snowblower and the tractor when clearing it in the winter, any ideas what would work the best for the sidewalk?

 

[coaly]

Does water have to drain through it between the flat stones? If not, crusher run which is the fines from crushing stone packs like cement after wetting and walking on. It is the cheapest product at any quarry. They mix loose stone with it to pack and support weight. You don’t want mixed called “modified“ with crusher run. You want just crusher run. May be called different things in other areas. In PA, you can specify b for loose stone, such as 2b; a for mixed, such as 2a, and “state” certified which is mixed well with crusher run for road shoulders for a consistent product.

 

[festerw]

Also in PA and use what the yards here call 411, it's crushed limestone with stone dust. Packs down very well after it gets wet.

 

[thewoodlands]

Thanks for the replies, I'll post pics if or when it happens.

Thanks
Mike

 

[thewoodlands]

The wife was asking about this project while we were on the front porch today, I'll do it this year but it will be after we have a new roof (shingles) put on. The contractor should be giving us a date when they'll do the roof in the next couple of weeks.

 

[thewoodlands]

Does water have to drain through it between the flat stones? If not, crusher run which is the fines from crushing stone packs like cement after wetting and walking on. It is the cheapest product at any quarry. They mix loose stone with it to pack and support weight. You don’t want mixed called “modified“ with crusher run. You want just crusher run. May be called different things in other areas. In PA, you can specify b for loose stone, such as 2b; a for mixed, such as 2a, and “state” certified which is mixed well with crusher run for road shoulders for a consistent product.

I think the crusher run will be fine, it has a nice drop from top to bottom so the water should run off fine.

 

[PA Mountain Man]

The crusher run is great. I have a local excavator/paving contractor that grinds the old paving and millings he gets from road and utility jobs. It binds together better and is cheaper than CR.

 

[blades]

Yep those asphalt millings make great walks and such. The summer sun and heat tend to cause it to bind together

 

[MTY]

Just lay a 4" capped piece of pipe under a new sidewalk in case you need to replace the water line at some future date. Even if you use something other than concrete, a capped pipe laid now will prevent the need to destroy the walk way if the water line requires replacement.