"kzin" wrote in message
...
On 20-Nov-2007, "Will" wrote:

4) Lay down 1.5 to 2" thick flagstone, approximate 2 foot square
slabs,
along the path, left loose on top of drainage rock and pressed down
to
settle flat on that rock.

You'll want to top the drainage rock with sand and tamp it down well to
provide a solid level surface for the flagstone.

What about using Pea Gravel instead of Sand as the top layer above the
drainage rock?

Would we need to rent one of those big rollers that is used to compress
material? What's the best procedure for making the top layer as
compressed as possible?

Pea gravel isn't suitable. You really need to use sand if you don't want
your stones to shift about. There are websites out there that can give
you
detailed instructions on laying flagstone with and without mortar. For a
patio tamping by hand with a tool made for such is fine. You are trying
to
essentially build a 100 x 4 foot road. That's an awful lot to tamp by
hand
and the engineering may be such that you really need to compact that with
a
roller. I'm not qualified to tell you even if I could look at it.

Okay


I don't want to be discouraging but you are trying to build a 100x4
flagstone road that you know will be subject to adverse drainage
conditions.
I'd consider getting the advice of a pro.

The concrete guys wanted $5K to build just a trench, and $12K to build a
sidewalk. We are the tenants, not the landlord, and the landlord is
refusing the solve the problem. I have about $3K to spend.

--
Will