How to Build a Bluestone Walkway | Ask This Old House

Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль

Ask This Old House landscaping contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner remove a flagstone walkway and replace it with bluestone.
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Time: 7-8 hours
Cost: Varies
Skill Level: Difficult
Tools:
Gas powered plate compacter [amzn.to/307Hb0K]
Rubber hammer [amzn.to/2N7FsXq]
Wheelbarrow [amzn.to/2LqsrpZ]
Electric jack hammer [amzn.to/2LowfI0]
Spade shovels [amzn.to/2A9jpXG]
Shopping List:
Bluestone
¾-inch stone [amzn.to/2NbzNzp]
Stone dust [amzn.to/2Lr3jiI]
Portland cement [amzn.to/34Egkgg]
Mason’s line [amzn.to/2NTImyE]
Stakes [amzn.to/2N8Odk2]
Steps:
1. Start the process by removing the existing walkway with an electric powered jackhammer. Be sure to wear eye and ear protection.
2. Determine the width of the walkway (in this instance, referencing the the width of the front stairs). Spray paint marks six inches wider than the finished walkway to allow working space.
3. Excavate the area between the sprayed lines about 6 to 8 inches below grade.
4. Before backfilling, place a PVC pipe horizontally across the walkway using your height as a reference. This pipe can serve as a future chase for electrical or irrigation lines without disturbing the walkway.
5. Rake the surface smooth and then use a gas powered plate compacter to compact the subsoil.
6. Next, add a mix of stone dust and _-inch stone to a depth of 2-3” and run the plate compactor over that layer. Continually add the mix 2-3” at a time, compacting between layers, to ensure a solid base, until you are 3” from finished grade.
7. Set a mason’s line of 3 inches to match the height of the walkway and place it at a 90-degree angle to the front steps. To ensure the line is perpendicular, use the 3-4-5 method. Measure three feet horizontally and four feet vertically and the diagonal measurement in between the two points should be five feet if the lines are truly perpendicular.
8. To fill the uneven underside of the bluestone, use a 12:1 mix of stone dust and Portland cement and hammer the bluestone down on top of it, filling any voids. If the stone still rocks, you may need to add more mix and hammer again.
9. Once the stones are set and the stone surface is completely dry, spread polymeric sand into the joints, then carefully sweep or blow it off the stone surface. Wet the sand in the joints to lock the bluestone into place and minimize weeds and insects.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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For more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsite
How to Build a Bluestone Walkway | Ask This Old House
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Пікірлер: 247

  • @hippiehillape
    @hippiehillape11 ай бұрын

    Young folks in the future. I want you to know. This man is a legend and treasure.

  • @fadetounforgiven
    @fadetounforgiven7 жыл бұрын

    I would never have thought of the rule to choose the distance in which to put the pipe. Nice one indeed.

  • @mae2759

    @mae2759

    4 жыл бұрын

    Wicked smahht

  • @DDWES

    @DDWES

    4 жыл бұрын

    Goes nicely under the waklk way

  • @lelandrb

    @lelandrb

    8 ай бұрын

    pythahgoreahn

  • @errinwellman1960
    @errinwellman19606 жыл бұрын

    Roger is such a hero of mine! I've been watching him my whole life!! And just wow this is amazing

  • @shawnhigginbotham1718

    @shawnhigginbotham1718

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hes the best what he dose.

  • @shawnpa

    @shawnpa

    4 жыл бұрын

    He is the best.

  • @robertf6344

    @robertf6344

    3 жыл бұрын

    My back would have given out about half way through his career. He does a lot of this hard work.

  • @gfriedman99

    @gfriedman99

    Жыл бұрын

    @@robertf6344 He's a beast

  • @DDWES
    @DDWES4 жыл бұрын

    Anyone else binge the Roger episodes while looking at comments noting his accent 😂

  • @advancekashmir9846

    @advancekashmir9846

    3 жыл бұрын

    Me! 🙋🏻‍♂️ 45% accent 55% content.

  • @masterprocrastinator8521
    @masterprocrastinator85216 жыл бұрын

    6:30 mallet strikes matchup with the song

  • @bitTorrenter

    @bitTorrenter

    4 жыл бұрын

    Noticed that as well.

  • @joethurman2712

    @joethurman2712

    3 жыл бұрын

    Nice

  • @rishivardhan5720

    @rishivardhan5720

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah that's nice

  • @briefcasefullofbacon7291
    @briefcasefullofbacon72912 жыл бұрын

    I hope Roger is enjoying his retirement. He did a lot of good work over the years.

  • @uhoh38125
    @uhoh381256 жыл бұрын

    'This Old House' is the most realistic home and garden show that I know of. He is very clear and simple with the fundamentals of building patios. The materials he uses are available and practical. Curtis Boney, Landscape Architect

  • @mwnemo
    @mwnemo Жыл бұрын

    That 5’10” idea was awesome!

  • @gnome2024
    @gnome20247 жыл бұрын

    Thank You for all of your years of hard work Roger!

  • @bigvegass
    @bigvegass7 жыл бұрын

    5' 10"....damn. such a simple concept.

  • @KevinRay_man
    @KevinRay_man5 жыл бұрын

    He looked at him like ‘yeeeah, riiight’ when he said five ten lol 😂

  • @gfriedman99

    @gfriedman99

    Жыл бұрын

    he reminds me of Tattoo from Fantasy Island

  • @Blobjonblob
    @Blobjonblob7 жыл бұрын

    Front Yarrd. Love watching Rodger work his my favorite of the crew, his not afraid to get down and dirty but the guy has put his time in.

  • @IntegraDIY
    @IntegraDIY7 жыл бұрын

    I like how the hammering went with the beat 😊😂🎸🎼🔨😀 @ 6:25

  • @TheBushdoctor68

    @TheBushdoctor68

    7 жыл бұрын

    Totally satisfied my OCD.

  • @mattmorgan6698
    @mattmorgan66986 жыл бұрын

    what a day to choose to wear a white polo lol

  • @johnprince4364

    @johnprince4364

    5 жыл бұрын

    And not an ounce of mud on him! Look at Roger!

  • @chereetakimber5070

    @chereetakimber5070

    5 жыл бұрын

    And stayed tucked in!😂😂

  • @shawnpa
    @shawnpa4 жыл бұрын

    Another transformation to beauty from Roger. Thank you.

  • @Pure_KodiakWILD_Power
    @Pure_KodiakWILD_Power7 жыл бұрын

    i love this show, bring back those full seasons.

  • @justinuriahphoto
    @justinuriahphoto7 жыл бұрын

    Looks so much better. Great job.

  • @agatocle11
    @agatocle115 жыл бұрын

    Good job Roger. Thank you

  • @stenbak88
    @stenbak884 жыл бұрын

    The difference is amazing

  • @grrizly660
    @grrizly6606 жыл бұрын

    Roger really does work!

  • @matblack9288
    @matblack92883 жыл бұрын

    Roger Cook & Tommy Silva are my faves 😃

  • @theraspberryman
    @theraspberryman6 жыл бұрын

    Great work Roger!

  • @cristianquiroz4044
    @cristianquiroz40445 жыл бұрын

    He’s really likes bluestone he uses it all the time 😂

  • @JohnVance
    @JohnVance6 жыл бұрын

    The 5'10" thing is very clever!

  • @gfriedman99

    @gfriedman99

    Жыл бұрын

    And what' if the next homeowner is 6;6"

  • @r.a.h7682
    @r.a.h76826 жыл бұрын

    Roger is the hero

  • @s.moeller9543
    @s.moeller95434 жыл бұрын

    Nice! This looks great!

  • @kingraiderr
    @kingraiderr4 жыл бұрын

    Roger is a legend

  • @zekenzy6486
    @zekenzy64867 жыл бұрын

    it's beautiful. great job

  • @vvalasek
    @vvalasek2 жыл бұрын

    Really great work and an inspiration

  • @capecodcuda
    @capecodcuda7 жыл бұрын

    gorgeous walkway

  • @timwhisnant1775
    @timwhisnant1775 Жыл бұрын

    Good looking wok!

  • @erictold
    @erictold7 жыл бұрын

    Rodger is not afraid to get dirty. He is the man I would like to work together.

  • @noviceprepper5397
    @noviceprepper53977 жыл бұрын

    it looks beautiful, well done guys

  • @JimDean002
    @JimDean002Ай бұрын

    Every time I've ever bought a house, one of the first things I do is have the utility locating service come out and locate everything. Then I take pictures and I draw an overhead map with measurements. That goes in a folder that hangs on the wall next to the breaker box. When it's time to plant a tree, I will know if I'm anywhere near anything underground. If I'm even remotely close I call and get it located or if it's a big job I get it located again. But if it's just planting a shrub or a tree I can look and know for a fact that 30 ft from anything. That's also the place where I would note where the septic tank lids are and if I added a crossover like they did under a walkway. I always stuck with 6 ft as a standard measurement and noted that. Some of that I might never need but the next guy that owns the house might appreciate it. And it's really pretty simple to do

  • @MoranGuyVideos
    @MoranGuyVideos7 жыл бұрын

    Great project!!!

  • @luisharo9814
    @luisharo98146 жыл бұрын

    Wow thanks for the first video 👍👍👍

  • @Borgenscalle
    @Borgenscalle2 жыл бұрын

    Woow, what a transformation

  • @robbjobsdone
    @robbjobsdone5 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful job👍

  • @rebeccaramirez-
    @rebeccaramirez-5 жыл бұрын

    I did a walk-way! A lot of prayer went into the project cause at the time I never had done a walk way. I thank my Yeshua! It turned out beautiful!! all because PBS this old house show that have watched all the time lol to point my kids saying that's all watched now they are adults

  • @blitzburghbilly7813
    @blitzburghbilly78135 жыл бұрын

    ( KNUCKLE👊🏽BUMP ) To You "Roger" ..... ON THE UNDERGROUND PASS'THRU & [ HEIGHT MEASUREMENT ] IDEA 🤔.... VERY KOOL👍🏼. 👏🏼 .....

  • @johanchalco5117
    @johanchalco51177 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video. Good work and the legendary team back at it. They do some quality work and folks that leave negative comments are probably jelous bc this crew has been impacting so many homeowners.

  • @Life_is_Awesome_Civil
    @Life_is_Awesome_Civil7 жыл бұрын

    At right and left side of those tiles you can lay down diagonal red clay bricks again it looks pretty

  • @jacquelinemartinez6985
    @jacquelinemartinez69853 жыл бұрын

    Roger , my Love

  • @ianroughley1933
    @ianroughley19337 жыл бұрын

    great vid, the 5'10' thing I will use..cheers :)

  • @triciamssensensensibility3350
    @triciamssensensensibility33502 жыл бұрын

    How the heck do I find someone like him to help me do quality work like that and who is reliable and knows what he’s doing?

  • @middy774

    @middy774

    Жыл бұрын

    So very rare 😢

  • @jlawlar
    @jlawlar5 жыл бұрын

    the pipe with your height is a awesome idea

  • @danilovillamil45
    @danilovillamil456 жыл бұрын

    Very. Good job look nice and level

  • @robertb4969
    @robertb49695 жыл бұрын

    Rodger really is a heck of a worker

  • @silveriocastillo4798
    @silveriocastillo47986 жыл бұрын

    fantastico video

  • @masterprocrastinator8521
    @masterprocrastinator85216 жыл бұрын

    6:30 that moment when the mallet strikes temporarily match the music

  • @soheel2009ify
    @soheel2009ify5 жыл бұрын

    I like Roger..

  • @zakkbranks6489
    @zakkbranks64892 жыл бұрын

    Rog-a does an amazing job every time

  • @jordanhall3303
    @jordanhall33036 жыл бұрын

    That 5'10 sleeve thing was smart af of him

  • @leewilson7653
    @leewilson76534 жыл бұрын

    Pro job!..

  • @ian253
    @ian2537 жыл бұрын

    How man pairs of jeans does Roger go through

  • @awesomeasfuck100

    @awesomeasfuck100

    5 жыл бұрын

    3

  • @stanleysiewierski
    @stanleysiewierski4 жыл бұрын

    One of those stones seems darker than the rest, but very nice job!!!

  • @lcaunan
    @lcaunan3 жыл бұрын

    Ganda!

  • @ansh7335
    @ansh73354 жыл бұрын

    Stone dust salesman hard at work.

  • @dawnpatrol
    @dawnpatrol7 жыл бұрын

    Roger should be in the Icy Hot commercials, not Shaq.

  • @shawnpa

    @shawnpa

    4 жыл бұрын

    True, but emu is the stuff.

  • @christophermcclelland1556
    @christophermcclelland15563 жыл бұрын

    "just dress how you would if you were fixing the front walkway" wears white polo

  • @onagoodday627
    @onagoodday6276 жыл бұрын

    The base should be deeper up north, right? If you have poor draining clay I was told to use 6 or 7 inches of crushed stone before compacting in stone dust.

  • @Gixer750pilot
    @Gixer750pilot3 жыл бұрын

    At the end roger is filthy and the owners white shirt is spotless

  • @Kauppamopo
    @Kauppamopo4 жыл бұрын

    "our biggest issue seems to be the walkway" that grass is almost all burned :DD

  • @funny36ful
    @funny36ful5 жыл бұрын

    6:32 Hama that beat

  • @RicardoJunqueira
    @RicardoJunqueira7 жыл бұрын

    Wow, Roger looks so tired on this episode. These guys should'nt be allowed to age at all. :(

  • @markmaccione6757

    @markmaccione6757

    7 жыл бұрын

    Ricardo Junqueira I was thinking the same thing. He's moving very slow these days. Still amazing what he can do.

  • @RicardoJunqueira

    @RicardoJunqueira

    7 жыл бұрын

    Indeed. A lifetime in the trade. He is strong as an ox still.

  • @donmiller8478

    @donmiller8478

    7 жыл бұрын

    Ricardo Junqueira

  • @RicardoJunqueira

    @RicardoJunqueira

    7 жыл бұрын

    What?

  • @noviceprepper5397

    @noviceprepper5397

    7 жыл бұрын

    aging is better than the alternative. I admit bias in that I don't care how old or young they are, to me they're just fine craftspeople doing quality work

  • @dragonsofthunder
    @dragonsofthunder6 жыл бұрын

    Could you put grout in the joints?

  • @andrewmiguel8951
    @andrewmiguel89515 жыл бұрын

    Wow nice work but im wondering do they charge the work.

  • @danieldominguez4394
    @danieldominguez43946 жыл бұрын

    Goodjob

  • @FayeVert
    @FayeVert4 жыл бұрын

    Pythagorean theorem! 3-4-5!

  • @narutosasuke8580
    @narutosasuke8580 Жыл бұрын

    Can that flagstone be used to make a driveway and support the weight of cars?

  • @optimus_prime_____
    @optimus_prime_____6 жыл бұрын

    Why does roger always look like he just rolled outta bed lol

  • @user-pk7te6os4t
    @user-pk7te6os4t Жыл бұрын

    What happens if my contractor installed 1” thermal bluestone over compacted soil, not over mud or concrete?

  • @Eddie-gb3bn
    @Eddie-gb3bn3 жыл бұрын

    Where is the grass guy when you need him.

  • @mattstandeven2599
    @mattstandeven25993 жыл бұрын

    Is there another way to do this without using a wet mortar substrate?

  • @RobinLewisMakes
    @RobinLewisMakes7 жыл бұрын

    Those stones are amazing! Is there any benefit in using stone dust/cement instead of the traditional paving sand for bedding the stones?

  • @68camarorsss33

    @68camarorsss33

    7 жыл бұрын

    Gino Brown road base is overkill stone dust is a good choice.

  • @68camarorsss33

    @68camarorsss33

    7 жыл бұрын

    Robin Lewis you mean as a base? Paving sand is just to fill the joints on certain type of block or brick walkways. This wasn't stone dust this was 3/4 dense pack mixed with Portland cement ( the stuff in gray bags I think they are 80lbs bags) 4 to 1 ratio. sand won't compact that well with this size stone but if you do use smaller bricks or blocks you could get away with sand just lightly mist with a garden hose and compact it will tighten up fairly tight. And you will need to fill the joints with mortar or sand

  • @RobinLewisMakes

    @RobinLewisMakes

    7 жыл бұрын

    Sorry, should've been more clear. Yeah, that final layer that the stones/bricks bed into. Roger's base preparation is what I would expect but the final layer I've always heard is just fine sand. It makes sense to add some cement, will make it stay in place better, but won't that crack over time as the cement dries and hardens

  • @68camarorsss33

    @68camarorsss33

    7 жыл бұрын

    Robin Lewis small 1/4 or smaller joints sands fine maybe even a few handfuls of Portland cement just to stiffen it up a little but sweep the sand into the joints maybe sand it again then light mist of water on the top at a angle just to clean up and not wash out the sand. But at that point it's not going to do anymore damage than rain would do

  • @68camarorsss33

    @68camarorsss33

    7 жыл бұрын

    Vax Buster 5-1 or 4-1 is so small of a difference you can't even notice but the you tube comment section is full of people that get hard ons criticizing everyone. So I'm going to say you are 100% right👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5-1 makes a massive difference over 4-1 is unreal!!! Thanks for coming on here making the world a better place, sincerely thank you so much I bow to you

  • @TN-Dezz
    @TN-Dezz5 жыл бұрын

    4:20 compacter makes same note as music

  • @sharpshooter012345
    @sharpshooter0123455 жыл бұрын

    I like how he gets himself dirty

  • @HowardSantiago-qn4kv
    @HowardSantiago-qn4kv7 жыл бұрын

    Make a MAAAK there, Take a MAAAK and MAAAK one more. MAAAAk out any thing with the MAAAK and the MAAAAK with a MAAAK there

  • @flowergrowersmith449

    @flowergrowersmith449

    7 жыл бұрын

    Howard James I love his accent!

  • @DanA-vn9zz

    @DanA-vn9zz

    7 жыл бұрын

    lmao

  • @cherokeesfinestindian

    @cherokeesfinestindian

    6 жыл бұрын

    Listen to yourself talk and I'll bet you'll hear a hillbilly talking. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  • @youbadolivez

    @youbadolivez

    5 жыл бұрын

    Northeast Boston, I'm in bennington Vermont

  • @makenziotoole3127

    @makenziotoole3127

    5 жыл бұрын

    Hg

  • @jlacson74
    @jlacson744 жыл бұрын

    Stat working

  • @atherahmed6397
    @atherahmed63975 жыл бұрын

    Sleeve is a brilliant idea. Save yourself a headache later!

  • @buckbuck9225
    @buckbuck92257 жыл бұрын

    you get old man.i been doing it for better than 40 years.but us old guys are smart.i would have poured a slab and thinseted it in.

  • @mikefisher474
    @mikefisher4743 жыл бұрын

    Anyone know if that base is crushed concrete or paver base?

  • @HuntingWolf82
    @HuntingWolf825 жыл бұрын

    Don’t understand the section about the 3 4 5 rule?

  • @isaacr.8082

    @isaacr.8082

    4 жыл бұрын

    Measure where the steps meet the string. From that corner across the steps, he measured 3ft. That same corner across the string, he measured 4ft. Now measure the 3 and 4ft mark. It should give you a 5ft distance. This let's you know that it is squared. Think of a triangle 3x4x5.

  • @aaglad8604
    @aaglad86046 жыл бұрын

    Rodger said : come out later and blow it off. guy says ok

  • @joep1739
    @joep17394 жыл бұрын

    1:32 the fear of God has entered my heart.

  • @TimTurner115
    @TimTurner1157 жыл бұрын

    Is Roger OK?

  • @vjcosta11
    @vjcosta115 жыл бұрын

    People will say, he is still waiting for 3-4 dry days.

  • @wheelsmcdealsace
    @wheelsmcdealsace7 жыл бұрын

    I know you plan on flipping the house but if you was to live there then a rough concrete path with the stone set on that will last way longer.

  • @rawbacon
    @rawbacon4 жыл бұрын

    Unfortunately most people don't think ahead and do things like run a pipe underneath for future work.

  • @gfriedman99

    @gfriedman99

    Жыл бұрын

    The next homeowner wont know about the pipe anyway

  • @dadadadoe
    @dadadadoe6 жыл бұрын

    Roger mentioned 3 4 5 method. I get the 3 and 4 but what angle represented 5?

  • @Monsieur405

    @Monsieur405

    6 жыл бұрын

    diagonal

  • @binershock

    @binershock

    5 жыл бұрын

    3^2 + 4^2 = 5^2

  • @CALMBEATS
    @CALMBEATS7 жыл бұрын

    I don't really like the stone choice or the sizes they chose , but it looks nice . gd work.

  • @gfriedman99

    @gfriedman99

    Жыл бұрын

    Big stones little house

  • @jrgd9083
    @jrgd90836 жыл бұрын

    @6:48 into video, he realizes his shits getting done by ROGAAA , decides to get into it

  • @johnprince4364
    @johnprince43645 жыл бұрын

    Don't waste time with the compacter- use repetitive water applications instead. But otherwise I love what Rahga does.

  • @bigmacdaddy1234

    @bigmacdaddy1234

    5 жыл бұрын

    Nope. The compacter is the way to go. You got it wrong.

  • @1971mav
    @1971mav5 жыл бұрын

    About the homeowner. Is that what you really wear to do yardwork?

  • @kingraiderr
    @kingraiderr4 жыл бұрын

    looks dangerously slippery im sure the owner would love it when it rains

  • @johnzapata2837
    @johnzapata283710 ай бұрын

    Looks like the my pillow guy. Good instruction though.

  • @fnhwk
    @fnhwk6 жыл бұрын

    I prefer a concrete slab walkway.. if constructed right it'll hold up just about any load plus last 40 plus years.

  • @mpwall123
    @mpwall1234 жыл бұрын

    Where was this filmed. Sandy soil

  • @nicholascoffman9357
    @nicholascoffman93575 жыл бұрын

    Roger loves stone dust... almost as much as he loves angle dust

  • @gloums

    @gloums

    5 жыл бұрын

    Lmao

  • @wholeNwon

    @wholeNwon

    4 жыл бұрын

    OK, what's "angle dust"?

  • @gfriedman99

    @gfriedman99

    Жыл бұрын

    lol

  • @thephilb
    @thephilb5 жыл бұрын

    OK, this has been driving me nuts for a while. Can anyone explain to me how he gets the grade stake/ mason line perfectly straight from the porch to the road? Is this something that just has to be eyeballed or is there a way to precisely measure this?

  • @mae2759

    @mae2759

    4 жыл бұрын

    He talked about using the 3 4 5 method in the video. I think that's what you mean?

  • @gfriedman99

    @gfriedman99

    Жыл бұрын

    lookup pythagorean theorem. I guess you slept thru high school geometry class.

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