r/hardscape

Hi, I’m wondering if this part of our stone arch is structurally sound enough to last forever like this. If not, what do you recommend I do to support it. I’m not a mason but I might be able to try some other things (maybe). The previous homeowners had remains in it. It was a wood box sealed in what looked like an acrylic or plexiglass enclosure. We just haven’t gotten around to doing anything yet. It does get wasps inside the openings and makes it scary to walk around at certain times of the year. We’re in a snow belt with ground heave of that helps. Thanks for any suggestions you might have.

Update: thank you for all the suggestions. I really appreciate them. (Some were very entertaining and others gave me the direction I needed to go). As a lot of you suggested, I put a concrete block in the space. I have a gap at the top of the block. Should I put mortar on the bottom and try to fit it in place or try to add it at the top? I’ll finish it with stone another time. I’ll add pics of the gap to a new comment. (I don’t know how to add new pics to the original post).

Looking for recommendations on a sealer for an outdoor irregular flagstone walkway with mortared joints. Is anything from a local big-box store actually good enough?

The photo is of the stone dry; the last photo is slightly wet. I want a product that deepens the natural color the way the stone looks when it is wet, without peeling, flaking, or haze.

A wet look with no sheen, or only a slight sheen, is what I am after. It has to hold up in Northern VA freeze/thaw cycles. I may also want to seal the bluestone treads, so I am looking for a product that works on both.

Prep would be a cleaning and a muriatic acid wash before sealing. Local products and anything that has to be ordered online are both welcome.

Also, what is a considered a fair price range to seal the walkway plus nine bluestone treads?

This is my first time doing one of these, by the way.

Appreciate anyone's input. Thanks

Thanks for reading through this and taking the time to answer what questions you might be able to answer. Context - I’ve taken on the large task of installing a hardscape in my backyard. I just had the Excavation completed. My vision - The majority of the area will be herringbone patterned set 4”X8” brick using a slightly larger rectangle paver around all boarders. The orange flags represent a rectangle area where I want a flat slate style rock installed with grass growing up through the stone. The green stakes next to the garage represent a garden bed, though more dirt will need to be added to that area to be set flush with the top of the pavers. The circle will be a planted tree where the dirt will be again flush with the pavers.

Questions -

1. The 3/4 minus won’t be going under the tree or the garden bed. Should 3/4 minus go under the flat stone / grass area?

2. How should I retain the 3/4 minus from the circle tree spot and the garden bed? I was thinking pressure treated 2X4’s and 4X4’s at the corners but then I don’t want any wood showing after completion. I’m still in the brainstorming stage of this and appreciate all ideas.

3. To complicate the situation, even further In the grassy flat rock area I was hoping to put 3’6” high garden bed with brick fascia on the side with the green bush. Also bench seat off of the raised garden bed with a flat stone topper to sit on. I haven’t even really unfolded what steps I should take with this and in what order because I started obsessing with the Excavation.

Please let me know your thoughts on all of these circumstances and let me know what you think. I totally appreciate you. Thank you so much!

Finding clients with money to pay for premium retaining wall block is a hard task. Let alone understanding the engineering that goes into a 10ft tall wall.

This client was unbelievable to work with. She needed a wall, but didn’t want the same cookie cutter SRW wall.

Easily my favorite wall we’ve ever built. Hoping for more clients like her in the future.

New front entrance but three steps don’t match the rest. It’s a vacation property so we weren’t around during install. Is there anything short of replacement that would be acceptable?

I just got a Belgard paver patio & walkway installed 2 months ago. Now, I see rust spots in various location on the patio, on the walkway to the front as well. I have the installers coming out to look. I have an irrigation system but the entire neighborhood has as well and we all get water from the local ponds and nobody has my issue. My furniture is non- metal, my grill is on a mat- under the that mat there's no rust. No tools or metal are left on pavers. It was completed in 1st of August. What can it be? Any help is appreciated.

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I moved into a house with light up pavers and have no idea about maintenance. After some bulbs burned out I popped the pavers up and was surprised to see just sand under there. From the research I did online I was expecting a closed unit situation. So is this okay?

8 PHOTOS

We are wanting to put in some flagstone on our raised area. This previously had a playground with a ton of rubber mulch. We've tried to remove as much as we can. It obviously there is still remaining bits. Is it okay to proceed with our 3-4" of type 2 gravel? Does this area look mostly prepped enough?

Was thinking about putting a stone brick wall in front of it and just leaving it in place? Idk if that’s a good solution though, need professional opinions, any help is greatly appreciated 🙏

Thoughts on type of patio (flagstone? Paver/gravel?) Ways to combat pooling of water since it’s downhill from the deck?