This wall stone exhibits a very neat and crip presence in the landscape. Its flat (non-trifaced) face has a natural fresh split look and each stone throws very little shadow. Only the cap stones with their overhang casts a shadow line on the wall. A to

2 elsv walkout begin

This patio door walkout shows our gravel base that is compacted with screed pipes in place. Leveling sand is struck off at about 1 inch in depth. The real strength of any brick work is the proper depth of compacted CA6 gravel.

3 elsv walkout done

A finished look at the new walkout. Note the sitting boulder nearby.

4 elsv entrance walk begin

This large entrance walk shows the 5-6 inch gravel base, 1 inch sand layer, and the start of the brick laying. About 70% of all time spent on a brick walk or patio is in preparing the base. Laying brick is the "fun" part!

5 elsv entrance walk done

The completed entrance walk. This basket weave pattern is surrounded by a soldier course of doubles (a brick that is equal to 2 bricks in size). Notice how the granite boulders are "let into" the sidewalk.

6 elsv 1 rock let in

Careful cutting of the brick allow this boulder to stradle the edge of the walk. This trick breaks up the straight lines of the walk and "allows" landscaping into the hardscape.

7 elsv 3Rocks let in with grass

Another boulder "let" into the brick walk. Adding landscape plants such as grasses and low evergreens finishes off the completed walkway

8 elsv Too much sand under brick

Here 5 inches of sand give the temporary look of a solid and smooth brick surface. The sand layer should be 1 inch or less. Sand has no structural strength like compacted CA6 gravel. Sand's purpose is to make the final elevation tweaks and level up the

9 elsv Brick on too much sand

This is just like the beach. As your foot goes down into the sand and makes a footprint, the sand to the side of the foot is pushed upward. A car tire pressing on brick that is laid on a soft base will make such ruts and will often heave up bricks to th