Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/85694
how to Lay a WHY: Bluestone Patio TEXT & PHOTOS BY BILLY R. SIMS Although Pennsylvania bluestone is quarried from only a small area in the northeast of Pennsylvania and adjacent New York and New Jersey, it's exported and used by con- tractors across the country. Bluestone has many uses, from cut dimensional stone used in patios, walkways and stair treads to architectural stone used in buildings. It's also used for wallstone, decorative boulders, natural steps and other landscape features. "You can use bluestone in so many ways and forms," says Ben Fotusky, a TLC 2012 Landscaper of the Year fi nalist and owner of Greater Scapes Land- scape and Lawncare, Weaverville, North Carolina. "It holds up better over time than other fl ag- stones. It's easy to shape, and the color options let you go from a narrow range of colors, say predomi- nately blue, to hues of green, shades of lavender and sandy tones." Fotusky specializes in hardscaping installations with bluestone. He's even considered partnering with his brother to buy property in Pennsylvania that could be quarried for bluestone. Here, he explains step by step how to lay a simple path or patio using a "stand-up" or cleaved variety of bluestone. 1 Lay out the perimeter and grade of project. To establish the base grade and slope, it's best to use a laser level or transit to ensure proper drainage. If the project warrants it because of size, mark stakes in the high and low areas to serve as a guide for excavation and fi ll. 2 Excavate compact soil. Dig, level and compact the soil so the base is about 7 inches below the fi nished surface. subgrade, January 2012 / TOTAL LANDSCAPE CARE 19 HOW TO: