Are you looking to improve your home with a low-maintenance yet eye-catching patio space? An interlock patio or walkway may seem daunting, but Greely Sand & Gravel’s products, tools, and tips are here to help your project succeed. From the base layers to patio stones, from premium BEAST edging material to polymeric sand, Greely Sand Gravel is always fully stocked and ready to help you make your interlock project a success!
The first step in creating your interlock patio or walkway is to install the base material. Landscapers will typically dig out the area and then backfill it with ⅞” Crushed Stone, also known as granular aggregate (“GA”). Once the 4”-6” base layer is installed, spreading a 1”-2” layer of either stone dust or washed concrete sand over the top is essential. This is the layer on which your patio stones will be placed and allows you to level the stones quickly. Alternatively, a 4”-6” layer of Premium Bedding Stone can serve as a base layer and offer a more permeable layer under your interlock patio or walkway. Once the layers are levelled, you can place your interlock stones in your desired pattern. It may be helpful to have the rocks laid out ahead of time in the order you need to lay them.
Once all of your stones are laid, it is essential to ensure they will all stay ideally in place, even through years of wear and tear. Greely Sand & Gravel’s BEAST plastic paver edging helps keep your interlock stones tightly in place. These edging strips are 8’ long, 1.75” high, and 3” wide, providing stability to your patio edge while being flexible enough to adapt to your specific space. Pavers and interlock stones can be installed on either side of the edging once it is installed, and each piece of edging can be used to form both straight lines and curves. Additionally, BEAST plastic paver edging is easy to install with Greely Sand & Gravel’s 10” spiral nails, making the job quick and efficient.
Once your stones are placed and you’ve ensured the edges are adequately secured, Greely Sand & Gravel also offers polymeric sand to fill the gaps between your patio stones or pavers. This product ensures that stones stay set in place while not allowing any weed growth or gaps between stones. Greely Sand & Gravel’s polymeric sand is available in grey, beige, black, and white and can fill gaps as broad as 4”. This product will not stain your stones and is safe for use near pools and walking areas. Additionally, filling the gaps between your interlock stones with polymeric sand helps them to remain stable and secure, even throughout extreme weather and the freeze/thaw cycle that is so common in Ottawa!
Now that you know all the steps, you can pick your products and create your own beautiful outdoor interlock patio or walkway. For more information and to view our wide selection of top-quality products, visit our online store or one of our two conveniently located landscape depots.
Do you still have questions you want answered before you begin planning your project? Call us at 613-821-3003 today. Our knowledgeable team will be happy to assist you!